RECORDING YOUR OWN INTERVIEWS
You don’t need professional gear to capture your loved one’s stories. A phone, a quiet space, and a little preparation can be enough to capture a memorable interview on video.
Below, I’ve put together a list of simple recording tips and interview questions to help you get started. Whether you choose to hire me or do it yourself, I hope you’ll take the time to preserve these moments for your family.
VIDEO RECORDING TIPS
Location
Choose a large, quiet space like a living room, den, or workshop. Pick somewhere that reflects your subject’s personality and where they’ll feel comfortable. Try to avoid rooms with loud background noise like ticking clocks, refrigerators, or traffic.
Lighting
If filming during the day, place your subject a couple of feet from a window. Sheer curtains are ideal for soft, flattering light. Avoid direct sunlight on their face because it creates harsh shadows. If you’re filming at night, use a lamp aimed toward the wall or ceiling to bounce soft light onto your subject.
Camera Placement
A tripod is easiest, but if you don’t have one, lean your phone against a bowl, glass, or stack of books. Position it at roughly the height of your subject’s head or neck so the audience feels they’re near eye level. If needed, place it on a shelf or sturdy stack of objects.
Framing Your Subject
Shoot in landscape/horizontal orientation so you can crop to vertical later if needed. Frame your subject so that we can see the top of their head down to about their navel (putting the camera too close can be unflattering). Make sure that they’re looking just off-camera toward the interviewer, taking up about one-third of the frame. Leave open space on the side they’re facing to make the shot feel more natural. Make sure that there is a little room above your subject’s head.
Camera/Phone Settings
Record in either 1080p or 4K resolution, with all filters and effects turned off. Set the phone to Airplane Mode to avoid interruptions, and make sure it is either fully charged or plugged in during the recording. If possible, lock both focus and exposure so the image remains consistent throughout the interview.
Audio
Keep pets, televisions, and other sources of noise away during recording. If possible, turn off appliances or fans while recording. The closer the subject is to the microphone, the clearer the audio will be. Before starting the interview, record a 30-second test clip and play it back, preferably with headphones, to make sure everything sounds clear.
SUGGESTED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Early Life
How old are you today? How old do you feel?
What is one of your favorite childhood memories or traditions?
What games or activities did you enjoy as a child?
What is your favorite memory of your grandparents?
Can you describe what your neighborhood was like when you were growing up?
What was your favorite place when you were young?
What music, movies, or TV shows do you remember most from your younger years?
What was your relationship like with your siblings growing up?
Young Adulthood
Can you tell me about your first job and how you got it?
What was your first car? Do you have a favorite car you have owned?
How did you meet your partner or spouse?
Which historical event had the greatest impact on you at the time, and what do you remember most about it?
Mid-Life
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Who was the most influential person in your life, and how did they shape who you became?
What was the best advice you ever received? Who gave it to you, and why did it matter?
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? Would that advice be different from what you might tell yourself 5 or 10 years ago?
What was one of the hardest challenges you faced, and how did you get through it?
Looking Ahead
What are you most looking forward to in the years ahead?
Is there something you wish you had done at some point in life? Do you think you could still do it?
If someone wrote a short story about your life, what moment would you want them to include?
What do you hope people remember most about you?
