The exact cost will vary depending on your market and experience, but generally, expect to make between $100 and $500 for a slideshow. [2] X Research source Many designers on freelancing websites like Upwork, who usually charge by the hour, charge between $35 and $150 per hour, while pros on Fiverr, where they usually charge by the project, might charge between $75 and $250 for a 10-slide presentation. [3] X Research source Many businesses offer a variety of differently-priced “packages” potential clients may choose from, to keep rates simple. Packages may come with a designated number of photos or videos and be a designated length.
Today, lots of photos are taken on phones, meaning digitizing the photos is easy, but if photos need to be scanned, charge extra for your time. If clients want extra copies of the slideshow on DVD, this will also raise the price of your services. Consider not just the exact cost of the DVD, but the cost of your labor to burn copies of the slideshow and create a cover for the case.
For instance, you might make a slideshow involving photos of the person who passed and their family, friends, and pets. Some slideshows create a narrative of the deceased’s life: they may show photos of the person’s hometown or feature video or audio footage of significant events that occurred in the person’s lifetime. While the content and organization of a slideshow will largely be up to the clients’ preferences, clients may work with their hired slideshow editor to curate a slideshow that meets their needs.
A slideshow running in the background while attendees mingle may run for an hour, or it may consist of the same shorter slideshow running on a loop. A slideshow intended to be part of the service, however, will ideally only last about 10 minutes; longer than 10 minutes, and you run the risk of overwhelming viewers or losing their attention.
If you’re planning to start a slideshow business, it’s worth it to invest in a quality photo scanner if you don’t already have one, like an Epson V600 or Canon DR-F120 (but note that this Canon scanner is for Windows only). Scan photos greater than 4x6 inches 4 in × 6 in (10 cm × 15 cm) at 300 dpi (dots per inch) or ppi (pixels per inch) or higher to ensure good resolution. Scan photos smaller than 4x6 inches 4 in × 6 in (10 cm × 15 cm) at at least 600 dpi/ppi, and scan small photo negatives or slides at 1200 dpi or even 2400 dpi/ppi. [8] X Research source If the client has old film they want to incorporate, like 8 mm or 35mm, you’ll have to either pay someone else to digitize it, or invest in a film converter, such as the Wolverine Data Film2Digital Moviemaker Pro—this can be pricey, but if may be worth it in the long run. [9] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source You can also digitize VHS tapes using an analog-to-digital video capture device.
Slideshow editing software ranges from more affordable to pricey and from simple to complex, and many offer week- or month-long free trials. Popular slideshow editing software includes SmartSHOW 3D, Magix PhotoStory,Adobe Photoshop, and tried-and-true PowerPoint.
You can easily add a text box to your slides using your chosen software, but a unique way to incorporate text in a funeral tribute is by including a photo or scan of the deceased’s own handwriting. If the client has a letter, a poem, a recipe, or anything else written in the deceased’s own hand, this can make for a touching addition to the tribute.
It can be difficult to know if a song is under copyright, but if you don’t do your due diligence and use a song thinking it’s public domain, you could be hit with a cease and desist. One way to check if a song is copyrighted is by uploading the song to YouTube and seeing if YouTube’s automatic copyright checker flags the song. [12] X Research source You can find royalty-free or public domain music via online databases like the Free Music Archive.
The software you’ve used to make the slideshow may offer you the ability to save your slideshow to a DVD or Blu-ray, but if not, you can download DVD-burning software like Windows Media Player. You can make a DVD or Blu-ray cover using a downloadable template or by uploading a photo from the slideshow to Microsoft Word or Photoshop, printing it, and sliding it in the DVD or Blu-ray case.
