3 ways to preserve your family memories this holiday season
Do you remember all the stories older relatives told over the years? You probably recollect bits and pieces. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to relive them whenever you wanted?
Then there are photos of your loved ones from over the years — some sadly fading or stashed away in an attic. Let’s get those precious memories out so that everyone can enjoy them.
Film loved ones telling their stories
Holidays without my parents are hard, but I get so much peace watching videos of them. I’m lucky that I have a lot of my mom, especially. If you haven’t, you should do this with your folks or anyone older in your family.
You can record interviews through audio, video or both. Although videos have more depth, audio is an excellent option for stories that feel very personal or are difficult to tell.
Here are some tips to get you started:
- Choose a quiet area with natural light. Have something in the background, like a bookshelf, couch or lamp. You want a cozy environment, especially when recording video.
- Sit to the side of the camera and have your relative look at you. Looking right into the camera is jarring for the person speaking and future viewers.
- Pick some general topics, like historical events they witnessed or how they picked their children’s names. Come prepared with open-ended questions, too, like, “Are there any stories you’d like to share that you’ve never actually talked about with me?”
- Don’t let the prompts and questions you prepared distract you from the conversation. Stay engaged in what your relative is saying. Follow-up questions often trigger the best stories.
If you have a newer smartphone, use its built-in voice recorder app and camera. Position your phone horizontally for video so you don’t end up with black bars on either side of the recording. Keep the phone between you and your relative so the camera will pick up both voices.
A tripod makes things so much easier. This affordable Amazon Basics tripod is light enough to carry around but extends up to 50 inches. I like this flexible phone tripod from TalkWorks for a tabletop option.
You can back up your clips in an app, on your desktop, on a physical drive or in the cloud for easy sharing. Now you have a piece of history you can all appreciate in the future.
Record them in action
Instead of taking the same posed pictures of your family at holiday parties, go out of your way to capture more candid moments. I’d love more photos of my loved ones looking like themselves, not just smiling for the camera.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
How to record your family’s history and preserve memories
If the thought of everything on your plate during the holidays is stressing you could, let me help.
Tech can ease the burden and make the next few weeks much easier. Tap or click for some of my favorite holiday tech tricks, including saving money and getting to your family party on time.
Smartphone tricks for better fireworks pictures
The Fourth of July is upon us. One of the most incredible experiences is the countless fireworks shows around the country all weekend. But what if you want to capture those moments? Tap or click here for seven photography myths you should stop believing.
There are 4 kinds of Live Photos on your iPhone - How to try them all
You’ll never miss a photo opportunity thanks to your smartphone. This is both a blessing and a curse. While it’s nice to capture those special moments, there’s probably a lot of footage on your phone that you could do without, especially duplicates.
How to easily turn your Android into a webcam
Remote work has always been a thing, but it’s more prevalent now, thanks to the pandemic. If you work remotely, you need a way to connect with your staff, typically done through video conferencing. Tap or click here to find out how to give your home office a high-tech makeover.
7 photography myths you should stop believing
Whether you’re an amateur shutterbug or a semi-pro photographer, you probably have some strong ideas of what makes a photo (or a photographer) good.
Maybe you think it’s all about the right equipment or the right software. Photoshop isn’t the only tool in town, though. Tap or click here for some free alternatives that may have all the features you need.
5 clever tricks to look great on Zoom video calls
Zoom, and other video conferencing programs, make it easy to do your work from home. But no matter how much you get done in a day, it never feels good when you don’t look your best on camera.
In the pre-pandemic days, going to work meant putting yourself together to look presentable. Now, you might be able to get away with off-camera bunny slippers and pajama pants, but there’s no excuse for grainy or out-of-focus visuals. Tap or click here to see 9 other work-from-home mistakes you’re making.