Holiday Party Ideas for Work: A Live Photo Slideshow of Team Photos

A screen at the end of the room shows a photo from the buffet table. A moment later, a photo of the team from last spring appears. People look up, point and laugh. Nobody had to install anything.

That is one of the simplest holiday celebration ideas for work: one code, the team's own photos on the screen, and everyone included, even colleagues who are not in the room. Video Message works as a digital guest book for your company: a video guest book, a photo album and written messages in one place. This article shows how to set it up for the end-of-year party, from Thanksgiving week to January 1.

Why one code suits a company holiday party

Late November to the New Year is crowded. Teams are closing projects, people are traveling, and some colleagues work remotely and will not attend. A corporate event on Video Message gives you one place to gather what the team wants to share.

Guests open one link or scan one QR code in their phone's browser. There is no app to install and no account to create. They give their first name, then send photos, video messages and written messages. No booth, no equipment and no extra staff: everyone uses their own phone.

Before the party: what you set up

Create one code for the party. If you organize several events in a year (an offsite, the holiday party, a farewell), one account manages them all, each with its own code, link, QR code, album and films. See how multiple events work.

Then decide three things:

• The slideshow mode. Choose automatic display, or approve each photo first. For a work setting, approving first is often the calmer choice.
• The link. Send it by message, WhatsApp or email before the party, so people can add photos from the year and remote colleagues can take part.
• The QR code. Print it on whatever suits your venue: signs, flyers, menus or table cards.

If your company wants its own logo and colors on the QR code, the guest page, the slideshow, the films and the emails, white label is available on quote only, set up by the Video Message team.

Where to put the QR code

A QR code for photos works best when people see it more than once. Place it in several spots:

• the entrance or a welcome sign
• the bar and the buffet
• table cards or menus
• flyers handed out at the door

Short wording works best: what to do, and that photos will appear on the screen. The guide on QR code sign wording has ideas.

During the party: the live photo slideshow

Open the slideshow in a web browser on the venue's screen, TV or projector. You need an internet connection. It plays guest photos only: no videos and no music.

If you chose approval, you approve each photo before it shows. A hidden photo leaves the screen but stays in the album. That gives you a simple way to keep the screen friendly for a whole-company audience. You can read more about the live photo slideshow.

When to announce it

• At the welcome: a sentence from the host, and the QR code on the sign.
• Before the toasts: remind people the screen is waiting for their photos.
• During dinner: a second reminder, when phones are already on the table.

Colleagues who are not in the room

Remote colleagues open the same link from wherever they are. They can send videos of up to 1 minute each, up to 3 videos per phone, plus photos and written messages. Their photos can join the slideshow, and their videos and messages are kept for the company and can go into the personalized film.

Send the link again after the party. People who could not attend can still contribute during the party and for a few days after. You choose when the collection closes and can send a reminder.

Ideas to give the team a unique evening

These holiday party activities for work use only the phone and the code:

• A photo from the year. Ask everyone to send one picture that sums up the year for their team.
• A photo of your table. Each table sends one group shot before dessert.
• A message for a colleague. Invite videos or written messages for someone leaving or retiring this season.
• Greetings from afar. Remote colleagues send a short video to the whole company.
• Open the guest gallery. It is closed by default. If you open it, you choose what it shows (photos, videos, written messages), whether people can comment or download, and guests can leave hearts. Guests see others' photos only this way, or on the slideshow.

After the party: what the company receives

You receive four things, each as important as the others:

• The video messages, each one kept on its own.
• The photo album with every guest photo. It goes to you only.
• The written messages, also as a PDF book (digital only).
• Two films: a first automatic film of the video messages, then a personalized film that can mix videos, photos and written messages. You choose content, order, mood, music, color look, transitions and the opening and closing text.

The first film is ready within 24 hours after the collection closes. The later you close it, the later it arrives.

Everything stays available for 3 months after the first film is delivered, which protects your team's privacy. Download the films, photos and messages to keep them forever.

Getting started

One event costs $49, and a pack of 3 events costs $99. Volume pricing for professionals is on the shop page. Set up your holiday party code in the shop and let the team's photos fill the screen.