How to make a video from photos: a practical guide
If you have photos on your phone or laptop and want to turn them into a shareable video, start by preparing compatible files. These steps help you avoid common photo size, audio and playback problems.
Pick a compatible image format
JPG, PNG and WebP are widely supported. HEIC photos from some iPhones may require browser support or conversion to JPG. Very large image files can slow down processing, especially on older phones.
Choose the right viewing format
For projectors, laptops and many TVs, a 16:9 horizontal video is convenient. Picmovia exports 1280 × 720 video, placing the complete photo on screen while filling the remaining background unobtrusively.
Use the song to decide duration
Picmovia gives photos about 3.7 seconds each in the standard repeating sequence. With music, the cycle keeps going until the song ends. You may instead spread the photos out across a single pass through the soundtrack.
Use music with permission
Being able to play or stream a song does not mean you can legally synchronize it into a new video and distribute that file. Choose your own recordings or music with a suitable license.
Review the final file
Video creation happens on your device, preserving privacy but using local processing resources. MP4 encoding can be slow or unsupported on some browsers. Watch the result before you share it and use a compatible alternate format if necessary.