This is a Frequently Asked Questions leaflet for a MAXIMS PhotoShow Tribute. It can/should accompany the “Client Information” leaflet.

What do I need?

A pack of envelopes for grouping and a pack of Post It notes. Some space to spread pictures out also helps.

What do I do now?

Try to have a clear idea of your PhotoShow’s purpose;
- Do you want it to be a tribute with pictures from a person’s entire life, or to focus on a particular aspect, such as family or holidays?
- Would you like it to be funny, sentimental or both? By having a general idea of where you are going before you begin, the rest of the planning will be much easier.
- Try to find pictures that are high quality, undamaged and evoke emotion. If you are creating a picture of a person’s life, remember you can only include a very limited number of pictures from each time period. Try not to include very similar pictures.
- Grouping pictures chronologically works well.
- Thematic groups work equally well – Dad as a family man, Dad and his hobbies.

What else can I use?

Take a photo of something - anything that reflects your loved one’s life – animals, a cricket ball, a flower, a painting, a fireman’s helmet, a toy car collection - The list is endless.

There maybe some special memorabilia that you need photographed – we can do this for you. Please just ask.

How many pictures do I need?

We would recommend that you aim for five or six pictures a minute - this creates a five minute PhotoShow with time for reflection as pictures are viewed.

I’m not sure that I can cope with going through pictures at this time...

Many of our clients say that, but find that the process gives them something positive to focus on and a purposeful way to cope with grief by remembering good times from their loved one’s life.

What media can I use?

- Photographs – up to A4 – we can arrange for larger pictures and items to be photographed.
- Digital files – all common formats – jpg, tif, bmp, raw etc.
- Scans – we will scan your pictures, but if you wish to do this please scan pictures at the highest resolution your scanner (and computer) will support. We will be zooming in to the key subjects and need the best resolution we can get.
- Video – VHS, DVD, sVHS, miniDV – no more than 30 second clips, clearly marked. Please note that these can add considerable production time and expense.

How do I mark the pictures?

Please don’t mark your pictures. Use Post It notes with a number or put each picture in an envelope with information written on the front. Make sure that you have labelled each picture with a clear number. If there are no labels, we will choose a suitable order.

I’ve just finished numbering and found some more pictures!

Don’t worry, just add the pictures and number them with say, 12a so that we know to put that after picture 12.

Big gaps in years without pictures?

We do have a number of beautiful video clips of nature that we can drop in for a few seconds. Shots of flowers or mountain streams give a feeling of peace and of time passing. Just write on a Post It something like 15 – gap – 16. This is optional.

I’d like to use some text...

Please use a Post It to add any text you would like. Write it in speech marks: “Dad loved his animals”. Use a note to write the words for the title slide and another for the final slide.

A brief biography can be added either as an insert or on the back cover for future generations to read.

I’d love to use a picture, but it’s damaged.

We can restore many pictures and remove scratches, stains, tears, colour – some pictures may be beyond restoration. We can usually remove unwanted parts of a picture.

What about music?

We need one piece of music, about 5 minutes long, to accompany the PhotoShow. Shorter or longer tracks can normally be edited to the length of your show

Copyright is a legal requirement. You must own the original copies of the music you wish us to use. You can supply this with your other media. We regret that we cannot use copies.

Alternately we can add royalty free music, which avoids the copyright issues. These tracks are carefully chosen to ensure that they fit the PhotoShow’s purpose. This option also has the added advantage of the music becoming special for your show.

How will the PhotoShow be shown?

Maxims PhotoShow can hire you a complete projection solution including set up and operation during the service. When hired as part of a tribute package, the cost is reduced.

This hire service can also be used separately for your own presentation to show videos, photographs and slides - It doesn’t have to be used only for our PhotoShows.

I still really need some help...

Contact us and we will either talk you through any difficulties or even visit you and help organise your show. We can show you some examples of our work and even leave you with a disc of appropriate music that could be used.