Questions? We have answers.
Planning a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, a milestone birthday, a wedding or an anniversary? These are the questions families ask us most, answered in plain words. Can't find yours? Send us a note at the bottom of the page and we will get right back to you.
Celebrations, big and small
What occasions do you make montages for?
Bar and Bat Mitzvahs are our specialty, along with milestone birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, retirements and sports celebrations. If someone is being celebrated, it fits right in here. We also edit home videos and family films. See everything we celebrate.
Can you edit our home videos?
Yes. Beyond our montage packages, we edit home videos and family films: years of clips cut into one film, a highlight reel, or a custom edit made just for a Mitzvah or a celebration. More about home video editing.
Do you film the event?
No. We are a post-production studio: we edit, polish and finish, and we never film or send a crew. Every montage is built from the photos, videos and recordings you already have, plus licensed material we add when a gap needs filling.
Where are you, and do we need to come in?
We are based in Westchester, New York, and we work with families all over the country through a fully remote process. Nothing needs to be shipped and nobody needs to travel. The address on our site is a mailing address, not a drop-off point.
Who is behind The Montage Maven?
We are part of Dvideo Inc., a video post-production company in Westchester, New York, with decades of experience. Our sister brands are Tribute Montage for memorial and remembrance films, Pixel 360 Media for restoring and enhancing video, photos and audio, and Dvideo Productions for corporate and business video. Every brand edits video for its own kind of client, so if your project fits a sister brand better, we will say so and introduce you.
Timing and getting ready
How far ahead should we book?
The earlier the better, especially in Mitzvah season. We ask for your photos, videos and music about eight weeks before the event. That said, we take on short-notice work regularly, so ask us before you assume it is too late. Running late? Just tell us.
How long does a montage take?
We work as fast as we can, within reason, and your montage is always ready before your event date. Tell us the date when you first get in touch, and we plan backwards from it.
How many photos do we need, and can we include video?
Most montages use 60 to 150 photos. Home video, phone clips and older footage all work alongside them, and they often make the best moments in the film.
Can family and friends send photos too?
Yes. We can give you a link so grandparents, cousins and friends can add their own photos and videos, instead of emailing everything to one exhausted person.
Can you convert our tapes, film or discs?
No. We no longer offer media conversion or digitizing of any kind. If your memories are still on tape, film or disc, a specialist needs to digitize them first, and we are happy to point you to one. Once you have digital files, we take it from there.
The soundtrack
Who chooses the music?
You do, and it is one of the most fun parts. We are happy to make suggestions, and we keep a guide to the songs that really work in a Mitzvah montage, section by section. Browse the Mitzvah song guide.
Can we use a famous song?
If you choose a commercial or well-known track, you need to hold the rights to it for your private use. We do not license commercial songs, and we cannot clear one for you. For an additional fee you can pick from our royalty-free music library instead, and we supply the usage permit, so there is nothing to sort out.
Drafts, your portal and payment
How do we follow our project?
Everything happens in your own private online portal, opened from a link we send you, with no password to remember. You upload your photos and videos there, watch each draft, pin notes to the exact moment you want changed, message us, approve, pay and download the finished film, all in one place.
Can we see the montage before the event?
Yes. You watch each draft in your private portal before the big day, and pin your notes to the exact moments you want changed.
How many rounds of changes do we get?
Three drafts are included. Before each one, you can send as many notes as you like, within the scope of your project. Almost everyone finds three is plenty, and anything beyond that is covered in your proposal.
When do we pay, and when do we get the video?
Your agreement sets out the payment schedule before you book, so there are no surprises. The finished video is released once it is paid in full.
Will you honor a price you already quoted?
Yes, always. Whatever we quoted you is the price we honor, even if our prices change after your proposal goes out.
What happens to our files afterwards?
Your finished video is yours to keep, so download it and save copies in at least two places. Your private portal stays open for 45 days after delivery, where you can download the video and see your invoice and project history. After that we do not promise to keep anything for a set time. We hold on to material as long as we reasonably can, so if you need something later, just ask: we will tell you whether we still have it, and retrieval is a paid service we quote before any work begins.
Planners and sister brands
Do you work with event planners?
Yes, often. We also run a partner program for planners who refer clients to us regularly. See how we work with planners.
Do you make corporate anniversary videos?
Corporate and business films are made by our sister brand, Dvideo Productions. It is the same team, and we will happily introduce you. Visit Dvideo Productions.
What if we are planning a memorial rather than a celebration?
Our sister brand, Tribute Montage, makes memorial and remembrance films, and it is the same team. We will introduce you. Visit Tribute Montage.