Video Slideshows & Home Movies for Dummies

One of the best things I've done with all the digital photos and video clips that I've taken with my Sony digital camera is to make video slide shows using Microsoft PhotoStory. It's a very easy program that allows you to import photos, re-arrange the order, set-up transitions between each photo, add titles, import mp3 music files for a sound track and set-up zoom/pan movement within each photo during the video. It also allows me to burn the finished product to a DVD to share with others after buying an additional $20 plug-in DVD burning plug-in specifically for that program.

I consistently get ooohs and ahhhhs whenever we show them to friends or family. Everyone wants to know how to do it themselves. The problem is that everyone is a little bit lazy, and there is a learning curve when it comes to all things technical.


Here's one attempt to solve that. Digital video slide show for Dummies: OneTrueMedia. The site allows you to upload photos from your PC, and then it auto-creates a video slide show for you with some basic razzle dazzle elements. If you are daring enough the service gives you more control to customize each part just like with the "manual" process I described above.
You can also order DVD's from them or photobooks too.

One really neat thing about OneTrueMedia is that you can also share any of the creations online through YouTube, GoogleVideo, etc and here's an exclusive feature that may be worth it for you to try them out: Anyone with a Tivo (like grandparents) worldwide can automatically find your latest video slide show on their "NOW PLAYING" menu and just watch your video just like any other of their recorded TV shows on the Tivo.

This is one service that is trying to break that inertia & "dummies" barrier for the millions of people that have digital photos and video clips "held hostage" in their cameras and hard drives.

If you've try it out, why not share your experience via the comments section?