How do I create a presentation for a funeral?

You want to create a beautiful photo presentation for a loved one's funeral. But where do you start? In this article, we walk through the complete process step by step.

Quick summary

1. Collect photos from family and friends
2. Select the best photos (30-50 for 4-5 minutes)
3. Put them in chronological or thematic order
4. Choose appropriate music
5. Export to the format the funeral home needs

Step 1: Collecting photos

Start by collecting — sorting comes later.

Where to find photos?

• Your own phone and computer
• Photo albums (digitize if needed)
• Family and friends (ask them to share)
• Social media (Facebook, Instagram)
• WhatsApp groups

The problem with email: Collecting photos via email often leads to chaos — different formats, files too large, duplicates. A central collection point works better.

Step 2: Selecting photos

You probably have more photos than you need. That's good — now you can choose.

Selection criteria:

• Is the photo sharp and well-lit?
• Is the person recognizable?
• Does the photo add something (different moment, different period)?
• Would you show this photo to an outsider?

How many photos? Guideline: 6-10 seconds per photo.

• 3 minutes of music: 18-30 photos
• 4 minutes of music: 24-40 photos
• 5 minutes of music: 30-50 photos

Step 3: Determining order

The most common approach is chronological — from childhood to recent years. This tells the life story.

Alternatives:

• Thematic (family, work, hobbies, travel)
• Emotional arc (calm beginning, buildup, serene ending)

Step 4: Choosing music

Music completes the presentation. Choose a song that fits the person or the mood you want to create.

Options:

• A favorite song of the deceased
• Classical funeral music
• Instrumental background music

Note the music duration: Most presentations last 4-6 minutes. Choose a song of that length, or combine multiple short songs.

Step 5: Creating the presentation

Here you have a choice:

Option A: DIY in PowerPoint

• Advantage: free
• Disadvantage: time-consuming, technical knowledge needed, iPhone photos (HEIC) often don't work

Option B: Online tool like The Last Farewell

• Advantage: family can collaborate, all photo formats work, automatic music sync
• Disadvantage: one-time cost on export

Option C: Have it made

• Advantage: no work
• Disadvantage: higher costs, less control, longer lead time

Step 6: Delivering to the funeral home

Before you export, ask the venue:

1. What format? (usually PowerPoint)
2. Should the music be included?
3. How to deliver? (USB, email, WeTransfer)

Most common formats:

• PowerPoint (.pptx) — works at most venues
• Separate JPEGs (001.jpg, 002.jpg) — for venues with their own system

Common problems

iPhone photos don't work

iPhones save photos in HEIC format. PowerPoint doesn't always support this. Solution: use a tool that automatically converts HEIC, like The Last Farewell.

Photos are too large for email

Use WeTransfer or a shared folder (Google Drive, iCloud). Or use a central tool where everyone uploads directly.

I have too many photos

That's not a problem — select the best ones. Quality over quantity. 30 strong photos are better than 60 mediocre ones.

The music doesn't match the number of photos

Adjust the number of photos, or choose different music. With The Last Farewell, photos are automatically distributed over the music duration.

Summary

Creating a funeral presentation doesn't have to be complicated:

1. Collect photos from multiple sources
2. Select the best ones (30-50)
3. Order chronologically or thematically
4. Choose appropriate music
5. Create the presentation (yourself or with a tool)
6. Deliver in the right format

Most importantly: take your time where possible, and ask family for help. Creating together is not only more practical, it's also a beautiful process.