Slideshow Programs?

[ghaleon109]

I've been practicing like crazy for my first wedding coming up in a couple months, and I've been reading around here a lot lately as well. I really like the idea of setting up a laptop with a slideshow during the wedding.

There will only be 20-25 photos on the slideshow im thinking, but through all the searches I've done here I couldnt find anyone talking of a particular slideshow program that they liked :oops:

Are there any programs that you would reccomend? I would greatly appriciate it :D

Thanks,
Mike

[picturecrazy]

What are you on? PC or Mac?

I believe Macs have a great slideshow screensaver built in. They do the neat pan/zoom thing and just cycle through a folder of photos. If you are on mac, you're probably set.

PC is not so easy. I haven't been able to find one that does the same thing as the Mac slideshow screensaver. The windows screensaver slideshow sucks. The transitions are cheesy and looks like powerpoint. There is no movement.

I've tried many other programs but haven't found a good one. So right now I just use Picasa2 and it's slideshow feature. It cross fades nicely, but that's about it. No pan/zoom movement though. The newest Picasa also has a screensaver slideshow but it's flexibility is very limited, and it shows the Google logo all over the place so it's unusable.

I have proshow gold which I've used only once about 8 months ago. I'm FAR from a pro with that program, but when I tried it took a long time to set up a slideshow and generate it. I couldn't get it done in less than 5 minutes. Considering I usually only have 20 minutes to process about 50-100 files and get the slideshow running, I didn't have 5 minutes to spare. So I just use Picasa2. Not the best, but better than nothing I suppose, and it only takes 1 second (push one button) to start the slideshow.

[ghaleon109]

Ahh, thanks!

Unfortinatly I am using a PC... I thought about the windows slideshow screensaver a little while ago, but I tried it, and like you said... it's really aweful. I'l look into the Picasa2 right now.

Thanks again, just what I was looking for :D

[tim]

There are probably 100 threads about slideshow programs. Most popular are proshow gold, memories on TV, and showitweb (last one doesn't make DVDs just internet shows).

[ghaleon109]

Thanks tim,

I saw Showitweb on here before, but I was just looking for a program to run the slideshow without having to go on the web. I'll take a look at the other two as well.

[coreypolis]

we use picasa2 to organize and select the files, then just use windows picture slideshow or whatever it is thats part of XP. for that you just want it to continously run, as you don't need music or timing.

From yesterday

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/viperx27/IG3Q3674copy_filtered.jpg

[Maui Kim]

I have Proshow Gold and I really like it..I'm sure there are better ones out there but I really liked that it wasn't too complicated...kim

[islandphoto]

Is proshow mac compatible?

[Douglaschan]

That program that David Jay produced works wonders. Check it out

[Wedding Shooter]

Proshow is not available for Mac.

[DAVIDJAY]

we use picasa2 to organize and select the files, then just use windows picture slideshow or whatever it is thats part of XP. for that you just want it to continously run, as you don't need music or timing.

From yesterday

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/viperx27/IG3Q3674copy_filtered.jpg
Awesome picture Corey! I love the guy checking out your business card and everyone else loving on the images!

Rock on!
DJ

[jessiper]

Awesome picture Corey! I love the guy checking out your business card and everyone else loving on the images!

Rock on!
DJ

Not to mention the bride's face! ;)

[Rick Rosen]

A great program for Mac users is FotoMagico. It produces very professional shows for every application from the web to iPods to DVDs for standard, widescreen and high definition HD television. You can produce a gorgeous high resolution slideshow that automatically fills your monitor screen at a wedding in less than 5 minutes. What is particularly great about the software is that it imports your images in full resolution and then automatically sizes them down for whatever export option you select. In that way you can save the show you created at the reception, add the ceremony images and titles, music, etc. and market it to the families. No need to start all over again and create a new show. I am assisting Boinx Software in Germany to market the product here in the states so feel free to email me with your questions. You can get full information and download their demo here:

http://www.rickrosen.com/fm

Have fun!

All the best,

Rick

[davidfig]

If your just starting out. I would suggest Picasa2 on PC and iPhoto on Mac. They do what needs to be done.

[coreypolis]

Awesome picture Corey! I love the guy checking out your business card and everyone else loving on the images!

Rock on!
DJ
thanks DJ, but all the credit goes to you and the rest of OSP for all the great ideas and help.

This particular wedding was great because most of the bridal party and guests are missionaries from south africa and leave on wed, so it meant a lot to see the images together before they left.

[dlphotography]

Props to DJ!

Hey Mike,
I highly recommend DJ's showit program because that is how I get my referrals. You could play the slideshow locally on your computer and upload it online with a linky! Word of mouth advertising is the best because it brings experience to the table. Also, you could adjust the size of the slideshow so that it would fit your screen better.

Check out my recent shoot of a Filipina's Debut (1st time): LINK TO SLIDESHOW (http://pictureproofs.com/slideshows/stacy/)

[TheSteveMadden]

Since I don't have a Mac, I've been looking high and low for an easy way to emulate the mac screensaver. I finally settled on ProShow Gold.

With a little practice I was able to setup a complete pan-and-zoom full screen executable slideshow in about 3-5 minutes for 20-40 pictures. This includes selecting a beginning and ending pan and zoom position for each photo. In another minute I can add a nice logo frame to the end and a fade in effect at the beginning so that it loops seamlessly. Soundtracks aren't necessary at a reception which means you don't have to sync to any music.

I would rather not have to spend any time on the slideshow on the wedding day, but getting/learning a Mac for just that purpose is out of the question and I firmly believe in the emotional and promotional impact of a reception slideshow.

Here are the one's I discounted...

Picasa 2.6 - No pan and zoom control. Obtrusive Google logo
Windows "My Pictures" Screensaver - No pan and zoom. Either quick Cut transitions or a lot of clever/distracting effects transitions.
MotionPicture Screensaver - Looked promising at first, but it did too much automatic zooming and panning - It never shows an entire portrait orientated image as it fills the screen with each image and may zoom into an uninteresting area of the photo.
BreezeBrowser Pro SlideShow - Fade transitions are slow and choppy on my hardware. No Pan and Zoom.
PS Elements SlideShow - Takes too long to tweak pans and zooms. Takes forever to create huge WMV video at highest resolution (800x600). FullScreen playback not as high quality as ProShow.
ZoomBrowser SlideShow - No pan and zoom. No fade transition.

[EOS mE]

Props to DJ!

Hey Mike,
I highly recommend DJ's showit program because that is how I get my referrals. You could play the slideshow locally on your computer and upload it online with a linky! Word of mouth advertising is the best because it brings experience to the table. Also, you could adjust the size of the slideshow so that it would fit your screen better.

Check out my recent shoot of a Filipina's Debut (1st time): LINK TO SLIDESHOW (http://pictureproofs.com/slideshows/stacy/)

holy cow.. isn't that the girl from "Super Sweet 16" show? the filipina where she did dirty dancing at her 16th bday party?

[Lin-z]

Can you make DVD slide shows from any of the Showit programs?

[EOS mE]

Can you make DVD slide shows from any of the Showit programs?

no.. showit web is only for web or computer. not for TV.

[coreypolis]

Can you make DVD slide shows from any of the Showit programs?
sorta, its much easier on a mac. But its a bit complicated and requires more software.

there will be an option to send it to DJ's source and have it made to DVD but its a bit pricey

[islandphoto]

I tried to dowload the sample of showit and it wouldn't open up on my mac :(

[Lin-z]

sorta, its much easier on a mac. But its a bit complicated and requires more software.

there will be an option to send it to DJ's source and have it made to DVD but its a bit pricey


To be able to make awesome DVD slide shows would be the main reason I would want it. If I showed those awesome slide shows to my clients they would want it on DVD and would not be able to understand why I can't offer it. Maybe that is an option they will add into the program in the future?? I hope so, I will certainly be sold on it then.

[suefoto]

The one I use is Ulead CD & DVD Picture. It's easy to use and gives great results...I get nothing but compliments from my clients.

[montecristo]

I use Proshow Producer, great program with many transitions and different ways to output the file, AVI, MOD, MPG2 & 4 etc. You can also use video clips and/or textures as backgrounds for the photographs.
Expensive though.

[DAVIDJAY]

sorta, its much easier on a mac. But its a bit complicated and requires more software.

there will be an option to send it to DJ's source and have it made to DVD but its a bit priceyJust so everyone knows we haven't set a price for the Showit-DVD service but if you're interested in suggesting what you think is fair we'll certainly try and hit it.

Here's how it'll work.

- You upload a show
- Client can click on a little "DVD" at the bottom of your show that takes them to an ordering page with your logos and your pictures and your prices.
- We grab the show and extra files from the web (you don't have to do anything)
- We author the DVD, Print a cover, package and mail it to you or straight to your client and you get the money minus our charge for all the production.

Again, we haven't set a price b/c we don't know how automated we can make it but I think it'll be a good option for people who want more freedom instead of taking the time to do all that production themselves.

Cheers,
DJ

[coreypolis]

Just so everyone knows we haven't set a price for the Showit-DVD service but if you're interested in suggesting what you think is fair we'll certainly try and hit it.

Here's how it'll work.

- You upload a show
- Client can click on a little "DVD" at the bottom of your show that takes them to an ordering page with your logos and your pictures and your prices.
- We grab the show and extra files from the web (you don't have to do anything)
- We author the DVD, Print a cover, package and mail it to you or straight to your client and you get the money minus our charge for all the production.

Again, we haven't set a price b/c we don't know how automated we can make it but I think it'll be a good option for people who want more freedom instead of taking the time to do all that production themselves.

Cheers,
DJ
Nice! Honestly this sounds much more appealing than when it was first introduced. Thanks for keeping us up to date

[TXLEBER]

First off, I'm not a Wedding photographer, just a hobbiest. I use Proshow Gold for my slideshows. I've used several different programs like Adobe Premier Elements, Roxio, Studio Plus and others. Proshow was the only program that did slide shows without any kinks. Because I've used several other programs, learning Proshow was a snap. I didn't read any of the insturctions, just looked at the GUI and ran with it. It's almost self explanatory. I think what makes Proshow Gold so good, is that it does side shows and slide shows only. All the other programs were a mixture of video editing and photo editing/slide shows.

[EOS mE]

Just so everyone knows we haven't set a price for the Showit-DVD service but if you're interested in suggesting what you think is fair we'll certainly try and hit it.

Here's how it'll work.

- You upload a show
- Client can click on a little "DVD" at the bottom of your show that takes them to an ordering page with your logos and your pictures and your prices.
- We grab the show and extra files from the web (you don't have to do anything)
- We author the DVD, Print a cover, package and mail it to you or straight to your client and you get the money minus our charge for all the production.

Again, we haven't set a price b/c we don't know how automated we can make it but I think it'll be a good option for people who want more freedom instead of taking the time to do all that production themselves.

Cheers,
DJ


DJ.. how about the ShowIt Web 2.5??? when will that be out?

[schastain]

Take a look at SimpleViewer it runs like a Flash program, very easy to use and best of all it's free. If you would like to see it in action go to my site and click on the thumbnails on the right most of them will take you to albums.

Steve
Expressions Photography
www.expressionsfoto.com

[EOS mE]

Take a look at SimpleViewer it runs like a Flash program, very easy to use and best of all it's free. If you would like to see it in action go to my site and click on the thumbnails on the right most of them will take you to albums.

Steve
Expressions Photography
www.expressionsfoto.com (http://www.expressionsfoto.com)

i've used simpleviewer before, but having to individually tag and link the photos to the thumbnail.. it's very time consuming.

[coreypolis]

i've used simpleviewer before, but having to individually tag and link the photos to the thumbnail.. it's very time consuming.
I'm done with simpleviewer as well, but you can use picasa or porta to make the gallery, you just do some minor tweaking if you want

[EOS mE]

I'm done with simpleviewer as well, but you can use picasa or porta to make the gallery, you just do some minor tweaking if you want

i've tried porta too.. but in the end, i think i'm going to have to go with showit web

[MrTED]

Just so everyone knows we haven't set a price for the Showit-DVD service but if you're interested in suggesting what you think is fair we'll certainly try and hit it.

Here's how it'll work.

- You upload a show
- Client can click on a little "DVD" at the bottom of your show that takes them to an ordering page with your logos and your pictures and your prices.
- We grab the show and extra files from the web (you don't have to do anything)
- We author the DVD, Print a cover, package and mail it to you or straight to your client and you get the money minus our charge for all the production.

Again, we haven't set a price b/c we don't know how automated we can make it but I think it'll be a good option for people who want more freedom instead of taking the time to do all that production themselves.

Cheers,
DJ

DJ,

I am on the look out for slide show software at the moment, and exporting to various media (including DVD) is one of the prerequisites. I currently use my video editing suite to put together slideshows, it maybe a little cumbersome, but I know no better right now. Doing it this way gives me almost all options for export.

I do not know your software in great depth, but why would you opt for a full service to create a DVD, rather than the ability to create a DVD locally? Or it is also available.

Nathan

[rebel_gurl]

I use Proshow Producer and absolutely love it. Very easy to work with and the options are endless.

[coreypolis]

DJ,

I am on the look out for slide show software at the moment, and exporting to various media (including DVD) is one of the prerequisites. I currently use my video editing suite to put together slideshows, it maybe a little cumbersome, but I know no better right now. Doing it this way gives me almost all options for export.

I do not know your software in great depth, but why would you opt for a full service to create a DVD, rather than the ability to create a DVD locally? Or it is also available.

Nathan
its because of the swf to movie format proccess, there just aren't any good programs to change the format in home. Thats the word ont he street, and I can tell you that I've tried a few and most are crap.

[MrTED]

its because of the swf to movie format proccess, there just aren't any good programs to change the format in home. Thats the word ont he street, and I can tell you that I've tried a few and most are crap.

Well I guess that makes sense then. It may be a factor in my choice of program, or staying where I am.

Out of curiosity, what about Flash itself, I wonder whether it does a conversion? I have Flash V5, but I am sure there is an upgrade path if I wanted to go that way.

It's just that everyone raves about ShowIt and I am interested, but don't want to take a step backwards from being flexible with output formats.

Nathan

[DAVIDJAY]

why would you opt for a full service to create a DVD, rather than the ability to create a DVD locally? Or it is also available.

Nathan Good quesion and maybe I'm just lazy but I prefer to have somebody else do the work for me and that's why I outsource everything. :) I believe this philosophy, more than anything else, helped me grow my business to the place it's at.