Memorable Montages
We Know How to Make a Memorable, Emotional Slideshow
One that will make your audience laugh and cry.
Slideshows for Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Weddings, and Anniversaries.
Your favorite Photos, Videos, & Music combined in ways that will enchant your audience.
What Does It Take?
To make a great photo montage, it takes ingredients that really play to the audiences’ emotions. A photo collage that combines the words, images, and sounds in ways designed to draw the audience in.
A great photo montage is like a fine recipe, it combines memorable photos, inspiring music, and attractive (not cheesy) transitions. That combination, however, isn’t enough to make a truly memorable slideshow. You need:
The Right Photos
Want to look over and see Grandma or Mom looking misty eyed? Choosing the right photos of the bride as a little girl playing dress up bride, or the Bar Mitzvah boy being held for the first time are key. Ensuring that all they key people from all the right occasions are in there is important too. Then, combining them in ways that build on each other to bring back all those great memories to produce the emotional hooks. All of this is needed to get beyond the ordinary
Music That Complements
Music can be literal, when a phrase in the lyrics show what’s in the photo. The music must complement the photos to provide a one-two emotional punch. The complement can be metaphorical whenever the song’s theme resonates with the that of the photos. In the literal example embedded here, the photo of the baby clutching Grandma’s finger is exactly aligned with the same lyrics in the accompanying song.
Intensifying Music
Afraid that the audience will cringe with embarrassment? The music must bring the audience back to a place and time where they feel and remember what they are seeing in the photos. Overused, cliche music is all too easy to use. We’ve all been there and seen that. But in order to create a memorable slideshow you need to draw the audience in and create an emotional response that you want — either joyful or mellow.
Deliberately Chosen Transitions
Frustrated by how easy it is to go over the top? It’s no different than when you make your first desktop published document using every font available. With tons of transitions it is all too easy to go from simple and complementary to gaudy and cliche. Restraint is the better part of valor. Well chosen transitions both keep interest and emphasize movement from one major section to another. A well chosen transition drives the emotional pacing of the slideshow by combining changing musical tempo, the use of section titles, and matching slides transitions.
Duration and Tempo
Will this montage be too short or too long? Hitting that Goldilocks “just right” length is the key. A memorable slideshow includes all the key moments to summarize the event. But, it needs to leave them wanting more. Unintentionally spending too much time in any one section can become boring. However, sometimes it is appropriate for the emotional pace to be slower and more sentimental. Just like the first dance at a wedding reception, photos of large groups require slower timing, so that the audience can absorb all the details. This enables audiences to have a chance to focus on their friends and family even in large group shots. In other situations, fast timing of the music and the photo transitions can be used to rapidly cover a larger number of similar photos in succession, such as when showing a similar subject changing over time. This puts emphasis on the change, communicates it rapidly, and injects emotional energy.
Check out our online calculators that help you determine how long your montage will be given the number of photos you have, or for a given length in minutes, how many photos do you need?
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Emotion
Like any good book or movie, your montage needs to hit the right high and low points. The pacing of the montage needs to build the audiences emotions and peak at exactly the right moment. Together we will make sure to plot out what you want to get out of your montage and how to get there.
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Length
Long enough to include those must have memories. Short enough that it won’t put anyone to sleep. Yet hitting all the most important moments in the subject’s life. Finding that sweet spot between 6 minutes at one end and 12 minutes at the other is another skill I provide to help you craft the most memorable montage.
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Photos
Based on the length, we’ll estimate the number of photos. Then I’ll help with:
Culling: Cutting down tons of photos to just the most important. I’ll help choose between ones that all seem like keepers.
Organizing: We’ll find groupings to form the montage’s structure
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Soundtrack
To hit the emotional highs and lows, the montage has to be set to the right music. We’ll choose songs that set the mood, fit the tempo, help to tell the story, and flow towards the peak of the montage. There’ll be a tradeoff between fewer full songs and parts of more songs that still work together.
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Video
Adding video in with the still photos and music can make an exceptional montage. Maybe one video montage before the still. Or, videos interspersed throughout the montage. It’s a great way to include even more special memories. And, for your audience to see them come alive. We’ll identify the best parts of your videos.
Including video requires the Deluxe Montage package
Creativity
How can I face that blank screen? Most people rarely, if ever, put together a photo collage for an event. So sitting down to a blank new document can be very overwhelming. An editor who has created memorable slideshows for many different audiences has a built in vocabulary. Experience has shown what will work and what won’t.
We Build Memorable Slideshows
When you don’t have the time or the skills to do it yourself
Combining all these attributes under the deadline of an upcoming Wedding, Bar or Bat Mitzvah or Anniversary can be enough to make you crazy. We specialize in making an emotional montage that will leave your audience moved.
Can’t I get one anywhere?
Sure you can. Almost every photographer and videographer will throw one in along with your package as an add on. But, that’s an ordinary slideshow.
If you want a memorable slideshow, then you come to memorablemontages.com
If you want your Mother/Father/Grandparent to tear up, then you come to memorablemontages.com
If you want to hear all the Cousins laughing, then you come to memorablemontages.com
If you want your Spouse to let out a sigh, then you come to memorablemontages.com
When it has to be worth it
Don’t leave it to chance as an add on package to some other specialty. Work with folks who specialize in making things right. Creating memorable slideshows is all we do. When you need results, choose to work with the experts in memorable, emotional, slideshows.
Pricing
Self-Serve
Montage
for those looking to keep it simple
$900
First we figure out the emotional objectives together
You organize your photos into categories
You cull and cut down your photos to the appropriate total number
You upload your photos to Dropbox
Up to 200 Photos
-The best parts of up to 50 Videos
6-12 minutes in length
Phone call to discuss and determine the music — Up to 5 Songs
Phone and online review of 1st draft montage — you create a list of changes
Phone and online review of 2nd draft montage — changes to any 1st draft fixes
Delivery of final montage to you and the DJ within twelve weeks of initial order (rush service available for an additional charge)
Downloadable video file and USB thumb drive
Stress Free
Photo Montage
our best selling package
$1250
First we figure out the emotional objectives together
1 Hour phone or in person meeting to create the appropriate section, discuss how to order them, and show you how to sort all your photos
1 Hour phone or in person meeting to review your initial photo selection and refine them to fit
Up to 250 Photos
-The best parts of up to 50 Videos
6-12 minutes in length
1 Hour phone or in person meeting to discuss and determine the music — Up to 5 Songs
In person or phone/online review of 1st draft montage — you create a list of changes
In person or phone/online review of 2nd draft montage — changes to any 1st draft fixes
Delivery of final montage to you and the DJ within eight weeks (rush service available for an additional charge)
Downloadable video file and USB thumb drive
Rush Fee: $500
A la Cart extra help and services available at $75 per hour
Deluxe Montage
With Video
something extraordinary
$1750
First we figure out the emotional objectives together
1 Hour phone or in person meeting to create the appropriate section, discuss how to order them, and show you how to sort all your photos
1 Hour phone or in person meeting to review your initial photo selection and refine them to fit
Up to 300 Photos
The best parts of up to 50 Videos
6-15 minutes total length
1 Hour phone or in person meeting to discuss and determine the music — Up to 5 Songs
In person or phone/online review of 1st draft montage — you create a list of chnages
In person or phone/online review of 2nd draft montage — changes to any 1st draft fixes
Delivery of final montage to you and the DJ within within six weeks (rush service available for an additional charge)
Downloadable video file and USB thumb drive
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Linda & Dan Snow
Thanks to Brad for relieving stress in what was arguably the most challenging part of our Bar Mitzvah prep. The montage is one of the most rewarding parts of the reception — forcing us to cull down from thousands of photos to just 100 or so to help the guests capture the essence of your kid and family — merging heart and hopefully humor. Brad was incredibly supportive, inventive and calming. We were thrilled with the result. We’re so happy our son will have a beautiful visual testimony of his first 13 years as a momento of his Bar Mitzvah. We’re looking forward to the process for our daughter.
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Andrea & Paul Lewis
We absolutely LOVED our montage! It was better than we could have imagined. The transitions, the matching of the music to the content of the photos (both words and pace), plus Brad’s special touch of producing the most heartwarming conclusion… We will treasure our montage forever. Working with Brad is a delight.
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Lesley & Ron Cooper
We have known Brad for many years and trust him completely with documenting the special times in our lives. He is the ultimate professional – he pays close attention to detail and is a pleasure to work with! The video montage that he made for our daughter’s bat mitzvah was both playful and fun while the picture montage of her Havdalah service was moving and poignant. Brad’s ability to use the available light during the service was genius. He truly captured the excitement and joy of the moment. We will always treasure both.
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Jennifer and David Faerberg
When you are in the midst of a crazy year planning a Bar/Bat mitzvah, who wants to fret over putting together a perfect montage? Not me! That’s what Brad is for. He was my lifesaver. He was incredibly generous with his time — coming to my house and reviewing all I needed to do in finding the perfect pictures. He worked with my daughter to pick music that spoke to her. And then, the rest was magic. He put together a fabulous montage and one we have watched a thousand times over. He even put in a few surprises that made the crowd go wow. Best money spent!
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Elena Shtern and Alex Bogdanovsky
We had a great experience working with Brad last December when putting together a photo montage for our son’s Bar Mitzvah. Brad provided us with valuable suggestions, guided us throughout the process, and really helped shape our vision into a beautiful and moving montage that we love and will be a great memory for years to come. We were impressed with Brad’s professionalism, always on time for meetings, always prepared and responsive. Our daughter’s bat mitzvah is just a few years away, and we will be reaching out to Brad again.
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Lori Shapiro
I can’t say enough good things about Brad and his amazing work. We have used him for two events where he has created our montage. We are embarking on our third this year and wouldn’t use anyone else. I recommend him to anyone who is look for fun, creative and timely work. We look at our montage over and over again and it brings us so much joy and happiness. Brad makes the process seamless and even helps negotiate with surly teenagers!!
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Marla and Randy Werber
Brad made lasting memories for both our children’s Bat and Bar Mitzvahs. He was so patient with us as we stressed over our pictures choices and he helped us determine which ones would work best. Brad spent time talking with our daughter and son to help them decide on songs, and played mediator when no one could agree. We remembered Brad’s comment “that’s what defines success” when we cried the first time (and many times since!) we saw Brad’s finished montage. We have and will continue to recommend him to our friends.
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Michelle & Larry Spott
Designing the right montage is as important as finding the perfect photographer. You need a storyteller to showcase a finite period of time and tell it in such a way that envokes emotion and grabs your audience. Brad is an expert in this field. His montages capture you and keep the audience engaged. Moreover after the event, you want to watch it over and over.
Working with Brad for our children’s B’nai Mitzvah montage was such a delight! He was so insightful in helping us choose the right photos and songs. He had great suggestions throughout the process. He worked well with our son and daughter to ensure we were all happy with the outcome – and working with our 12 and 13 year old is never easy. But Brad managed to thrill us all! We have known Brad for many years and he is an amazing photographer – he has taken family portraits for us in the past and to work with him again was easy and stress-free. Brad was able to create an amazing montage for us to remember this special time in our lives forever. We are truly grateful for this experience.
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Tracie Lanter
Brad was fantastic to work with! He was patient and gave me great advice when I just could not choose which photos to use. Many of our guests actually complimented the montage! If you want a terrific montage I recommend Brad for sure!
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Tamara Gould
Brad did a fabulous job for both of my kids Bar and Bat Mitzvah montages. He’s creative, professional, timely and thorough. Great ideas and attention to detail. I highly recommend him if you are looking for a great experience
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David Epstein
Working with Brad on my son’s Bar Mitzvah montage was a terrific experience. Brad gave me very helpful guidance on images, and helped us decide on the accompanying music. Look forward to working with him again on our daughter’s Bat Mitzvah.
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Michael Dinces
Brad is a professional!
He was super easy to work with, excellent communicator and his final product is superb.
I would recommend him to all!!
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Ken & Lyssa Schwartz
It was a wonderful experience having Brad work on the montage. His attention to detail and interest in capturing the essence of the subject is remarkable. We can’t recommend him highly enough. He will make your event memorable.
Based in Potomac MD, I’ve been creating slideshows for family & friends for many years now. More and more people keep asking me to create them for their special occasion. I want to share the ingredients that set apart my memorable, emotional, montages with a larger audience. Memorable Montages is one of my side-gigs on nights and weekends. To know more about me you can visit my main Brad Balfour website. I’m happy to share my skills with you and make your occasion memorable. Contact me below.
Brad Balfour
Owner and Creator
14
Years Creating Montages
Contact Brad
brad@memorablemontages.com
Please let me know if you are:
Needing a montage soon,
Wanting to ask more questions, or
Just starting your research