Frequently Asked Questions

• How long does it take to produce the video?

We ask for 2 – 4 weeks (depending on the time of the year and the size of the video) to plan a production schedule.
Express Service is available and is based on a percentage of the cost of the video as well as how soon it is needed.

• Can a chapter be more or less than 25 images?

Yes, but please use the following quidelines:

We strongly recommend that a chapter be a minimum of 15 images in order to use a sufficient amount of music

As long as a song is long enough to accommodate more than 25 images, the chapter can be longer, but remember that the video is priced based on total number of images.

• How is the music edited?

We use the instrumental intro to each first song and fade out as needed. We usually start each song other than the last song on the beginning of the lyric and fade out accordingly. We “backend” the last song (meaning we start at the end out the song and back up starting where it makes sense) in order to get the end of the song to coordinate with the end of the video

• May I request a particular lyric or chorus of a song?

Yes, as long as it is long enough for the number of photos, and there is no music editing (piecing segments of a song together) involved. There is no charge for doing this once in a video, but each additional time there is a $10.00 service charge.

• May I request that certain lyrics coordinate with certain photos?

Yes, but this is sound synchronization and there is an extra charge based on additional editing time. Details can be worked out when you come in for your appointment.

• Is there anything special I should know about selecting photos?

Yes, a TV screen is horizontal, so allowances must be made for vertical photos. If the integrity of the photo will not be compromised, the editor will crop it (with the zoom lens of the camera) so it will appear full frame on the screen. You may request that we do not crop.

We also have the capability of cropping in on certain portions of a photo to zero in on someone or eliminate someone.
(Please note any special instructions on a post it note and affix it to the face of the photo.)

Captions written on photos restrict creativity and proper focusing.
We can superimpose a caption on a photo (at an additional charge)
Again, please note in on a post it on the photo.

Candids make the video much more enjoyable than a series of school photos and formal headshots,, but of course there are times when a formal is beautiful, i.e. a wedding portrait.

• Do I want to do my video chronologically or by theme?

It is usually dependent on if you have enough photos of certain subjects to create theme chapters.

For example, you can do a combination of both for a birthday or anniversary:

Start with a chapter of the recipient(s) as children with their immediate families through high school or college graduation.

They meet someone, date, marry and start a family.

Their children grow up, marry and along come the grandchildren.

Then you also have non-family photos: friends, trips, business associates. That can be a chapter unto itself, and usually works well as the chapter following the children growing up but before they marry and the grandchildren are born.

An overview or recap always makes a nice final chapter, using a photo of the recipient(s) as the final photo with the closing

• I’m totally overwhelmed with this project, but really want to make a video, can someone at Play It Again help me?

Of course we can!

The first question you need to ask yourself is how much am I will to invest in this video and set yourself a budget.

Next you must select the photos and have them in some sort of order, and have thought about music and titles when you come in for your appointment. We’ll help you organize and finalize at the appointment.

We allot 1 hour for every 100 photos to help you get the video prepared to go into production.

There is a creative consulting charge of $25.00 per 1/2 hour
For any additional time needed.

• I’ve selected my photos, have them in order, have selected music and have my titles completed, what do I do now?

Please number each photo conseculatively using a pen, pencil or photographic crayon on the back of the photos. If you do not want to write on the photos, labels or post its are OK to use, but please tape the post its. DO NOT USE A PERMANENT MARKER OR FLAIR TYPE PEN. It will either bleed through or smudge onto the face of the following photo when they’re stacked.

Separate the photos into chapters if you’re doing the video by theme, or have an idea of where the breakpoints should be between songs.
(A significant photo or an obvious change in time is always a good place)

Call us to make an appointment to come in and sit with a salesperson to go through your order. If you are completely organized your appointment will take no longer than 1 hour.