Simple slideshow maker appeals to photographers and clients

Clients want their photos now. But satisfying their desire for instant gratification isn’t easy. If you’re short on time and want a quick and easy way to share images with your clients, consider SmartSlides by Pixellu. This online slideshow creator has practically no learning curve and lets you produce slideshows within hours of a session.

Create a slideshow

Start by creating an account at pixellu.com. The user interface is minimalistic and simple to use. Within minutes you’ll be experimenting with optional settings like setting a custom slideshow URL, entering the session date, adding a password, and enabling downloads.

The SmartSlides creation process takes you through three sections: Images, Music, and Wrap-up. Images is for uploading photographs, and Music is for selecting one or more of the 70 curated soundtracks. Wrap-up is where you customize your show by arrange images, changing slide transitions, adding additional music segments, and so forth. Preview your slideshow, then you can change the theme and cover image before publishing it.

Off to the client

You can share in three ways: web link, download, or embeded in a website. Being able to embed slideshows into websites opens a world of uses such as a portfolio enhancement on your website or a highlight reel on a client’s proof ordering page.

SmartSlides keeps things simple for clients. When a slideshow is loaded in a browser, a simple welcome screen loads, displaying your cover image, the slideshow title, your studio name, the session date, and a playbutton. Standard play, pause, mute, share, and full screen options are available during playback. When the show is complete, the cover image displays again with pertinent information, including social media share buttons, an optional music soundtrack list, and a replaybutton). 

Overall, SmartSlides is a great slideshow service that doesn’t overwhelm you with unnecessary bells and whistles. The modern and minimalistic design is easy to use for the photographer and clients. If you have questions, Pixellu’s online chat support is top-notch. SmartSlides makes it simple for clients to share a slideshow with friends and ultimately drive referrals to the studio.

Is SmartSlides the fanciest slideshow creator on the market? No. There are just six themes, three slide transitions, and 70 music tracks. But fewer choices equals greater efficiency.

SmartSlides has three plan levels: Starter gives you 10 slideshows for $8 a month, Pro is 200 slideshows for $16 a month, and Studio delivers up to 1,000 slideshows for $32 a month.

Betsy Finn, owner of Betsy’s Photography, is a portrait photographer in Michigan.