Music can make a sequence feel whole, but it can also overpower the small truth of the photographs. Start with the pace of the day, not the genre you think a film should have.
Read the photographs in silence
Tap through the sequence once without sound. Notice where you naturally pause and where the images want to move faster. That rhythm is more useful than searching for a “happy” or “nostalgic” track.
Choose texture before emotion
Look for simple instrumentation and a steady shape. Acoustic strings, soft keys, or light percussion leave room for faces and captions. Avoid tracks with dramatic changes unless the photographs contain the same turn.
- Few or no lyrics
- One clear tempo
- A gentle beginning and ending
- Enough space for the images
Turn it down further
The right music often works at a lower volume than expected. It should be the room the photographs sit in—not the person speaking over them.