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How to Create a Photo Slideshow with PowerPoint

Last Updated: February 6, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Mitch Harris . Mitch Harris is a Consumer Technology Expert based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mitch runs his own IT Consulting company called Mitch the Geek, helping individuals and businesses with home office technology, data security, remote support, and cybersecurity compliance. Mitch earned a BS in Psychology, English, and Physics and graduated Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 936,884 times.

With so many fun and accessible ways to take photos, there is no wonder why everyone is so photo-happy these days. As easy as it may be to stock up on photos, it can be a challenge to keep them organized. One great way to keep your photos in a convenient place, that is easy to access when you want to reminisce on special memories, is by uploading them into PowerPoint. By doing this, you can create a slideshow that is a fun-filled way to back up the memories in your life.

Creating Photo Slideshows for PC Computers

Step 1 Open PowerPoint and create a new presentation.

  • Remember to save your presentation after something that will help you to remember what pictures are in the file. This will help you to locate them later on.

Step 3 Name the title page.

  • Select a layout that will accommodate your image, such as a slide with a title box and an image box, a slide with just an image box, or even a blank slide.

Step 5 Import pictures to your slides.

  • Double-click inside the image box (or go to Insert > Picture > From File ), then browse to the desired image.
  • Click "Okay" or "Insert" to add the image. If you don't like the way it looks, select the image and click on "Picture" to change it out for a different one. You can also select the image and hit "Delete" to remove the picture.

Step 6 Rearrange the photo order if necessary.

  • Locate the "Slide Sorter" button near the bottom of the image pane. Then, click and drag the slides to the desired destinations.

Step 7 Add transitions to your slide shows.

  • To add music, click on the movies and audio icon located under the "Insert" tab. First, go to "Audio from file", and then, click on "Music" to pull up your music. When you choose the song you want, click on the song, and press "Link to file" before pressing "Insert". [9] X Research source
  • You can choose if the song plays for just one slide or the entire presentation by clicking on "Format Audio" next to the "Home" button, and then, clicking on "Play Across Slides" under "Audio Options". [10] X Research source

Step 10 Save your PowerPoint slideshow before you finish.

Creating Photo Slideshows for Mac Computers

Step 1 Open PowerPoint by double-clicking on the icon.

  • You can scroll through your photos and choose the ones you want to add to your slideshow by double-clicking on them.

Step 6 Rearrange the photo order if necessary.

  • To add music, click on the movies and audio icon located at the top of the PowerPoint screen. Then, click on "Music" and all of your music should appear. When you choose the song you want, drag and drop the file onto one of your slides.
  • You can choose if the song plays for just one slide or the entire presentation by clicking on "Format Audio" next to the "Home" button, and then, clicking on "Play Across Slides" under "Audio Options".

Step 10 Save your PowerPoint slideshow before you finish.

Sample Slideshow

presentation with just pictures

Community Q&A

Community Answer

  • Choose a theme for the photo slideshow. If the photos are from a summer vacation, choose a bright yellow background or upbeat music. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

presentation with just pictures

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  • ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-a-presentation-in-powerpoint-422250f8-5721-4cea-92cc-202fa7b89617
  • ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/save-your-presentation-file-34377c9c-a1e5-44e1-9c3f-e6e72ee6c541
  • ↑ https://tsengcollege.csun.edu/sites/default/files/PDFs/forWindows/Slide_Titles_in_Microsoft_PowerPoint.pdf
  • ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-rearrange-duplicate-and-delete-slides-in-powerpoint-e35a232d-3fd0-4ee1-abee-d7d4d6da92fc
  • ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/insert-a-picture-in-powerpoint-5f7368d2-ee94-4b94-a6f2-a663646a07e1
  • ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-transitions-between-slides-e89a076e-ed81-404e-9598-021a918fa1ba
  • ↑ https://guides.lib.umich.edu/c.php?g=283149&p=1886370
  • ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/play-music-across-multiple-slides-in-your-slide-show-b01ded6a-28c8-473a-971a-6dfa92cc9367
  • ↑ http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/officeversion_other-powerpoint/powerpoint-how-to-add-music-throughout-the/10a366a4-9727-4f78-aa06-e9f76c8a5269
  • ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-rearrange-duplicate-and-delete-slides-in-powerpoint-e35a232d-3fd0-4ee1-abee-d7d4d6da92fc#OfficeVersion=macOS
  • ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/insert-a-picture-in-powerpoint-5f7368d2-ee94-4b94-a6f2-a663646a07e1#OfficeVersion=macOS
  • ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/play-music-across-multiple-slides-in-your-slide-show-b01ded6a-28c8-473a-971a-6dfa92cc9367#OfficeVersion=macOS

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How to Create a Stunning Photo Slideshow in PowerPoint

A photo slideshow can bring your PowerPoint presentation to life. In this article, you’ll learn step-by-step how to make a compelling photo slideshow in Microsoft PowerPoint. We’ll cover choosing your photos, arranging them, adding transitions, music, and text – everything you need to create a dynamic slideshow your audience will love. Whether you’re a PowerPoint beginner or experienced user, you’ll find tips to take your next slideshow from ordinary to extraordinary.

Getting Started Create Slideshow in PowerPoint

find file tab in top menu powerpoint

Now you can customize this template slide for your photo slideshow. Change the title, subtitle, and text box colors and fonts to match your brand or theme. You’ll also want to delete any placeholder images and ensure the slide layout works for photos. The title and text boxes should not cover up the main photo area.

Add Photos to Your PowerPoint Slideshow

Step 1: Inserting a Single Photo

insert tab in top menu

  • Choose the desired image and confirm to insert it onto your slide. This method is ideal when you’re aiming for a different and selective approach in your presentation.

Step 2: Adding Multiple Photos Simultaneously

stock images in powerpoint

  • Simply drag the slides from the folder and drop them directly onto the PowerPoint slide. This batch insertion saves time and ensures consistency in your slideshow.

Step 3: Adjusting and Refining Your Photos

edit illustration or photo with powerpoint tools

Step 4: Ensuring Harmony Between Photos and Slide Elements

  • Review each slide to make sure photos don’t overlap with titles, bullet points or short text boxes.
  • Adjust the position or size of photos if they obstruct any slide elements. This ensures your slides in PowerPoint are both visually appealing and easy to understand.

Step 5: Exploring Additional Features (Optional)

  • For users on a Mac, familiarize yourself with any interface differences.

animation options in powerpoint

  • For a continuous presentation loop, select the “loop continuously” option in the slideshow settings.
  • Dive into the “Slide Layout” or “Picture Layout” options to experiment with different visual arrangements for your content.

Make a Custom Title Slide

Step 2: Inputting Your Title and Subtitle

create a new presentation title and subtitle

  • Below the title, there’s a space for a subtitle. Use this to provide additional context or a secondary message related to your main theme.

Step 3: Enhancing Text Aesthetics

change title style font

Step 4: Dabbling in Color Choices

  • With your title or subtitle text highlighted, click on the text color option in the “Home” tab. Select a color that complements your presentation’s theme.

also right click to change presentation background

Step 5: Embedding a Relevant Image

  • To further enhance your title slide, consider adding an image that ties in with your presentation’s theme.

add one picture or more

  • Once inserted, adjust the image’s size and position it behind your title and subtitle. Ensure the image doesn’t overpower the text but complements it.

How to Add Music into Your Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation

Step 1: Initiating the Audio Addition

  • Navigate to the slide where you want the music to start playing.
  • Head over to the “Insert” tab located at the top of the interface.

use music in ppt presentation

Step 2: Modulating the Audio Volume

setup music options

  • Use this slider to adjust the audio volume. If you’re aiming for background music that doesn’t overpower your presentation’s content, set the volume to a lower level.

Step 3: Selecting the Right Tune for Emotion

  • The music you choose plays a pivotal role in setting the mood for your slideshow on PowerPoint.
  • Reflect on the emotion or message you want to convey with your slides. Whether it’s nostalgia, excitement, or inspiration, pick a track that heightens this emotion.
  • Remember, the right song or instrumental piece can amplify the impact of visual transitions, making slide transitions to your slide more dynamic and engaging.

play across slides

How to Add Engaging Transitions to Your Presentation Slide Show

Step 1: Exploring the Transition Palette

more transitions and animations options for presentation

Step 2: Fine-Tuning the Transition Speed

timing animation and transition

  • By default, the transition duration is set to 1 second. However, if you’re aiming for a more relaxed and deliberate pace, especially for photo slideshows, adjust this to 2-3 seconds. This ensures each photo or slide lingers a bit longer, allowing viewers to fully absorb the content.

Step 3: Maintaining a Uniform Transition Style

  • Consistency is key to a professional-looking presentation. Instead of mixing and matching various transitions, which can be jarring, opt for a uniform slide motion effects style.

apply animation or transition to all slides

Step 4: Taking a Sneak Peek of Your Transitions

  • Before finalizing your presentation, it’s always a good idea to preview your slide motion effects.

demo all slides

How to Elevate the Visual Appeal of Photos in Your PowerPoint Presentation

Step 1: Fine-Tuning Brightness and Contrast

  • Launch Microsoft PowerPoint and navigate to the slide containing the photo you wish to enhance.

picture setup options

  • Within this tab, locate the brightness and contrast sliders. Adjusting these can significantly improve the clarity and visibility of your image, ensuring it looks its best on the big screen.

Step 2: Amplifying Color Vibrancy

  • Still within the “Picture Format” tab, look for an option labeled “Color Saturation.”
  • Boosting this will make the colors in your photo more vivid and pronounced, allowing your images to truly make a photo slideshow stand out and captivate your audience.

Step 3: Thoughtful Application of Filters

  • In the same “Picture Format” tab, you’ll find an option labeled “Color.” Clicking on this will reveal a dropdown with various filter effects, such as black & white, sepia, or vintage.
  • While these filters can add a unique touch, it’s crucial to use them sparingly. Over-filtered images can appear unprofessional or distract from the content.

Step 4: Incorporating Delicate Visual Effects

  • Beyond color adjustments, PowerPoint offers a range of subtle effects to enhance your photos further.

3d effects and styles for pictures

Step 5: Individual Photo Refinement

  • As you progress through your slide show in PowerPoint, take the time to enhance each photo individually. This attention to detail ensures a consistent and high-quality visual experience throughout your presentation.
  • However, always use restraint. Not every image may need adjustments, especially if they’re already of high quality.

How to Efficiently Save and Distribute Your PPT Presentation

Step 1: Initial Saving of Your Slideshow

  • After finalizing your presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint, it’s essential to save it in its native type.

file option in menu

Step 2: Transforming Your Slideshow into a Video

  • If you’re looking to share your slideshow in a more dynamic format, Power Point offers the option to export it as a video.
  • Click on the “File” menu again and navigate to “Export.”
  • Here, you’ll find an option labeled “Create a Video.” Select this and choose the desired video quality, typically MP4 file. This makes your slideshow more accessible and playable on various devices.

Step 3: Broadening Your Audience Reach

  • With your slideshow now in video type, you can upload it to popular platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, or even Google Drive.
  • Uploading to these platforms allows for wider sharing, making it accessible to colleagues in the workplace, friends, or the general public.

Step 4: Converting to a Portable Format

save presentation like pdf

  • Under the “File” menu, find the “Export” option again and select “Create PDF/XPS Document.” This format is perfect for sharing via email, embedding on your website, or posting on social media platforms.

Step 5: Universal Sharing

  • With your presentation now available in multiple formats, you’re equipped to share it virtually anywhere! Whether it’s a video link, a downloadable PDF, or the original PowerPoint file, you can distribute your engaging slideshow to a diverse audience across various platforms.

Creating a compelling photo slideshow in PowerPoint just takes a few simple steps. In this guide, we covered choosing an eye-catching template, importing photos, adding animation and music, customizing the title slide, and enhancing image quality.

With the right combination of great visuals, audio, animation, and text, you can make an engaging slideshow. Use these tips to take your PowerPoints photos from bland to brilliant.

Now you have all the tools to make your own dynamic photo slideshow presentation in PowerPoint. Bring your photos to life and impress any audience. Just follow this guide’s step-by-step instructions. Soon you’ll be a PowerPoint slideshow pro!

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10 Free PowerPoint Templates to Present Your Photos With Style

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You might think Photoshop is the best tool for putting together a photo collage, but actually PowerPoint offers plenty of free templates for you to use instead. Here's how to use a template in PowerPoint along with all the best PowerPoint photo collage templates you have to choose from.

Why Use PowerPoint Photo Collage Templates?

Share your photos: For our most popular preoccupation with photos—sharing.

Show off photos with style: A professional photo collage template can add gravity and enhance your photos.

Save time: Microsoft PowerPoint templates for photos are molds for standard layouts. Why reinvent the wheel? Save time with pre-made photography templates so you can focus on other things instead.

Showcase creativity: Turn a long-term photography project into a creative PowerPoint photo album presented as a slideshow.

How to Search for Free PowerPoint Photo Collage Templates

The most common use of Microsoft PowerPoint with photos is to use it as a photo album. PowerPoint ships with some default photo templates, but you can also use free templates in the Office Online Template & Themes gallery.

Follow these steps in Office 365. It should be similar for other versions of Microsoft Office as well.

PowerPoint Home Screen

  • You can tweak your slides further by applying Themes from the Design tab with just a click. A theme is a predefined combination of colors, fonts, and effects. Different themes are suitable for different slide layouts.

Tip: You can pin your favorite templates to the New screen.

The 10 Best PowerPoint Photo Templates

Good presenters know not only what to present but also how to present. These 10 professional photo collage templates do some of the handholding for you.

1. Stay Minimal With the Classic Photo Album

PowerPoint Classic Photo Album Template

The Classic Photo Album PowerPoint template is a minimal theme suitable for black and white street photography. Use this to create a personal portfolio. Limited to two colors, it doesn't distract from the photos you use the template for.

If you want to go with color, customize the default theme background, colors, number of images, alignment of thumbnails, and more by using the Ribbon.

2. Make a Baby Photo Collage

PowerPoint Baby Photo Album Template

This PowerPoint photo slideshow template presents your cute baby pictures in a vertical style. You can use a different number of photos in the slides and write down memories associated with the photos.

3. A PowerPoint Collage for Wedding Photos

Wedding photo collage in PowerPoint

The elegant Wedding Photo Album is a compilation of 17 slides in different layouts. You will find other wedding album templates in the gallery, but this is an understated photo collage. You can add up to five wedding photos to create a collage. For more choices, search with a "wedding photo album" keyword.

4. Birthday Photo Album Template for Any Age

PowerPoint Birthday Photo template

A common use of collages is to put together a birthday photo album. This PowerPoint template for birthday photos is easy to adapt to your needs. The 15 deck template also comes with editing instructions if you are a beginner on PowerPoint and need some help.

5. A Stylish Biography Template for Class

Biography template in PowerPoint

Studying the biographies of achievers is required reading in many grade levels. This is not for your photos but for profiling the life of famous men and women in the class. The Biography Presentation template is a well-designed template with space for photos and biographical information. Use each slide to focus on a single aspect of the achiever's life.

6. Escape With a Road Trip Photo Album Template

PowerPoint Road Trip Collage template

Just looking at the collage of placeholders for your road trip photos might make you want to take one. This beautiful PowerPoint template has eight slides, so you might need more of them if you bring back lots of memories.

7. Have Fun With a Party Photo Album Template

Party photo collage template in PowerPoint

A fun party can throw up a lot of little moments. Capture them all in a slideshow with this 21-slide PowerPoint template. This photo collage template is colorful to match any fun theme for your party.

8. Remember Someone With a Memorial Album

Memorial album PowerPoint template

Use the Floral memorial album template to pay tribute with a PowerPoint slideshow. The eight slides in the template are designed for different photos and one of the slides can even hold eight photos. This presentation design is somber but stylish at the same time.

9. Send a Reunion Reminder With a Family Photo Album

Family Photo Album template in PowerPoint

Present a few loving family photos to inspire everyone to start preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The theme of these PowerPoint slides is simple, and you can easily add a few more slides to the default five this deck comes with.

10. Create a Stunning Photo Book

Photo book PowerPoint template

You might feel overwhelmed if someone asked you to put together a quick photo book. But use this subtle yet stylish PowerPoint photo book template to get the job done in no time. The name and the placeholder images might suggest a fashion theme, but you can easily repurpose it for any photos.

Let's Not Forget Office Online

You might not use PowerPoint Online for crafting that killer presentation, but it's still a free alternative to Microsoft Office with plenty of templates.

While most of the online photo templates are crossovers from the Office suite gallery, there are still some exceptions. For example, the Animated picture collection template.

You can always download a template from the online gallery to your desktop. And you can save your presentation to a web location just as easily with OneDrive, then access it from there with Office 365.

Other Sources of Free PowerPoint Templates

There also lots of non-Microsoft sources of free Microsoft PowerPoint templates and backgrounds. Search with a keyword like "photos" or "photo album" to find them. Here are a few suggestions:

  • SlideHunter
  • PPTtemplate.net
  • PresenterMedia
  • Powered Template
  • Graphic River (paid)

Templates can help you take shortcuts through the time-consuming task of designing a presentation. That way you can save more time for perfecting the look of your presentation with a few profession design tips.

  • Productivity
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COMMENTS

  1. How to Create a Photo Slideshow with PowerPoint - wikiHow

    How to Create a Photo Slideshow with PowerPoint. With so many fun and accessible ways to take photos, there is no wonder why everyone is so photo-happy these days. As easy as it may be to stock up on photos, it can be a challenge to keep them organized.

  2. How to Create a Stunning Photo Slideshow in PowerPoint

    Creating a compelling photo slideshow in PowerPoint just takes a few simple steps. In this guide, we covered choosing an eye-catching template, importing photos, adding animation and music, customizing the title slide, and enhancing image quality.

  3. 10 Free PowerPoint Templates to Present Your Photos ... - MUO

    You might think Photoshop is the best tool for putting together a photo collage, but actually PowerPoint offers plenty of free templates for you to use instead. Here's how to use a template in PowerPoint along with all the best PowerPoint photo collage templates you have to choose from.

  4. How to make PowerPoint Photo Slideshow - YouTube

    Learn how to create a photo slideshow in Microsoft PowerPoint in this tutorial video. See step-by-step how to import photos, how to make quick edits to the photos, and how to bring them...

  5. Free Slideshow Maker - Create A Slideshow Online | Canva">Free Slideshow Maker - Create A Slideshow Online | Canva

    Choose our slideshow maker tool and upload your photos or use pre-designed pictures to create your slideshow. You can begin by storyboarding out your presentation, choosing a template or layout, then adding the media.

  6. Easily Create a Photo Slideshow in PowerPoint - YouTube

    Learn how to easily and quickly create a photo slideshow in PowerPoint. #powerpoint #learnpowerpoint ***Consider supporting Technology for Teachers and Stude...