Short answer
Count one photo for every 5 seconds of video, plus one. A 1-minute video needs about 13 photos, a 3-minute video about 37, and a 5-minute video about 61. Each pair of neighbouring photos becomes one 5-second animated transition.
| Video length | Photos | Credits | Pack that covers it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 min | 13 | 12 | — |
| 2 min | 25 | 24 | — |
| 3 min | 37 | 36 | — |
| 4 min | 49 | 48 | — |
| 5 min | 61 | 60 | — |
Photos, length and credits
Use the table to plan. One credit animates one transition, so the credits you need are always one less than the number of photos.
Which length to choose
Shorter is usually better for a party: guests watch 2–4 minutes comfortably. For a first birthday or a social post, one minute is plenty. Milestone birthdays and anniversaries with decades of photos can run 4–5 minutes.
If you have too many photos
Keep the clearest photo of each year or milestone. Similar shots side by side make the change between them less visible, so spacing the photos out in time gives the most striking transitions.
Can I add more photos later?
Yes. Add or reorder photos at any time; only the pairs that changed need a new animation.
What is the minimum number of photos?
Two photos make one transition, which is enough to see the effect, and your first animation is free.