RECORD 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 create a recording your family will treasure for generations.

Below, I’ve put together a list of interview questions and simple recording tips 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 now—because once they’re gone, you can’t go back.

VIDEO RECORDING TIPS

Use some of these, or come up with your own.

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. Avoid rooms with loud background noise (like ticking clocks, refrigerators, or traffic). If possible, turn off appliances or fans while recording.

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?

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—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 POSITION

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 viewer feels they’re at 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 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.

CAMERA/PHONE SETTINGS

  • Resolution: 1080p or 4K.

  • Turn off filters or effects (you can add them later).

  • Put the phone in Airplane Mode to avoid interruptions.

  • Keep it plugged in or fully charged.

  • If possible, lock focus and exposure so the image doesn’t shift mid-interview.

AUDIO

Clear audio makes a huge difference. The simplest option is to use a second phone placed close to your subject, just out of frame, with the microphone pointing toward them. Use a voice memo or audio recording app. (If you don’t have one, even a video recording works for audio capture.) Put the phone in Airplane Mode and plug it in if possible.

For best results:

  • Avoid your subject holding the phone—it can cause unwanted noise.

  • Keep pets, TVs, and other noise sources away during recording.

SUGGESTED QUESTIONS

Use some of these, or come up with your own.

BONUS TIPS

  • Test Everything First: Record 30 seconds, then play it back to check sound, framing, and lighting before starting the full interview.

  • Ask Follow-Ups: Don’t be afraid to say, “Tell me more about that,” or “What happened next?” to keep stories flowing.

  • Stay Still: Avoid moving the camera once you start unless you’re intentionally reframing.