Memorial Slideshow Maker

Celebration of life slideshow

A celebration of life slideshow tells the story of a person the way they would want to be remembered: with warmth, humour and the things that made them who they were. Here is how to plan one, and a free way to turn the photos into a video in about twenty minutes.

Ideas that make it feel like a celebration

  • Lead with joy: open with a favourite candid photo instead of a formal portrait.
  • Show what they loved doing: fishing trips, the garden, the kitchen, the team they coached, the dog that followed them everywhere.
  • Include the funny ones. Costumes, failed recipes and holiday mishaps are what people talk about afterwards.
  • Feature the people: friends from every chapter, so every guest finds themselves in the story.
  • Choose music that sounds like them, even if it is not a traditional funeral song.
  • Finish with a line in their voice, such as a saying they often used, rather than a formal farewell.

How to make a celebration of life slideshow

  1. Ask the venue how it will play: during the program, or on a loop while people mingle. That decides the length.
  2. Collect photos from family and friends. Aim for about 12 photos per minute of video.
  3. Pick one to three songs. Upbeat favourites are welcome at a celebration of life.
  4. Add the name and years, an opening line such as “Celebrating the life of” and a closing line.
  5. Preview it all the way through, then download an MP4 for the venue’s TV or projector.

Want a structure to follow? See our funeral slideshow templates; the “reception loop” plan suits most celebrations of life. For music, read how to choose music for a memorial slideshow.

Make your celebration of life video

Add photos, the name and music below. Photos stay on your device and your work is saved in this browser.

1. Add photos

50–80 photos make a 5–7 minute tribute. They are arranged oldest to newest by the date they were taken and never leave your device. Scanned prints have no date, so drag them into place.

2. Name and dates

3. Music

Pick from our free music library, or add songs your family chose (MP3 or M4A). Songs play one after another.

Free music library · public-domain recordings, free to use at any service · sources

  • Air on the G String (Bach)Strings · calm, timeless
  • Amazing GraceStrings · gentle, hopeful
  • Amazing Grace (bagpipes)Bagpipes · traditional, moving
  • Clair de Lune (Debussy)Brass · reflective
  • ShenandoahBand · warm, American folk

Using your own song? Please make sure you have the right to play it at the service.

0:00 / 0:12

4. Download

Celebration of life slideshow questions

How long should a celebration of life slideshow be?

If it plays as part of the program, 4 to 6 minutes works well. If it loops in the background while people mingle, 8 to 12 minutes with two or three songs keeps it from repeating too often.

What is the difference between a funeral slideshow and a celebration of life video?

The structure is similar, but a celebration of life usually feels lighter: more candid and funny photos, hobbies and adventures, upbeat songs the person loved, and wording that celebrates rather than mourns.

How many photos do I need?

About 12 photos per minute at 5 seconds each. A 5-minute slideshow needs around 60 photos; a 10-minute loop around 100.

Can I make a celebration of life video for free?

Yes. You can arrange the photos, add music and download a 720p video with a small watermark for free. A one-time $29 pass removes the watermark and gives you full HD.