Hi Mark,
I would love to see one of your show samples if you would post the link to it.
I believe a truly magnificent show is created from within. It is from a true passion to take something ordinary and make it extra-ordinary.
My story begins with an unfortunate, tragic, accident and a memorial I created for the family.
They wanted me to post it on Facebook to share with family that were not able to come to the funeral and I found myself in "business" and not prepared at all. It was also shown at a local fundraiser for the family, on a gigantic screen, with over 500 people in attendance. (I had no idea it was being shown until after the fact) and it just happened "word of mouth". I am now online trying to learn an easier way than "trail by fire," as I originally did it with the trail program of Pro Show Producer. During that show I , learned as much as possible with the help key, calling Photodex, trial & error, but mostly with the help from a person I found online who did slideshows. I shall call her, for sake of privacy, my "kindered spirit." We have become true, true friends, and she is like a sister I never had ... and it is so UNUSUAL, THE WAY WE MET. I THINK IT WAS MEAN TO BE.
For this story, we will backtrack a little. I was online looking for samples and ran across her site. I emailed her and she responded right away, but saying that she was on vacation and would answer all my questions when she returned, but did answer the one, very important one, and that was referring me to try the full trial version of Pro Show Producer, as that is what she used for her shows. I was and still am amazed with this software. It allowed me to produce a professional slideshow that has been sitting and waiting in my creative soul for years.
I was always "the one" in corporate America that they would ask to do their PowerPoint and Slideshows, but had never used anything but Microsoft's Photo Story. Once I experienced the comparison, I never turned back. I used to work in the scientific world but only as an administrative assistant. I was never able to do just a simple presentation. I had to have the color, creativity or passion involved, even though it may have been of "test tubes and the like."
To make a long story, shorter ... I was so anxious to have this person return from vacation and this next part is truly, amazing. It turned out she resides in Canada. I live in Southern California. We have never met in person. And guess where she was vacationing? Within 20 miles from where I live. She has been my mentor, my teacher, and pointed me to this site and always seems to steer me down the right path. We are not and have not had any formal graphic design training and are self-taught, with the help of sites like this one and the wonderful people at Photodex. We are working on a show together for an upcoming reunion I have and she and I share a place called "DropBox" to exchange images and video clips and we then merge them together. She uses the "capture" tool on Producer to also teach me with the screen shots. We have invited them to the reunion and I hope, we do get to meet in person.
This reunion is in May, and I have another show that is due March 5. The theme for the March Show is Hollywood Nights, and the one in May is "Patriotic". If there is anyone who has a template or idea for either, it would be greatly appreciated. It is for my husband's navy group that consists of about 800 pictures. I do a site for them on Shutterfly, and they have posted pictures, but unfortunately, they have to be downloaded one at a time. Yet another way to preserve an "offsite" storage for free.
I am a senior, and have worked hard my entire life, but never enjoyed much of it. I am addicted to ProShow (even with a few wishes for the future software) and what it can do to create extra-ordinary, memorable moments for generations to come.
My problem now is learning the basic simple techniques as I believe I pumped out that show in 36 hours on some type of super power. I look back and cannot believe I did it. I now have three upcoming shows, and have become almost "paralyzed" with, how do I do this, and that , etc. I know what I want to do in my mind's eye, but do not have the technique down yet, but enjoying it anyway. This is more than I can say for any position I held the 50 plus working years that I spent working for others, and many of them not very nice people to work with.
After I am done with my research on the "basic, best, beginners, tutorials" I will post them up here, all in one spot, to "pay it forward" as my friend in Canada has done for me.
Another great thing about Shutterfly, is you can create a page called useful sites and post all your links in one spot. Then share them if you wish, or you can set the permissions to "private" and only for your eyes. This is where I am housing my own business site to send links until I can find the time and money to create another separate one. They have templates predone, and you can make a site in about five mintues so try that if you are struggling with a place to hold photos or present your work. It also allows videos up to 15 minutes and up to 10 free. 29.99 a year for unlimited.
If I don't end now, I never will, so I will sum it up by saying ... If it had not been for my "kindered spirit", and she knows who she is, I would never and will not make it. She has been a godsend and she does it with an open heart and smile and positive attitude, which amazes me within itself as her life is not without heartache and obstacles. I truly owe her so much, but can only give back with helping someone else, or creating something to prove her efforts were and are worthwhile. The best compliment I received was from a funeral director, who wanted me to re-do his wife's memorial that he had done by a professional that charged him three times more than I would. I do want to do some fun pet things, and grandkid shows of all their sports, but would take three assistants (I have 16 grandchildren). So, to everyone that thinks they are too old to learn, I say "hogwash." So help with beginning lessons, tutorials, and themes if you can ...
PS: By the way, the phrase "slide show" just does not seem to fit what one
can accomplish with Producer. I suggest we have a contest to come up with a better terminology. I keep hearing, yes I did one of those for " bla bla bla" and I am thinking,
Not like this software can do it ... don't think so. "
AND ... IT IS MY FAVORITE COLOR ...
P U R P L E! Thanks you all for your postings, it is helping me tremendously. Now if we had one on how to quit procrastinating and just jump in with both feet, might help greatly.
Regards and Bless you all. "Pro Show on ...." Lin,
Simi Valley, CA