Creating a Video Legacy Project: Equipment and Tips

Audio recordings capture voices. Photos capture faces. But video captures both—plus gestures, expressions, and the full presence of a person.

When your grandchildren watch a video of their great-grandmother 50 years from now, they won't just hear her story. They'll see her smile, watch her hands move as she talks, notice the way her eyes light up when she laughs.

This guide shows you how to create legacy videos that do justice to your family's stories.

Why Video Matters

Video is the most complete medium for preservation:

• Voice and inflection
• Facial expressions and body language
• Mannerisms and gestures
• The "whole person" not just their words

Plus, younger generations relate to video. They watch YouTube, TikTok, and streaming content constantly. Video is their native language.

Equipment: The Minimalist to Professional Range

Option 1: Your Smartphone (Minimalist)

Good enough for: Most family legacy projects

Advantages:

• Already own it
• Easy to use
• Surprisingly good quality
• Can start immediately

Tips for phone filming:

• Film horizontally (landscape mode)
• Use back camera (better quality than selfie camera)
• Get close to subject (3-6 feet away)
• Ensure good lighting (more on this below)
• Use airplane mode (prevents call interruptions)
• External microphone dramatically improves audio ($20-50)

Best approach: Phone + $30 lavalier mic = 90% as good as expensive setup

Option 2: Prosumer (Better Quality)

Budget: $400-$800

Equipment:

• Mirrorless camera or camcorder ($300-500)
  • Sony ZV-1 or Canon M50 are excellent choices
• External microphone ($50-100)
  • Rode VideoMic or similar
• Basic lighting kit ($50-100)
• Tripod ($30-50)

When this makes sense:

• Planning extensive interview project
• Want archival-quality results
• Have time to learn equipment

Option 3: Professional Service

Budget: $500-3,000 per day

Hire a videographer for important interviews:

• Professional cinematography
• Better audio and lighting
• Professional editing
• Less stress on you

Best used for:

• Elderly relatives who might not be available long
• Major family reunion/gathering
• High-stakes legacy content

The Technical Setup

Lighting (Most Important)

Good lighting matters more than camera quality.

Natural light (free and excellent):

• Seat subject near window
• Window should be to side or in front (not behind)
• Avoid direct sunlight (harsh shadows)
• Overcast days provide beautiful soft light

Artificial light (if needed):

• Three-point lighting: key light (main), fill light (reduces shadows), back light (separation from background)
• Or simple: One softbox/lamp in front of subject at 45° angle
• Avoid overhead lighting (creates unflattering shadows)

Test: If you can clearly see subject's face without camera flash, you have enough light.

Audio (Almost as Important)

Bad audio ruins good video. Prioritize this.

External microphone is essential:

• Lavalier (clip-on) mic: Best for interviews ($20-100)
  • Rode SmartLav+ for phones
  • Rode Wireless GO for cameras
• Shotgun mic: Mounts on camera ($100-300)

Audio tips:

• Get mic close to speaker (6-12 inches ideally)
• Record in quiet room (turn off AC, close windows)
• Use blankets/curtains to dampen echo
• Test audio before starting interview
• Wear headphones to monitor sound

Camera Position

Framing:

• Rule of thirds: Don't center subject
• "Talking head" framing: Chest up, some headroom
• Eye level with camera
• Leave 10% headroom (don't cut off top of head)

Camera distance:

• Close-up: Shoulders and face (intimate, emotional)
• Medium: Chest up (standard interview)
• Wide: Whole person (shows environment and gestures)

Pro tip: Record in multiple framings if possible. Start with medium shot, zoom to close-up for emotional moments.

Background

Keep it simple but meaningful:

• Avoid clutter
• Include meaningful objects (bookshelf, family photos)
• Ensure good separation (don't sit against wall)
• Neutral colors work best

The Interview Process

Pre-Interview Prep

1 week before:

• Send questions to interviewee
• Let them think about answers (but don't require scripting)
• Explain what to expect
• Confirm date, time, location

Day of:

• Set up and test all equipment
• Ensure backup recording (second device if possible)
• Have water available
• Minimize distractions

During Interview

Technical:

• Hit record and verify it's actually recording (check twice!)
• Monitor audio levels
• Watch for technical issues (storage space, battery)

Interpersonal:

• Make eye contact (don't stare at camera screen)
• Actually listen (not just waiting for next question)
• Let silence happen (often best content comes after pauses)
• Follow interesting tangents
• Show empathy and engagement

Pro tip: Have subject look at you, not camera. This creates natural, conversational feel.

Question Techniques

Start broad: "Tell me about growing up in [city]"

Get specific: "You mentioned your father's workshop—what did it look like? What sounds and smells do you remember?"

Pursue emotion: "How did that make you feel?"

Extract lessons: "Looking back, what did that teach you?"

Allow repetition: Even if you've heard the story, let them tell it again on camera.

Post-Production: Editing

Software Options

Free:

• iMovie (Mac/iOS)
• DaVinci Resolve (powerful, learning curve)
• OpenShot (Windows/Mac/Linux)

Paid:

• Adobe Premiere Pro ($20/month, professional)
• Final Cut Pro ($300 one-time, Mac only)
• Camtasia ($250, user-friendly)

Basic Editing Workflow

1. Import all footage
2. Watch everything, make notes of best moments
3. Create rough cut: String together good segments
4. Remove "ums," long pauses, mistakes (but keep natural pauses)
5. Add title cards: Name, date, topic
6. Add chapter markers for long videos
7. Color correction if needed (keep it subtle)
8. Export in high quality (1080p minimum)

How Much to Edit?

Minimal edit (recommended for legacy videos):

• Remove obvious mistakes
• Add opening/closing titles
• Keep it mostly raw and authentic

Polished edit:

• Rearrange for narrative flow
• Add photos, graphics, B-roll
• Music (use carefully—can overpower)
• Shorter, more produced feel

My recommendation: Minimize editing. Authenticity matters more than polish for family legacy.

Organization and Storage

File Naming

YYYY-MM-DD_Subject-Name_Topic_Length.mp4

Example: 2025-02-15_Grandma-Rose_WWII-Stories_45min.mp4

Backup Strategy (Critical!)

Video files are large. Losing them is devastating. Use 3-2-1 rule:

3 copies:

• Original on computer
• Cloud storage
• External drive

2 different media:

• At least one cloud, one physical

1 offsite:

• Cloud automatically does this
• Or external drive at relative's house

Recommended cloud storage:

• Google Drive (affordable, reliable)
• Dropbox
• iCloud (if all Apple)

Sharing with Family

Options:

• Private YouTube videos (unlimited, free)
• Google Drive shared links
• USB drives as gifts
• DVDs for less tech-savvy relatives

Include:

• The video file
• Transcript if available
• Context document (who, when, why recorded)

Common Problems and Solutions

Problem: Subject is Camera-Shy

Solution:

• Start with casual conversation before recording
• Tell them to look at you, not camera
• Record without them knowing (if they consent) - phone recording during regular conversation
• Frame it as "for the grandkids" not "big production"

Problem: Rambling or Repetitive

Solution:

• Gently redirect: "That's fascinating. Can you tell me about..."
• Ask specific questions
• Edit in post-production
• Accept it—rambling is part of who they are

Problem: Getting Emotional

Solution:

• Have tissues ready
• Pause recording if needed
• Acknowledge emotion: "Take your time"
• Don't shy away from emotional topics—often most valuable content

Problem: Runs Too Long

Solution:

• Plan breaks every 30-45 minutes
• Split into multiple sessions
• Focus on priority topics first
• Remember: length doesn't matter if content is valuable

What to Record

Essential Content

• Life overview (childhood, career, family)
• Specific memorable stories
• Advice for descendants
• Life lessons learned
• Description of daily life in their era
• Historical events they witnessed

Beyond Interviews

• Everyday activities (cooking, hobbies)
• Family gatherings
• Home environment tours
• Reading favorite passages
• Singing familiar songs
• Demonstrating skills

The "Looking Back" Questions

• What are you most proud of?
• What would you do differently?
• What do you want descendants to know?
• What matters most to you now?
• What brings you joy?

Start This Week

The perfect conditions won't come. Start with:

Today:

• Test your phone's video quality
• Buy or borrow external microphone

This week:

• Contact one person to interview
• Choose quiet, well-lit location
• Prepare 5-10 questions

Next week:

• Conduct first interview (even if just 15 minutes)
• Back up footage immediately
• Watch and evaluate

Then repeat.

The Ultimate Goal

The goal isn't perfection. It's preservation.

A slightly shaky phone video with good audio and genuine conversation is infinitely more valuable than waiting for professional conditions that never materialize.

Your descendants won't critique the production quality. They'll treasure the chance to see and hear someone they never met or barely remember.

Record now. Edit later. Perfect never.

The voices and faces you preserve this year will become priceless artifacts for generations to come.

Start this week. Hit record. Let your family's stories be heard and seen.