How to record a family interview

The storyteller

Relaxed setting

Choose a family member who holds special stories you want to record.

• Start with the oldest person willing. Parents, aunts, uncles — anyone whose voice you want your children to hear.
• One person per session. Group recordings are harder to follow and harder to transcribe.
• Ask them in advance. Give them time to think about what they might want to talk about.

Phone in tripod mount

Stable grip — no shake

Gather your kit, prepare your questions, and pick a quiet spot.

• You need a camera, a tripod, and plug-in mics.
• Get your questions ready. Use the interview planner to build and print a personalised question sheet.
• Pick a place with good light and low noise. A garden works, but avoid direct sun.
• Set a time and place, and tell the family member what you are doing.
• Script you can use: “I’m doing a family legacy project so we can record your stories for the family. Would you help me?”

Window light on their face

Comfortable armchair

Quiet room — door closed

Set up the room, seat them comfortably, and check the kit works.

• Set up the room. Seat them comfortably. Get them a drink. Keep it quiet.
• Position the camera at eye level, next to you.
• Check the mics are on and recording is running.
• Check the camera has storage space and a full battery. You do not want it dying halfway.
• Tell the household you are recording so no one walks into the shot.

Eye contact — not the camera

Interviewer beside the lens

Press record, warm them up, and ask permission on camera.

• Tell them you are starting the camera.
• Press record and open with a warm-up question so they relax. Let the camera run through everything.
• Get permission on camera before the main questions. Say: “Are you OK to be filmed for our family legacy? You can ask me to remove it any time. Is there anything you want to add or avoid? This video will be available for family members to see. Are you OK with that?”
• Keep an eye on time. If the answers are good and it runs long, that is fine. Cut it at 45 minutes and run a second session later.

Upload in progress

Stay on wifi — don’t switch apps

Upload from your phone over wifi — we handle the rest.

• Go to the upload page on this site.
• Files up to 2 GB. Upload on home wifi. Keep the phone close to the router and stay still.
• Do not use other apps while it uploads. Leave it to finish.
• Enter the person’s full name, the language of the interview, the place, and any notes.

Watch it back together

Share the archive link

Come back after 24 hours to review, tag, and share.

• Come back after 24 hours.
• Add any special tags to the interview.
• Share with family. Invite them to the site.