If you’re looking to create a photo slideshow to share on TikTok, the feature unfortunately isn’t natively available within the TikTok app itself. However, there are a couple of different creative workarounds TikTok users have come up with to simulate a photo slideshow effect.
Use the TikTok Slide Feature
One of the easiest ways to create a faux photo slideshow is to use the slide feature within TikTok. This lets you string multiple clips together seamlessly in one video. To do this:
- Open the TikTok app and tap the + button to start creating a new video.
- Select all the photos you want to include in your slideshow by tapping the album icon and choosing “multi-select.” You can select up to 100 photos.
- Once you’ve picked your photos, tap “next” and it will automatically add them to your video as a slideshow, with customizable transitions between each photo.
- You can rearrange the order of the photos, change the transitions, and add text overlays within the TikTok editing screen.
- When finished, post your slideshow video to TikTok as you would any other video.
The slide feature makes it quick and easy to compile your photos into a slideshow-style video. You’re limited to only photos, no video clips, but overall it provides a simple slideshow solution natively within TikTok.
Use Video Editing Apps
Another popular approach is to create your slideshow externally using a separate video editing app, and then upload the final video to TikTok.
Apps like InShot, CapCut, and iMovie give you more advanced editing tools to produce a polished slideshow video with transitions, music, text, and more customization options. You can import your photos, arrange them, adjust timing, and export the finished slideshow as a standard video file.
A few benefits to making your slideshow externally:
- Include both photos and short video clips
- More transition options (e.g. fade, wipe, zoom)
- Add background music
- Customize text fonts, colors, positioning
- Better control over timing and pacing
Once your slideshow video is complete, save it to your camera roll and upload it to TikTok like any other video. The only downside is this approach takes more time and effort than using TikTok’s built-in editing tools.
Use Video Collage Apps
A third option is to use a video collage app to combine your photos into a single video collage frame by frame. Apps like PicPlayPost, Moldiv, and VideoShow allow you to select multiple photos and automatically stitch them together into a tiled grid video.
With these apps you can:
- Import photos from your camera roll
- Choose from different collage layout templates
- Add stylized backgrounds
- Include text captions
- Add music
- Adjust timing between photo transitions
The finished collage video can then be posted to TikTok. The effect is a slideshow of photos in a creative, scrapbook-style format. You’re limited by the templates and grids offered within each app, but it does allow for quick slideshow videos without much editing.
Use the Green Screen Effect
An unconventional but creative approach for a TikTok photo slideshow is to use the green screen effect. This involves taking a video of yourself or something else in front of a green background, and then inserting photos in place of the green screen.
To try this:
- Take a video clip in front of a solid green backdrop (a green bed sheet works!).
- Import the video clip into TikTok and apply the “green screen” effect.
- Tap the “photo” icon to insert your photos over the green screen.
- Adjust the timing so your photos transition from one to the next as the video plays.
- Add any other effects like music or text.
- Post your creative slideshow video!
It takes some extra effort, but the green screen effect opens up lots of possibilities. You can get really creative with the foreground video – show your reactions, tell a story, move the camera etc. And the photos become your virtual background.
Considerations and Best Practices
No matter which slideshow option you choose, keep these tips in mind:
- Shorter is better – focus on 10-20 compelling photos and keep your slideshow under 30 seconds.
- Add music for more interest, but avoid anything with copyright.
- Use simple, readable text if adding captions or titles.
- Trim any pauses between transitions so the pacing feels natural.
- Order your photos in a logical way to tell a mini story.
- Use the TikTok editing tools to refine the look and feel.
Photo slideshows probably won’t go hugely viral, but they can be an effective way to showcase memories, events, travel adventures, or anything visually storytelling on TikTok. With the right approach, you can create something that looks professional and polished. Have fun putting your photos in motion with these TikTok slideshow tips!