Preparation Guide for a Photo Montage

Below are listed the steps needed to prepare your materials for your video. These steps cover everything you will need to ensure a quality product. If at any time you feel the instructions are not clear, don’t hesitate to email us your question or call for clarification.

Step #1: Decide on the Subject of your movie
We offer a Childhood and Dating photo montage, but you can make it just your dating time or some other special time in your lives.

Step#2: Decide on the title of your video
What text do you wish to appear on the screen at the beginning.

Step #3: Gather your materials: photos, videos, music and mementos
You will want to gather all your photographs around you. Don't forget to include all relevant photographs and mementos (mementos would be a newspaper clipping, pressed flower, or printed program, etc.).Usually, people have too many materials but that’s okay for now.

Step #4: Choose the materials to include in your video
Expect to spend some time on this step. It is difficult to exclude material. But the thing to keep in mind is that in almost all cases, less is more. Fewer materials actually tell the story better. We have included in your wedding package a video montage of up to 40 photographs and 1 piece of music. That is a comfortable length for most people. If you have a question on this, feel free to e-mail or call us with your concern. To pick out the best materials keep these points in mind:

• they should help to directly tell the story
• the photographs should be bright and clear
• photos should be a mixture of candid and posed shots.
• the action on the video clips should be easy to understand

Step #5 Arrange your materials in order of appearance
After you have chosen which items to include, place them in the order they will appear. Think of creative ways to order your materials. Remember, you’re telling a story, not just showing some pictures. If you need assistance in arranging your materials, don’t hesitate to send us an e-mail ( contact@newdirectionvideo.com) asking for some ideas. We will respond very quickly.

Step #6: Indicate the type of music for your video
It is best for you to supply music to us on CD if we do not have it in our library.

Step #7: Prepare your materials

Preparing photographs

1. Choose the photographs you wish to include.
2. Place the photos in the order you wish them to appear. Use a soft-lead pencil (not a pen) to number the back of the photograph, or use small sticky-notes.
3. Place the photos in a zip lock bag or an envelope, put a rubber band around them and place in a bag. Mark the outside of the bag with your full name and telephone number.

Preparing music

• Include the CD you wish to use. Indicate the song number and title.
• Place the CD in the bag with the photos.

Preparing mementos

• Record the name of the memento you wish included in your video and where you want it to appear, i.e., after a specific photo, video clip or title screen.
• Be sure to pack each memento separately and carefully. You may wish to take a photograph or video clip of an important memento and make that available to us instead of the real item.