The invasion of smartphones in our lives has brought to life a shutterbug in all of us. Regardless of our age or location, we are constantly pulling out our phones to capture and share moments. But instead of sharing a single picture, what if you could share a montage of images that would grip the viewer due to its music and captivating moments?
The technique of converting images into videos isn’t new. Often referred to as image collages or photo motion, converting pictures into video involves a slideshow of images that are clubbed together in an entertaining sequence. There are several images to video converters available online to help you get started.
But if the process was that easy, then everyone’s video would have been doing the rounds on social media. To master the art of converting images into entertaining videos, you need to focus on a few tips, which we’ll reveal in our blog. Before we begin, it is critical to understand the purpose of such an image to video tool.
When you use software such as the one on imagetovideo.com, you need to upload all your photographs and select the appropriate music to create the slideshow. These photographs will be displayed only for a fraction of the sections. Arranging your pictures in a creative, artful way can result in a visually stunning video that will get thousands of eyeballs rolling.
While creating a video from images is a simple process, it still requires a ton of patience, dedication, and an eye for detail. It doesn’t require you to take a course on film theory or buy a really expensive video camera. But you would need an aesthetic sense and a plan that places the pictures in a certain way. Here are our top 5 tips for creating an engaging video collage.
1. Create a Plan
While you don’t need millions of Instagram or Twitter followers to share your masterpiece, you would need a story/them and a marketing plan. Your plan should include a central theme around which all the pictures should focus. Also, consider the duration of your video, since the video should neither be so long that people lose interest nor too short that your message doesn’t come across.
The ideal video length is two minutes at the most. The shorter and crisper the video, the easy it is to share and watch. Another thing that you should consider is the number of pictures you will take and for how long.
For instance, do you want to take pictures of the same scene for a year or photos of yourself in various locations? Agree upon an interval that works best for the theme of your video.
2. The Equipment
The best part about converting images into a video is that you don’t need fancy equipment to get the job done. A scenic place and a digital camera or phone camera can also work. If your camera has the burst feature, then use it to capture multiple photos, and select the one that captures the right moment.
An expensive DSLR can help you capture high-quality images but won’t be able to capture multiple images at once. Also, you need to know how to use it, and might also have to consider special lenses, external flash, and even a tripod. Depending upon the level of your comfort with these devices, choose the equipment that best serves your purpose.
3. Start Taking Pictures
Once you know what works best for you, it is time to unleash the shutterbug inside you and take phones. Take as many pictures as possible. That is because the problem of plenty is a good problem to have when creating image collages.
Make sure you take well-composed photographs. These pictures can make a big difference even though they may seem tedious initially. Just remember, more is always better and can help you while shortlisting pictures for your video. After all, you won’t really know the real difference unless you experiment with the video editor later.
4. Picture Editing
Once you have all the pictures in a place, shortlist the ones you think fits the theme of your video. Edit each of these pictures for exposure issues to prevent a flicker effect. You can also consider editing the contrast, brightness, contrast, or saturation.
While editing all the pictures may seem a daunting task, editing them in batches won’t take a lot of your time. Several online software solutions can help you do that, but there might be some pictures where you’ll have to edit separately. Editing pictures can be extremely time-intensive, so be prepared to invest the time and effort beforehand.
5. Choose the Right Music
Your collage, by itself, won’t mean anything unless you add some beats to it. Depending upon the theme of your video, add music to your video to bring it to life. However, this can be challenging since most online music files have copyright issues or require buying a license.
If you are creating a video for family and friends, then you could use some popular music on YouTube without having the copyright license. However, if you are creating a video for commercial purposes, then make sure to use free music or attribute it correctly. Remember, music is an integral part of your video and must complement the images you’ve used.
Bonus Tip For Your Masterpiece
Use an online editor to let your images dance to the tune of the melodious music. There are umpteen music editors that are available for both Mac and Windows. Use these editors to control the pace of your images and experiment with various speeds until you find your sweet spot. It is recommended to show each picture for as long as 1/5 of a second or as short as 1/30 of a second. Also, use a Teleprompter app for video subtitles. Your videos will look great.
Final Words: Say Cheese
Now that you’ve turned your photographs into a catchy video, it is time to promote it on social media and other marketing channels. No matter the channel you choose, don’t be afraid to experiment and ask for feedback from your audience! 
