Photo slideshows are one of the most personal things you can make for someone. Whether you're putting together something for a birthday, a wedding, a funeral, or just because — a good slideshow doesn't just show photos. It tells a story.
The best photo slideshow makers today make this easier than it's ever been. This guide walks you through how to make a photo slideshow with music, which software to use, and how to collect photos from family when you're not all in the same place.
What occasions work well for a photo slideshow?
Almost any milestone is worth a slideshow, but some naturally lend themselves to it more than others.
Funerals and memorials
A slideshow shown at a funeral or celebration of life gives everyone in the room a chance to look back together. It doesn't need to be elaborate — a thoughtful sequence of photos set to meaningful music is enough. If you're creating a memorial slideshow, Memories is built specifically for this occasion, with funeral-themed templates, a curated music library, and a way to invite family to contribute their own photos so one person isn't carrying the whole task alone.
Birthdays and anniversaries
Milestone birthdays are a natural moment to look back. A 50th or 80th birthday slideshow that traces someone's life from childhood to now tends to land harder than almost any speech.
Weddings
Between the professional photographer and every guest with a phone, weddings generate hundreds of photos. A slideshow at the reception or rehearsal dinner is a natural home for them.
Vacations and family gatherings
These tend to produce the most candid, unguarded photos — worth capturing before they disappear into a camera roll.
How to make a photo slideshow: step by step
Step 1: Collect the photos
Start wider than you think you need to. Reach out to family and friends early — the photos that matter most are often on someone else's phone. A shared folder (Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud) makes it easy for people to contribute without everyone emailing attachments back and forth.
Step 2: Edit down and order your photos
Resist the urge to include everything. A slideshow with 200 photos loses people; one with 40 well-chosen images holds them. Pick photos that feel honest rather than posed, and that together tell a story with some shape — a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Chronological order usually works best. It gives viewers something to follow without having to think about it.
Step 3 — Choose your software
The right photo slideshow maker depends on what you're creating and for whom.
For a general slideshow — birthdays, weddings, travel — Canva, iMovie (free on Apple devices), or Animoto are all solid options with strong template libraries and easy drag-and-drop editing.
For a tribute, memorial, or funeral slideshow, Memories is purpose-built for the occasion. You get funeral and memorial video themes, drag-and-drop sequencing, elegant transitions, and hundreds of music scores — without needing to source anything separately or worry about copyright issues on YouTube or Facebook.
For a full comparison of tools, see our guide to the 5 best slideshow software programs.
Step 4: Add music
Music sets the emotional tone more than almost anything else in a slideshow. Choose something that meant something to the person or occasion — or browse a royalty-free library if you want something that plays publicly without copyright issues.
If you're working in Memories, the music library is built in. You pick a track, it layers in automatically, and there's nothing to clear or license. For other tools, services like Epidemic Sound offer licensed tracks for a low monthly fee.
For inspiration, see our lists of good songs for slideshows of memories and best songs for a funeral slideshow.
Step 5: Export and share
Once your slideshow is finished, export it as an MP4 — the most widely supported video format — and share it however works best. YouTube and Vimeo work well for broad sharing. For something more private, Memories keeps your tribute secure and shareable only with the people you choose, and stores it online for as long as you need it.
How do I make a photo slideshow for a funeral?
Making a photo slideshow for a funeral is the same process as above, but the occasion calls for a little more care in the software and music you choose. A purpose-built tool like Memories is worth considering here — it's designed around the specific needs of memorial slideshows, including funeral-appropriate themes, music, and the ability to gather photos collaboratively from family who may be spread across different locations. Most families have only a few days to pull this together, so a guided, all-in-one tool makes a real difference.
For more guidance, see our detailed guide on how to make a beautiful memorial slideshow.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a photo slideshow with music? Most photo slideshow makers let you add music directly in the editor. Upload your photos, arrange them in order, then select a music track from the platform's library or upload your own MP3 file. If you're sharing the slideshow publicly on YouTube or Facebook, use royalty-free music to avoid copyright issues — many slideshow tools include a licensed music library for exactly this reason.
What is the best software for making a photo slideshow? The best software depends on what you're making. For general slideshows, Canva and iMovie are both excellent free options. For memorial and tribute slideshows, Memories is the strongest choice — it's purpose-built for remembrance, includes funeral-appropriate templates and music, and lets family members contribute photos collaboratively. See our full slideshow software comparison for more detail.
Can I make a photo slideshow online for free? Yes. Canva, Animoto, and Memories all offer free tiers. Memories lets you start for free with no credit card required, and the full platform — including the tribute video builder, music library, and family collaboration tools — is available for a one-time fee of USD $99.
How do I collect photos from family for a slideshow? A shared folder in Google Drive or Dropbox works well. If you're making a tribute or memorial slideshow, Memories has a built-in photo collection feature — you share a link, family and friends upload directly, and everything lands in one place without chasing anyone down.
How long should a photo slideshow be? For a funeral or memorial, 5–8 minutes is a good target — long enough to feel complete, short enough to hold the room. For a birthday or wedding slideshow, the same range applies. More than 10 minutes and most audiences start to drift, regardless of how good the photos are.
