How to make a photo slideshow for a party

Use a browser, not a video file

A slideshow exported as a video is fixed the moment you export it. A slideshow that runs in a browser can show photos you add during the party, and works on any smart TV, laptop on a projector or tablet. Open it full screen and it looks just as good.

Choose photos for a room, not a phone

• Landscape photos fill a TV screen best; portrait photos look smaller.
• Avoid small group shots where faces are tiny from across the room.
• Leave out anything you wouldn’t want shown to every guest.
• Mix older photos (for birthdays and anniversaries) with recent ones.

Get the timing right

Around six to eight seconds per photo works for a room where people glance at the screen between conversations. Faster feels hectic; slower feels stuck. With 60 photos at seven seconds, the slideshow loops about every seven minutes.

Prepare the screen and connection

Set the screen up before guests arrive, turn off the device’s sleep or screensaver, and test the venue Wi-Fi. If it’s unreliable, connect the display laptop by cable or a phone hotspot. Keep the power cable plugged in.

Add photos as the night goes on

The best moment for a slideshow is when photos from earlier in the evening appear on screen. ImageAlbums has a free live slideshow for every album: open it on the display, press full screen, and photos you add to the album join within seconds. A QR code in the corner lets guests open the album on their own phones.