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Making a tribute video: a guide for families

How to add photos, videos, music and a voice message to a tribute video from any phone or computer. No account or app needed.

Updated 2026-10-19

For funeral homes: copy this guide and send it to the family with their invitation. "Us" means your funeral home.

A short message to send first

We'd love to help you make a tribute video for the service. You'll get an email from Tribute Creator with a private link. Open it on your phone or computer to add photos, videos, music and a voice message. There's nothing to install, no account to create and nothing to pay. Your work saves as you go, so you can stop and come back any time. If you need help, just call us.

1. Opening your link and password

How to open the private link your funeral home emailed you, and how to sign in again with your password.

Find the email from your funeral home. It comes from "(their name) via Tribute Creator".
Click Open your tribute in the email. You will see "Setting up your tribute workspace…" for a moment.
Your tribute opens on Build Your Tribute. There is nothing to install and no account to create.
Keep the email. Click Open your tribute again any time to come back, on the same device or a different one.
Your funeral home also sets a password for you and will tell you what it is. You only need it if you sign in without the link.
To sign in that way, go to tributecreator.online, click Sign In, enter your email and password, then click Sign In.

You'll never be asked to pay. Your funeral home looks after everything.

If your funeral home has set your invitation to uploads only, your email has an Add your photos button instead. See adding photos with an upload link.

It says "Invalid Invite Link". What do I do?

The link is no longer valid. Contact your funeral home and ask them to send it again.

It says "Too many sign-in attempts".

Wait 15 minutes and try again, or use the link in your email instead.

Can I forward my link to family?

Anyone with your link can open and change your tribute, so only share it with people you trust. For others, ask your funeral home for an upload link.

2. How the steps work and saving as you go

A quick tour of the two steps, the list of parts and how your work is saved, so you know your way around.

At the top are two steps: Build Your Tribute and Edit Your Tribute. You add everything in the first step, then arrange it and watch it in the second.

Build Your Tribute is split into parts, shown in a list on the left:

The beginning: Opening scene and Opening portrait.
The memories: Photos & videos, Stock images and Background.
The sound: Music and Voice recording.
The ending: Closing scene.

Click any part to open it, or use the Next button at the bottom of each part. On a phone, tap All parts to see the list.

Parts marked Optional can be skipped. A tick shows each part you have done, and the bar at the top counts them.

Your work saves as you go. You can close the page and come back later from your email link.

When you have finished the parts, click Continue to Edit Your Tribute. Edit Your Tribute is there for you unless your funeral home has set your invitation to uploads only.

Some parts are already filled in. Is that right?

Yes. Your funeral home may have set up the words, fonts or music for you. You can change them.

I cannot see the Back or Continue buttons on my computer.

Move your mouse to the bottom edge of the screen and the bar slides up. Click the padlock in the middle of the bar to keep it on screen.

How do I stop for now?

Just close the page, or click Log out at the top. Everything is already saved.

3. Opening scene: name, dates, words and fonts

Use this to set the title, name and dates people see when the video starts.

In Build Your Tribute, click Opening scene.
Check Enable Opening Scene is set to On. Turn it Off if you do not want an opening scene.
Open Text. Type the words in Your Text, such as "In Loving Memory", or click Suggestions for ideas.
Type their full name in Name and the dates in Date.
For each line, choose the font, the size and the colour beside it.
Use the arrows under Position to move a line, or Move All Text to move all three lines together.
Need another line? Click Additional Field and type it in.
To add a picture behind the words, open Image or Video. To change the colour behind them, open Background.

Can I change this again later?

Yes. In Edit Your Tribute, click the opening scene on the timeline to change its words, picture and background.

Does the opening scene use the tribute background?

Yes, unless you give it a background of its own under Background.

4. Opening portrait

Add a favourite portrait photo that shows straight after the opening scene.

In Build Your Tribute, click Opening portrait.
Check Enable Opening Portrait is set to On.
Open Image or Video, then Upload Your Own, and click Choose image or video to pick your photo.
Or choose a picture from Stock Images or Stock Videos instead.
Use Original or Fit, and the arrows under Pan, to show the part of the photo you want. Click Crop Image to trim the edges.
Open Text to change the words. They start as a copy of the opening scene, and changes here do not affect it.

Which photo should I use?

A clear, well lit photo of their face works best. A larger photo looks sharper on a big screen.

Can I leave it out?

Yes. Set Enable Opening Portrait to Off.

5. Adding photos and videos

Add the photos and home videos that make up the heart of the tribute, from your phone or computer.

In Build Your Tribute, click Photos & videos.
Click Choose Photos & Videos. On a computer you can also drag and drop files onto the box.
Pick the photos and videos you want, then click Open. You can choose many at once.
Wait while it shows "Uploading your files...". Each file then appears under Your Media, numbered in order.
To take one out, click the X on its corner.

Printed photos

Lay each print flat in good light and take a clear photo of it with your phone. Then add it as normal.

iPhone photos

iPhone photos work as normal. They are changed to a standard photo type in your browser before they upload.

How many

Add as many as you need, unless your funeral home has set a limit. If there is one, a line starting Media: shows how many items and how much time you have used.

If a photo is small, you will see a note that it may look blurry on a big screen. It is still added. Use a larger copy if you have one.

My photos are in Google Photos, iCloud or Facebook.

Save or download them to your phone or computer first, then add them.

Can I add video clips?

Yes. Videos sit alongside your photos. You can choose how loud their sound is in Edit Your Tribute.

It says I have reached the limit.

Remove an item to make room, or ask your funeral home if they can allow more.

6. Putting photos in order and how long each shows

Use this to arrange your photos and videos and choose how long each photo stays on screen.

In Photos & videos, drag the photos into the order you want. On a phone or tablet, hold the handle on a photo and drag.
Under How long each photo shows, choose a number of seconds.
If you already have photos, choose to change them all, or click Only photos I add from now on.
To change one photo, go to Edit Your Tribute and use the − and + buttons on that photo in the timeline.
To fit all the photos to the length of your music, tick Automatically sync photos to music in the Music part.
Tick Use random transitions to mix dissolve, fade and push between photos.

Why can I not change how long photos show?

Automatically sync photos to music is on. Untick it in the Music part to choose a length yourself.

Can I crop or move a photo in the frame?

Yes. In Edit Your Tribute, click the photo and use the Media tab.

7. Stock images and videos

Add flowers, landscapes and other ready-made pictures if you need more photos or a gentle pause between them.

In Build Your Tribute, click Stock images. This part is optional.
Click a picture to add it. A tick shows it is chosen. You can choose more than one.
Click the button under the pictures to see more.
Click a chosen picture again to take it out.
Your chosen pictures join your photos. Drag them into place in Photos & videos or on the timeline.

Stock videos are offered as a moving background, in the opening and closing scenes, and when you replace a video in Edit Your Tribute.

Your funeral home may have added some pictures of its own to the collection.

Do stock images count towards my limit?

Yes. If your funeral home has set a limit, each stock image counts as one item.

8. Background

Choose the colour, picture or video that shows behind your photos and scenes.

In Build Your Tribute, click Background.
Open Colour and click a colour, or pick your own under Custom Selection.
Or open Background Image and click a picture to use behind everything.
Or open Background Video and click a video. It loops for the whole tribute.
Or open Upload Your Own and click Choose image to use your own picture.

The background shows around tall (portrait) photos and behind the scenes. The scenes use it too, unless you give them a background of their own.

Can one photo have a different background?

Yes. In Edit Your Tribute, click that photo and use its Background tab.

How do I take a background picture away?

Click the X on the chosen picture, or choose a colour instead.

9. Music: the library or your own song

Pick a song from the library or upload your own to play softly behind the photos.

In Build Your Tribute, click Music.
Songs in the library are grouped by length, such as Under 3 minutes or 5 to 7 minutes. Press play to listen.
Press the + button beside a song to add it.
To use your own song, click Upload Your Own Music (or drag & drop) and pick the file.
Read the copyright message and click I Accept & Upload if you have the right to use it.
Add more than one song if you like. They play one after another in the order shown, and you can drag to reorder them.
To remove a song, click the bin beside it.
Prefer no music? Click No Music instead.

Your own song can be an MP3, MPEG, WAV, AAC or M4A file. Please only use music you have the right to use.

If your funeral home has set a time limit, you will see how much music time you have used.

Will the music drown out a voice message?

No. The music goes softer while someone is speaking.

Can I shorten a song?

Yes. In Edit Your Tribute, drag the ends of the music on the timeline to trim it.

Can we have no music at all?

Yes. Click No Music at the top of the Music part. Voice recordings and the sound in your videos still play.

10. Recording or uploading a voice message

Add a story or message in someone's own voice, recorded now or from a recording you already have.

In Build Your Tribute, click Voice recording. This part is optional.
Click Record New Memory. When your browser asks to use the microphone, allow it.
Tap the microphone button to start, and speak. Tap it again to stop.
Give the recording a name, such as "Mum's story", then click Save.
Already have a recording, such as a voicemail? Click Upload a Recording and choose the file.
Add as many recordings as you like. In Edit Your Tribute, drag each one left or right to choose when it plays.

You can upload MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, OGG, WebM or FLAC files under 100 MB.

If the recordings run longer than the photos, the closing scene stretches to cover them.

Recording does not work on my iPhone.

Chrome on iPhone cannot record. Open your link in Safari instead.

It says the microphone is blocked.

Allow the microphone in your browser settings, close other apps using it, then refresh the page and try again.

How do I delete a recording?

Click the bin on the recording, then Delete to confirm.

11. Closing scene

Use this for the final words people see when the video ends.

In Build Your Tribute, click Closing scene.
Check Enable Closing Scene is set to On.
Open Text and type your message in Your Text, such as "Forever In Our Hearts". Click Suggestions for ideas.
Add a name or dates in Name and Date if you like, and choose fonts, sizes and colours.
Use Image or Video to add a picture, and Background to change what shows behind the words.

Can I leave it out?

Yes. Set Enable Closing Scene to Off.

12. Edit Your Tribute: the timeline

Use the timeline to fine tune the order, timing, cropping and sound once everything is added.

Click Edit Your Tribute at the top, or Continue to Edit Your Tribute.
The timeline at the bottom shows your scenes, photos, videos, music and recordings in order.
Drag photos to reorder them. Use − and + on a photo or scene to change how long it shows.
Click a photo to open its settings. The Media tab lets you resize it, move it with the arrows, crop it or replace it.
The Timing tab sets how long it shows and the transitions in and out. For a video, set Video sound from Silent to Full.
Click a scene on the timeline to change its Text, Media and Background.
Drag voice recordings left or right to choose when they play. Drag the ends of the music to trim it.
Click the question mark for the Timeline Guide, and use the zoom buttons to see more or less.

Edit Your Tribute is there for you unless your funeral home has set your invitation to uploads only.

How do I drag on a phone?

Press and hold a photo until it lifts, then drag it.

Can I show the whole photo without cutting it off?

Yes. In the Media tab choose Whole photo, or use Resize from 40% to 200%.

Can I swap a photo but keep its place?

Yes. Use Replace photo in the Media tab. It keeps the same spot on the timeline.

13. Watching the preview

Watch your tribute with its music, voices and scenes to check everything before you send it.

Go to Edit Your Tribute. The preview is next to the timeline.
Press play. The preview and the timeline move together.
Use the volume and full screen buttons if you need them.
Spot something to change? Pause, fix it on the timeline or in Build Your Tribute, then play again.

The preview appears once you have added photos and chosen music. Until then it says what is missing.

Your funeral home may also email you a preview link. Watch it through and check the photos, names, dates, words and music. If you are happy, click Approve Tribute to let them know.

It says "Select music to enable preview".

Go back to Build Your Tribute and add a song in the Music part.

Is the preview the finished video?

No. Your funeral home makes the finished Full HD video after you send it to them.

14. Sending it to your funeral home

When you are happy with the preview, let your funeral home know the tribute is ready.

Watch the preview one last time in Edit Your Tribute.
Click Notify Funeral Home.
Read the message. Once you send it, you cannot make any more changes.
Click Yes, Notify Them to send it, or Go Back to keep working.
You will see Funeral Home Notified. Your funeral home has been told and will make your video.

Your funeral home reviews the tribute, makes the finished video and shares it with you. Please save a copy once you have it.

I sent it too early. Can I change something?

Contact your funeral home. You cannot make changes yourself once it is sent.

Someone else in the family already sent it.

You will see Tribute Finished. There is nothing more you need to do.

15. Asking family to add photos with an upload link

Let other family and friends add their own photos and videos to your tribute from their own phone or computer.

Ask your funeral home for an upload link. They create it for you, if they have turned on upload links.
Send the link to the people you want to add photos.
When they open it, it says "Opening your upload page…" and then shows Build Your Tribute.
They add their photos and videos with Choose Photos & Videos, and any other parts your funeral home has allowed.
When they have finished, they click Notify Funeral Home. They can click Continue Editing to add more later.
Their photos go straight into your tribute, ready for you to arrange.

People using an upload link can add things, but they cannot edit the tribute or see the preview.

It says the upload link could not be opened.

Ask your funeral home to send a new link.

Do they need a password?

No. The upload link opens straight away.

16. When your link ends and the reminder emails

What happens when your time to edit runs out, and the reminder emails you may get before then.

Your funeral home may set a date when the family can no longer make changes. After that date, opening your link shows Editing has closed with the date it ended.

Your funeral home will finish the tribute from there. If you need more time, please contact them.

Reminder emails

If your funeral home has turned on reminders, you will get one email a day near the end. Each one says when your tribute workspace closes.

Click Log in to your tribute workspace in the email to carry on. If you have already clicked Notify Funeral Home, you do not need to do anything.

The reminders stop once the finished video is made. To stop them sooner, click Unsubscribe or choose which emails you get at the bottom of the email.

Why can I no longer make changes?

Either your editing time has ended or you have already sent the tribute. Contact your funeral home if you need more time.