What Photos Should You Use in a Tribute Video?

Choosing photos for a tribute video can feel difficult. You may have hundreds of images, only a small number, or a mixture of printed photographs, phone pictures and short video clips from different family members.

The most important thing to remember is that a tribute video does not need perfect photographs. It needs meaningful ones. A slightly imperfect photo that captures someone’s smile, character or relationship with the family can often be more powerful than a formal portrait.

Start with the person you are remembering

Before choosing the photos, think about the person themselves. What were they known for? What did they love? Who were the most important people in their life? What moments would family and friends immediately recognise?

A good tribute video should feel like the person being remembered, not just a collection of nice images.

Whether you are creating a tribute for a dad, mum, husband, wife, grandparent, friend or loved one, try to choose images that show their life, relationships, personality and the memories people will want to hold onto.

Use a mixture of life stages

If you have enough photos available, it can work well to include images from different parts of the person’s life.

This might include childhood, younger years, family life, work, holidays, hobbies, later years and meaningful moments with children, grandchildren, partners or friends.

You do not need to cover every year. The aim is not to create a complete biography. The aim is to create a warm and recognisable tribute that helps people remember the person properly.

You may want to include:

• younger photographs
• family portraits
• weddings, anniversaries and birthdays
• holidays and favourite places
• photos with children and grandchildren
• pictures with a husband, wife, partner or close friends
• hobbies, interests, pets or work moments
• everyday images that capture their character

Do not only choose formal photos

Formal photographs can be important, especially for the opening or closing of a tribute video. But the most moving images are often the ordinary ones.

A photo of someone laughing at a family meal, sitting in their favourite chair, walking on holiday, holding a grandchild, gardening, dancing or simply looking like themselves can carry a lot of meaning.

These are the images that often make people smile, remember and feel connected.

Include photos with other people

A tribute video is not only about showing what someone looked like. It is also about showing the relationships that mattered.

Photos with family and friends can be especially powerful because they show the life around the person. They help people remember birthdays, holidays, gatherings, weddings, ordinary days and shared moments.

Try to include a balanced mixture where possible, especially if the tribute will be shared with different family members and friends.

Should photos be in date order?

They can be, but they do not have to be.

A chronological order can work well if you want the tribute video to feel like a life story, beginning with early years and moving through to later life.

However, it can also work well to group photos by feeling or theme. For example, you might have a section for family, then holidays, then hobbies, then quieter personal moments.

If you are not sure, do not worry. A carefully edited tribute can still feel natural even if the photos are not in perfect date order.

Can you use old or damaged photos?

Yes, in many cases old photos can still work well, especially if they are meaningful.

Older printed photographs, scanned images and lower-quality pictures can still be included if they help tell the story. They may not look as sharp as modern phone photos, but they can still carry real emotional value.

If you only have physical printed photos, you can usually scan them or take a clear photo of them in good light. Try to avoid glare, shadows and tilted angles where possible.

Can you include short video clips?

Short video clips can add a very personal feeling to a tribute video. A few seconds of someone speaking, laughing, walking, waving, dancing or spending time with family can be incredibly meaningful.

However, video clips should usually be used carefully. Too many clips, or clips that are too long, can affect the pacing of the tribute.

For many tribute videos, photographs work best as the main structure, with short video clips included where they add something special.

How many photos do you need?

The number of photos depends on the style and length of the tribute video. A shorter tribute may only need a small, carefully chosen selection. A longer tribute can include more stages of life and more family memories.

It is usually better to choose fewer meaningful photos than to include too many images that feel repetitive or rushed.

If you are unsure how many to send, choose the photographs that matter most first. You can always ask for guidance if you are not sure which tribute video style is most suitable.

What makes a photo suitable for a tribute video?

A suitable photo does not have to be perfect. It should simply feel appropriate, recognisable and meaningful.

Ask yourself:

• Does this photo feel like them?
• Will it mean something to the family?
• Does it show a relationship, memory or part of their life?
• Would it feel suitable if shown to family and friends?

Some photos may be too private, too unclear or too emotionally difficult to include. Others may be imperfect but deeply important. Use your judgement, and choose the images that feel right.

Do the photos need to be professionally organised?

No. It can help to send photos in a rough order if you already know how you would like them to appear, but you do not need to have everything perfectly prepared.

If you are creating a tribute at a difficult time, it is completely normal for the photos to come from different phones, family members, albums and old folders.

The main thing is to gather the images and memories that matter. The editing can then bring them together into a calm, thoughtful and polished tribute.

A simpler way to create a tribute video

If choosing, arranging and editing the photos feels overwhelming, Everlasting Tributes can help create the tribute video for you.

You send us your photos, short video clips, music choices, wording and memories, and we carefully edit them into a personal tribute video. The finished video can be watched at home, shared with family, given as a remembrance gift, or used at a funeral, wake, memorial service or celebration of life.

This means you do not have to spend difficult hours trying to build a slideshow yourself, especially at a time when there may already be too much to manage.

Choosing the right style for your photos

Different photo collections suit different tribute styles.

A warm photo-led style can work well for family photographs, holidays, birthdays and everyday memories.

A traditional candlelit style may suit portraits, formal images and a more classic remembrance tone.

A peaceful cloud-filled style can feel calm, reflective and uplifting.

A memory-wall style can make favourite photographs feel like treasured prints displayed with care.

Frequently asked questions

Need help choosing photos for a tribute video?

You do not need to have everything perfectly organised before starting. You can choose a tribute video style, place your order, and send us your photos, video clips, music notes and wording afterwards, using the simple method we arrange with you after ordering.

If you are unsure what to include, we can help guide you through the process.

View our tribute video styles or contact us if you would like help creating a personal tribute video for your family.