Question:
How many pictures can we include in our montage?
Answer:

  1. If presenting the montage to guests, most couples limit the video to 15 minutes at the maximum. Ten to 12 minutes seems to be the average—or around 120 to 150 pictures. Calculate about five seconds per picture. (We have a 50-picture minimum for big-screen shows.)
  2. If the montage is only for your personal video, there is no maximum time limit. However, you’ll want to have a minimum of 20 to 25 photos to fill out a reasonable part of one average-length song. You may need 25 to 30 or more pictures to fill out the entire song. Count on five seconds for each photo as an average.

Question:
How many songs can we use? What kind? What format?
Answer:

  1. You need at least one song, and you should plan on using at least 20 photos per song. The songs need not be used in their entirety, but you need to have enough pictures to play a reasonable amount of each song. The average 12 -minute video usually includes about five to seven songs.
  2. In terms of the type of songs, we recommend a mixture of several fast-tempo songs and a couple of slow ones. If you present your montage to guests, the faster songs will keep the video moving and hold their interest.
  3. All music must be provided in CD format.

Question:
How do we organize the pictures and music?
Answer:

  1. Choose the best photos possible: bright, in-focus, emotional images—horizontal format if you have a choice. (Severely damaged pictures can be used, but they’ll be shown pretty much "as-is".)
  2. There’s no maximum size, but use no smaller than wallet-sized photos.
  3. Divide the pictures into groups by content. A typical grouping: bride growing up, groom growing up, bride’s family, groom’s family,
    bride’s friends, groom’s friends, bride and groom together.
  4. Determine which group goes with which song . (You can combine groups into one song.)
  5. Number each photo on the back in the sequence in which they are to appear in the video. (1 -100, or how ever many you have.)
  6. Put each group of photos in a separate envelope and label the envelope with the song and picture numbers—and section title, if desired: (i.e, Song A/1-25/John’s Younger Years; Song B/26-50/Jane: The Early Days).
  7. If you want section titles but don’t want to think of them yourself, just tell us to take care of it.
  8. Send the photos and CDs our way.

Question:
Why do you have different per-picture prices for photo montages?
Answer:
We offer two photo-montage packages.

  1. Standard "white-on-black" opening title. Photos set to music for five seconds each, with soft dissolves between each picture.
  2. Designer opening, section and ending titles. Numerous (tasteful!) special effects to accentuate action shots, humor, etc. Cutting pictures "to the beat" and paying careful attention to timing to bring out emotions in the images. Slight color correction, brightness adjustments. Title screens can include pictures, special backgrounds, your favorite colors, etc. Many couples and their guests have loved these unique touches!

Question:
What is the deadline for getting our pictures and music to you?
Answer:
If you are doing a big-screen show, we must receive your photos and music at least six weeks prior to your wedding. If you are only including the montage in your personal video, you can send them up to two months after your wedding date.

Question:
When do we get our photos and music back? Are the actual photos altered?
Answer:
If you have a montage presentation, we typically return them at your rehearsal or on your wedding day. If the montage is for your personal tape only, they will be returned with your finished tape, unless you request to have them sent back before the tape is complete. In any case, if your montage materials must be mailed to you, the postage costs will be included in your final balance. Note: Your photos are digitized and then cropped and manipulated on computers. The actual pictures are not altered.

Question:
How many copies of the montage video do we receive?
Answer:
If you have a presentation, you get three copies of the separate montage video. Otherwise, the montage is included in your three regular wedding video copies. Extra montage copies are available for half the cost of regular wedding video copies.