Memorial Slideshow: How to Create One in 30 Minutes
A memorial slideshow is often the emotional heart of a funeral, celebration of life, or memorial gathering. Done well, it can do something that even the most heartfelt eulogy can't: bring the person back into the room, just for a few minutes, in their own face and their own laughter.
Done poorly, a slideshow becomes a chore — slow, mistimed, with awkward audio. The good news: you can build a beautiful memorial slideshow in under 30 minutes, using free tools, with a result that feels professional and personal.
This guide walks through exactly how.
What You'll Need (Gather First, ~10 Min)
Before opening any software, gather the following:
Photos - 30–60 photos spanning all life stages - Childhood, teenage years, adulthood, recent - A mix of portraits and candid shots - 1–2 of their hands (yes — hands tell stories) - 1–2 of them with each immediate family member
Videos (optional but powerful) - Even 5–10 second clips matter - Their laugh, their voice, them doing something they loved
Music - 1–3 songs they loved - Total length: 5–10 minutes - Avoid songs with overly busy lyrics
Their basic info - Full name - Dates (born – passed) - A short tagline or meaningful phrase
That's the entire input. Now we build it.
Best Tools for Memorial Slideshows
A range of options, from easiest to most powerful:
1. iMovie (Free, Mac/iPhone) — Recommended for Most People
Built into every Mac and iPhone. Drag in photos, drop in music, export. Has a built-in "Ken Burns" effect that gently pans and zooms across photos — perfect for memorial slideshows.
- Pros: Free, simple, automatic photo motion, excellent quality
- Cons: Mac/iOS only
2. Canva (Free Tier, Web)
Online slideshow builder with memorial-appropriate templates. Drag-and-drop interface.
- Pros: Cross-platform, beautiful templates, easy
- Cons: Free tier has watermark on exports for some templates
3. Animoto (Paid, Web)
Specifically designed for memorial and tribute videos. Templates are particularly suited to memorials.
- Pros: Memorial-specific templates, music library included
- Cons: Paid only ($16/month)
4. Smilebox (Paid, Web)
Similar to Animoto with strong memorial templates.
- Pros: Easy templates
- Cons: Paid only
5. Apple Photos Memories (Free, iPhone)
The Photos app on iPhone can automatically generate "Memories" videos. Less customizable but nearly instant.
- Pros: One tap, music included
- Cons: Less control over photo selection
6. Google Photos Movie (Free, Web/Android)
Similar to Apple Photos but on Google's side.
- Pros: Free, automatic
- Cons: Less control
Recommendation
For most families, iMovie (Mac/iPhone) or Canva (web) is the best balance of free and beautiful. We'll use iMovie for the walkthrough below.
Step-by-Step: Build It in 30 Minutes
Step 1: Choose Music First (5 min)
Pick 1–3 songs they loved. Total length should be 5–10 minutes. The slideshow length will be paced to match the music — not the other way around.
A few song-choice principles: - Avoid songs with too many lyrics that compete for attention - Instrumentals are excellent — Ludovico Einaudi, Yiruma, Max Richter - Songs they loved beat songs you think are appropriate - One quiet, one slightly more lively is a good rhythm
Step 2: Order Photos Chronologically (5 min)
Open your photo folder. Quickly drag photos into chronological order in a folder named "Slideshow." Don't overthink it — close enough is fine.
Aim for 30–60 photos for a 5–8 minute slideshow.
Step 3: Import to iMovie (2 min)
Open iMovie. Create a new project. Drag your "Slideshow" folder into the timeline. iMovie will arrange photos automatically.
Step 4: Set Photo Duration (3 min)
Default photo duration in iMovie is 4 seconds. For a memorial slideshow, 5–7 seconds per photo feels right — long enough to absorb, short enough to keep momentum.
Select all photos in the timeline. Set duration to 6 seconds.
Step 5: Add Music (3 min)
Drag your music files into iMovie. Place them at the start of the timeline. iMovie will fade music at the end automatically — but you can adjust this.
If your slideshow is longer than your music, trim the slideshow. If music is longer, fade the music out at the end.
Step 6: Add Title and End Cards (5 min)
Opening card (3 seconds):
[Their name] [Born – Passed]
Optional second card (3 seconds):
[A short meaningful phrase or quote]
Closing card (5 seconds):
[Their name] [Years] [Optional: "In loving memory" or a closing line]
iMovie has built-in title templates. Choose a simple, calm one — avoid anything flashy.
Step 7: Watch It Through (5 min)
Watch the entire slideshow once. Look for:
- Photos that linger too long or too short
- Music that ends awkwardly
- Photos that don't quite belong
- Better photo orderings
Adjust as needed.
Step 8: Export (2 min)
Export as a high-quality MP4. Save it to a USB stick if you're presenting at a venue, and email a copy to a backup person in case of technical issues.
Tips for a Better Memorial Slideshow
- Lead with a great photo. The first image sets the tone. Choose carefully.
- End with a quiet photo. Often a portrait, often older, often where they look most themselves.
- Use a mix of close-ups and wide shots. Variety keeps the slideshow from feeling repetitive.
- Don't overuse transitions. Cross-dissolves and simple fades feel right. Avoid spinning, sliding, or fancy effects — they age fast and distract.
- Captions are optional. A short caption with year and place can help, but blank photos work too. Don't over-caption.
- Keep it short. 5–8 minutes is the sweet spot. Past 10 minutes, attention drifts.
- One big finale photo. A final still frame held for 5–8 seconds, often paired with the song's final notes. Plan this deliberately.
What to Avoid
- Stock photos that aren't of the deceased. Stick to real photos.
- Heavily filtered photos. Original photos are warmer.
- Photos that include unrelated people prominently. Keep focus on the deceased.
- Songs from movies that don't fit. "My Heart Will Go On" is a song from Titanic, not a default memorial song. Pick what they actually loved.
- Slideshows that try to be a documentary. Keep it visual. Save the storytelling for the eulogy.
- AI-generated or animated faces. Avoid these. They feel uncanny.
Where to Show It
Common settings for a memorial slideshow:
- At the funeral or memorial service — typically during a quiet musical interlude or before the service begins
- At a celebration of life — playing on a screen as guests mingle
- At a wake or visitation — looping for guests to watch
- On a permanent memorial page — embedded for family to revisit
- Sent to distant family — via email, USB, or a memorial page link
A permanent online memorial page is the most lasting place. The slideshow lives there forever, alongside photos, life story, and tributes — accessible to family and future generations who couldn't attend the service.
Outsourcing the Slideshow
If you'd rather not build it yourself, you can hire someone:
- Fiverr / Upwork — Memorial slideshow editors typically charge $50–150 for a 5–8 minute slideshow
- Local funeral home — Many offer slideshow services at higher rates
- Family member — Often the most meaningful option — ask a niece, nephew, or younger family member who's comfortable with video editing
If outsourcing, send your editor: - The folder of photos in chronological order - The music files - A short note with the deceased's name, dates, and any meaningful captions
Most editors can return a finished slideshow in 2–3 days.
Final Thoughts
A memorial slideshow is a small, brief act of love — a way to bring the person you've lost back into the room, just for a few minutes, through their own face and their own life.
Done with care, even a 30-minute build can produce something that families return to for years. The slideshow that played at the funeral often becomes the slideshow grandchildren watch decades later.
Build it gently. Keep it simple. Trust the photos and the music to do most of the work.
FAQ
How long should a memorial slideshow be? 5–8 minutes is the sweet spot. Past 10 minutes, attention drifts.
How many photos should I include? 30–60 photos for a 5–8 minute slideshow, with 5–7 seconds per photo.
What's the best music for a memorial slideshow? Songs they loved, ideally with not-too-busy lyrics. Instrumentals work especially well — Ludovico Einaudi, Yiruma, Max Richter, or any classical piece.
Can I use copyrighted music? For private use (a funeral or family memorial), generally yes. For online publication on YouTube or a memorial page, copyrighted music may be flagged. Use royalty-free alternatives or licensed memorial music if publishing online.
Where should I keep the finished slideshow? Save copies in three places: a USB stick, a cloud drive (iCloud, Google Drive), and embedded on a memorial page. A slideshow on one device is a slideshow that can be lost.
GetMemorial helps families build beautiful, lasting online memorials in minutes — a permanent home for slideshows, photos, and tributes. Build yours at GetMemorial.com.