TikTok is a popular short-form video app that allows users to create and share 15 to 60 second videos. One of the many creative video formats on TikTok is the photo slideshow, which strings together a series of photos with music and transitions.
Photo slideshows have become an extremely popular way for TikTok creators to share memories, tell stories, showcase their photography, and more. In this article, we’ll walk through how to make your own photo slideshow on TikTok step-by-step.
We’ll start by covering how to sign up for a TikTok account if you don’t already have one. Then we’ll go through tips for selecting your photos, editing them, and putting them together into a slideshow video. We’ll also discuss how to add music, text, and creative touches to make your slideshow stand out.
By the end, you’ll have the knowledge to make an eye-catching photo slideshow TikTok video that can help you creatively share memories and moments with your followers.
Sign Up for a TikTok Account
The first step is to download the TikTok app on your iOS or Android device. You can find the TikTok app in the App Store or Google Play Store. Once downloaded, open the app and tap “Sign Up” to create your new TikTok account.
You’ll need to enter your email address, phone number, username, password, and date of birth to complete signup. Make sure to choose a unique username that represents your brand or interests. According to TikTok, usernames must be between 4-15 characters. After entering your information, agree to TikTok’s terms of service and privacy policy to create your account.
Next, personalize your profile by adding a profile photo and bio. Tapping the profile icon allows you to upload a photo and enter a short description about yourself or your account’s content focus. A good profile photo shows your face clearly, while an engaging bio gives viewers context about your videos. For example: “Sharing my passion for photography and travel adventures.”
Once your account is set up, you can start creating and engaging with content on TikTok.
Take or Select Photos
The next step is to take or select the photos you want to include in your TikTok slideshow. You have two options:
Take new photos directly in the TikTok app – When creating a new TikTok video, tap the camera icon to open the camera. You can then take new photos and videos directly within the app. This is useful if you want photos designed specifically for your TikTok slideshow.
Select existing photos from your camera roll – Alternatively, you can select photos that already exist in your camera roll. Tap the photo gallery icon when creating a new TikTok, then select up to 10 photos you want to include. This is a good option if you have existing photos you want to showcase in a slideshow format.
Both options allow you to customize your photos for TikTok with text, stickers, filters and more. Take your time selecting photos that align with the theme and purpose of your slideshow video.
Edit the Photos
Once you have selected the photos you want to use for your slideshow, it’s time to edit them. TikTok has powerful built-in editing tools that allow you to transform your photos in creative ways.
Crop and adjust your photos to perfection. You can crop to focus on specific areas or resize the images to fit vertical or square formats. Use the enhance tool to auto-adjust brightness, contrast, saturation and other elements (source).
Apply filters to set a mood or tie the images together visually. Some popular options are the neon, fairy tale and anime filters. Play around to find ones that appeal to you (source).
Use the adjust tool to fine-tune details like highlights, shadows, warmth and more. Subtle tweaks can give your photos a polished, professional look.
Add text overlays to caption the photos or convey messages. Stickers and animations can also spice things up. Don’t go overboard though – you want the photos themselves to be the focus.
With TikTok’s flexible editing features, you have endless options for transforming your photos into a cohesive, eye-catching slideshow. Take the time to stylize them perfectly before moving onto the next steps.
Create the Slideshow
Once you have selected and edited your photos, you can create the slideshow in the TikTok app. According to the TikTok Support page, here are the steps:
Go to the “Post” screen and select “Slideshow” at the bottom. This will open the slideshow editor.
Tap the “+” icon to add photos from your camera roll. Add all the photos you want to include in order. You can drag and drop to rearrange them.
Tap on a photo to edit the duration it will appear. TikTok recommends keeping each photo 1-6 seconds long.
You can also add effects, transitions, and text to each individual photo.
Once you finish adding and editing all the photos, tap “Next” to move on to adding music, effects, etc. The slideshow is now created and ready to be customized further before posting.
According to one source, ideal TikTok videos tend to be 15-60 seconds long, so keep this timing in mind when selecting photos and setting durations: https://splurgemedia.com/blog?p=videos-on-social-media
Add Music
Music can make or break your TikTok video, so take the time to find the perfect soundtrack for your photo slideshow. Browse TikTok’s massive music library to find a song that enhances your photos. Pick an upbeat, energetic song for a fun vacation slideshow. Go with a sentimental ballad for nostalgic throwback pictures. Or choose a popular song that will help your video get discovered.
The key is to pick a song that matches the vibe and elicits the emotion you want viewers to feel as they watch your slideshow. Stay on-brand by selecting music that reflects your style. You can even use the same song across multiple videos to create a signature sound for your TikTok channel.
TikTok has partnerships with major record labels, so you can find the latest chart-toppers as well as classics. Make sure to choose full songs and properly credit the musicians to avoid copyright issues. With the perfect tunes, your photo slideshow will be music to your viewers’ eyes.
Final Touches
After you’ve assembled your slideshow video, you’ll want to apply some final touches before posting. First, carefully review the video and trim any excess footage from the beginning or end so the slideshow timing flows smoothly. You can trim clips directly within the TikTok app.
Next, consider adding any last minute creative effects or filters to enhance the mood and visual appeal of your slideshow. Some popular options are the “Celebrity Twin” filter that shows your celebrity lookalike (Source), trending filters like “Smile Score” that analyzes your smile (Source), or creative effects like time lapse or slow motion. Apply filters subtly, as overdoing effects can distract from your photos.
Review the slideshow video one final time, making sure the transitions flow smoothly and the timing matches up with any music. With some simple trimming and tasteful filters, you can put the finishing touches on an eye-catching TikTok photo slideshow.
Write the Caption
The caption is one of the most important parts of your TikTok slideshow video. You want to write something catchy and compelling that will intrigue viewers and get them to watch the full video. Some tips for writing great TikTok captions:
Be creative and clever – Come up with a unique caption that stands out. Puns, rhymes, and wordplay tend to do well.
Keep it short and sweet – You only have 150 characters for the caption, so keep it concise. Long blocks of text won’t get engagement.
Ask a question – Pose an intriguing question to viewers to capture attention and get them curious to see your photos.
Use emoji – Emoji are hugely popular on TikTok. Sprinkle some relevant emoji into your caption.
Leverage trends – Weave in popular TikTok sounds, songs, hashtags, etc. This helps put your video in front of people interested in those trends.
Include relevant hashtags – Hashtags help people find your video. Include a few that are directly related to your content.
Be authentic – Write in your own voice. Show your personality and what makes you unique.
Tell a story – Create a narrative that connects the photos and gives viewers context.
Make it motivating or inspirational – Uplifting captions tend to engage people.
Try different captions – You can edit the caption later, so test out different options and see what performs best.
Post the Slideshow
Once you’re happy with your photo slideshow, it’s time to post it on TikTok to share with your followers. You have two main options for posting your TikTok video:
Post Publicly: Making your video public will enable it to be seen by all TikTok users. This gives your content the widest possible reach. According to Best Times to Post on TikTok for 2024 [+ Free Calculator], the optimal time to post publicly is around 5 PM, as this has higher potential viewership. Posting at peak times can help your content go viral.
Post to Friends Only: You can also choose to post your TikTok video just to your friends list. This limits viewership to people you know. The best time to post to friends tends to be in the mornings and evenings when direct contacts are most actively checking TikTok.
No matter when you post, using relevant hashtags will help the right audience discover your content. Also consider promoting your video on other social platforms to maximize engagement.
Promote Your Video
One of the best ways to get more visibility for your TikTok slideshow video is to share it on other social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. You can easily download your TikTok video and upload it natively to other platforms. Encourage your followers on other networks to check out your video on TikTok.
It’s also important to engage with any comments and mentions on your video within TikTok. Reply to comments, like them, and follow commenters. This increases engagement on your video and signals to the TikTok algorithm that your content is resonating with viewers.
Additionally, you can promote your video through TikTok’s paid advertising options. Consider boosting engaging posts or running a campaign to get more eyes on your creative TikTok slideshow. Just make sure your video and account follow all of TikTok’s advertising policies.