Do it yourself



Recording the personal life stories of your loved ones is absolutely something you can do yourself with some planning and patience. Please download these two documents to assist you: The DIY Process and Family Bard Interview Questions 


The Process

  1. 1.  Plan and prepare:
    1.  • A good place to start is to determine if you’ll be recording one person, a couple, or a group of family members. Then schedule a time or times that works for everyone. Choose a time of day when your subjects are rested and energetic. Mornings and early afternoon generally work best.
    2.  • If you’ll be recording more than one person, consider if you want only a group recording, or if you want some time with subjects on their own. Schedule accordingly.
    3.  • Choose a suitable location with good lighting and minimal background noise. Interior or exterior can both work, but a quiet location is essential. Window light or interior lighting work equally well if the direction of the light illuminates the face.
    4.  • Ensure your subjects are comfortable! They might be sitting for some time.

  1. 2.  Equipment:
    1.  • Any camera that can record quality audio will work. This might be a camcorder or your cell phone. If using the camera’s internal mic, you’ll want to work close to your subject for best voice pickup. Test!  Film a quick test and play back to ensure you’ve got good audio and picture.
    2.  • Minimum 1920x1080 camera resolution is recommended. You’ll be happier filming landscape/horizontal, rather than portrait/vertical. Either 24 or 30fps is fine.
    3.  • You won’t want to hold the camera for the duration of the interview, so be sure to acquire a tripod. These are inexpensive and will improve both your image and audio. Even a cell phone tripod is very useful.
    4.  • Ensure your camera is fully charged and has enough storage space. Bring an extra battery.

  1. 3.  Asking Questions:
    1.  • Create a list of questions or topics you want to cover. The possibilities are vast, and sometimes it only takes one question to start a flow of storytelling. You can refer to our attached list of suggested questions for ideas.
    2.  • Organize your questions chronologically or thematically to guide the conversation.
    3.  • Try to keep the process casual and loving, you want your subjects to be comfortable.
    4.  • Ask open-ended questions, and remind your subjects to rephrase the question in their answers. For example, rather than answering, “Mercer Island”, a more complete answer would be better, such as, “I went to school at Mercer Island High”.
    5.  • Listen actively and show genuine interest in their responses. Encourage them to elaborate on their memories. Try not to interrupt, but do redirect if things get rambling.

  1. 4.  Capture other visuals: 
    1.  • If possible, incorporate photographs, family heirlooms, or mementos that can help illustrate the stories being shared. It’s fun to have your subject describe the items.
    2.  • You can also film relevant locations, such as the family home, schools, or significant places from their past.

  1. 5.  Record additional interviews
    1.  • Consider conducting multiple sessions to cover different aspects of their life, or invite other family members to share their perspectives and stories.

  1. 6.  Organize and Edit
    1.  • Edit the video as needed, to your ability, adding captions, titles, or visual elements to enhance the storytelling. This is a great task to delegate to another family member, such as a teen who is interested in family history or video editing.

  1. 7.  Share and Preserve
    1.  • Share the video with your family and discuss how you want to preserve and distribute it. You might choose to create copies for other family members or upload it to a secure cloud storage platform or private YouTube channel.
    2.  • Keep detailed records of the video content, including dates, interviewees, and key topics covered.

  1. 8.  Encourage Updating
    1.  • Encourage family members to discuss the stories add to this digital archive as the family grows and matures.

Interview Questions

  1. 1. Early Life and Family Background:
    1.  • Can you tell me about your family and where you grew up? Describe your parents for me.
    2.  • Were there any family traditions or customs that were particularly important to you?

  1. 2.  Education and work:
    1.  • Where did you go to school, and what was your favorite subject?
    2.  • What was your first job, and how did it influence your career path?
    3.  • Can you share a memorable experience from your work or school days?

  1. 3.  Life Milestones:
    1.  • What are some significant milestones in your life, such as marriage, the birth of children, or career achievements?
    2.  • Can you describe your wedding day or the birth of your first child?
    3.  • Do you have any unique stories or lessons learned from these milestones?

  1. 4.  Challenges and Triumphs: 
    1.  • What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in life, and how did you overcome them?
    2.  • Can you share a story of a personal triumph or achievement that you're particularly proud of?

  1. 5.  Family and Relationships:
    1.  • Tell me about your relationships with your parents, siblings, and extended family members.
    2.  • What is the story of how you met your spouse or significant other?
    3.  • Do you have any advice for maintaining strong and healthy relationships?

  1. 6.  Historical Events and Context:
    1.  • How did major historical events or cultural changes during your lifetime influence your perspective or experiences?
    2.  • Can you describe any significant world events you witnessed and their impact on your life?

  1. 7.  Hobbies and interests
    1.  • What are some of your favorite hobbies or pastimes, and how did you get started with them?
    2.  • Have your interests evolved over the years, and if so, how?
    3.  • Are there any memorable moments related to your hobbies or interests that you'd like to share?

  1. 8.  Travel and adventures
    1.  • Have you traveled to any memorable places? What were your experiences like?
    2.  • Can you recount a particularly exciting or adventurous journey you've been on?
    3.  • How have your travels shaped your worldview?

  1. 9.  Family Stories and Traditions:
    1.  • Are there any funny or heartwarming family stories you'd like to pass down to future generations?
    2.  • What are some of the cherished family traditions that you have participated in or established?

  1. 10.  Legacy and Advice:
    1.  • What do you hope to pass on to your children, grandchildren, or future generations?
    2.  • Do you have any words of wisdom or life lessons that you'd like to share with your family?
    3.  • How would you like to be remembered by your loved ones?

These questions can serve as a starting point for your interview. Be sure to follow up with more specific inquiries based on the interviewee's responses to delve deeper into their personal history and experiences.

Please visit FamilyBard.com for more information and assistance! 



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