How Many Photos for a Wedding Slideshow?
Photo and Song Length Calculator
Dear Ever editors｜Calculated from the production engine's actual timeline:
In this guide
Short answer: on Dear Ever's actual production rules, each photo takes about 5 seconds, and a growing-up slideshow adds about 30 seconds for the opening, three name titles and the ending. 30 photos run about 3 minutes; 40 photos about 3 minutes 50 seconds. A 3-minute song fits about 30 photos. A song longer than the film fades out at the end, so you do not need to trim it to fit.
Wedding slideshow photo and song calculator
Photo count and film length at a glance
| Photos | Growing-up slideshow (three chapters) | Wedding photos (one chapter) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | about 1:20 | about 1:07 |
| 20 | about 2:10 | about 1:57 |
| 25 | about 2:35 | about 2:22 |
| 30 | about 3:00 | about 2:47 |
| 35 | about 3:25 | about 3:12 |
| 40 | about 3:50 | about 3:37 |
Working back from a song: a 3-minute song fits about 30 photos and a 3:30 song about 36. For a song of about 4 minutes 40 seconds or longer, use all 50 photos and let the song fade out at the end.
How the numbers are calculated
The figures come from the actual timeline of Dear Ever's production engine, calculated for 6 to 40 photos on 19 October 2026. The relationship is a straight line:
- Growing-up slideshow: length ≈ 29.8 seconds + 5 seconds × photos. The fixed part covers the opening, the bride, groom and together name titles, and the ending.
- Wedding photos: length ≈ 17 seconds + 5 seconds × photos, with one opening title and the ending.
- Keepsake style: about 4.96 seconds per photo, about 7 seconds shorter overall.
The 5 seconds per photo already includes the overlap with the next transition. When you edit a slideshow yourself, 4–7 seconds per photo is common; the slower the pace, the fewer photos a song can hold.
What if the song is longer or shorter than the film?
Dear Ever sets the film length from the number of photos, then fits the song: a longer song fades out at the end, and a shorter one plays again from the start, so the film never cuts off or falls silent. Your own song can be up to 5 minutes. For ideas, see wedding slideshow songs.
How many photos work best?
For a wedding reception, 30–40 photos and about 3–4 minutes work well: enough to go from childhood to today without losing the guests' attention. Around 8–12 photos per chapter keeps the three chapters balanced. If you have too many, remove repeated scenes first, then keep one photo for each age and person. See the wedding slideshow guide for choosing and ordering.
Once you know how many photos you need, add them and preview the film free; pay only when you are happy. The final film is HK$799, a watermark-free 1080p MP4. To see the result first, watch the full Provence example.
Start making Read the guideRelated reading
Planning and photosHow Many Wedding Videos Do You Need? What to Combine, and What to SkipChoose wedding video types by viewing purpose, combine childhood and love stories where useful, then plan playback with two schedules and a copyable production brief.
Planning and photosWedding Slideshow Feeling Slow? Check These 7 Things Before Adding EffectsImprove a wedding slideshow draft by removing repeats, adding needed context, balancing both stories and reviewing pace, music and playback with a copyable note.
Planning and photosToo Many Photos? How to Choose for Your Wedding SlideshowNot sure which photos to keep? Choose and order 30-40 photos, digitise old prints and prepare for venue playback, with DIY steps and tool-selection tips.
Ways to make itWedding Slideshow Prices in 2026: 11 Providers Compared. Is Pricier Better?How much is a wedding slideshow? Photo slideshows list at HK$800–1,500, often included with photography; filmed MVs and AI films HK$6,800–13,800. Prices from 11 official sources, why they differ and extra charges.