Family Video Ideas

I only have one fuzzy memory of my maternal grandfather. Sure, I've seen plenty of photographs of him, so I recognize his face when I see it. But I do not recall his voice, mannerisms, smile, or personality. Such traits are not conveyed in still photographs. How wonderful it would be to be able to view a video of him playing his piano or talking about his childhood. Technology didn't exist in time to capture Grandpa on videotape, however. So I ask Mom about her Dad to discover the kind of person Grandpa was, and rely on her memories of him to make mine.

Today, we are fortunate to have the capability to make home videos to make our own memories. Unlike past generations, we have the technology to record videos using digital equipment far superior to analog recorders, at an affordable price. Once you have the means, what should you record? Does making a video involve more than simply turning on the camera and recording, or do you need a script and props? Here are some family video ideas to record life to share with future generations:

• Capture opinions and memories on video by interviewing people. Have your son sit down for a 10-minute interview moments after receiving his high school diploma to ask how he's feeling at that moment. Sit with Grandpa for an afternoon, asking questions about his first job, how he proposed marriage to Grandma, or what model his first car was. Tape your daughter when she comes home from her first day of Kindergarten, and then each first day of school thereafter.
• Video special events such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, baptisms, and sporting events. Make sure that you take video from unusual angles to make the video more interesting. If you've arranged to have a birthday party for your seven-year-old at play place, get down on the floor at child level to capture the children interacting or opening presents.
• Perhaps you have a son in the military overseas. Video one entire day of a typical day at home, starting with Mom waking up, sister talking on her cell phone, Dad mowing the grass, and brother playing a video game. While the video might seem mundane to the participants, the son who is far from home might cherish the glimpse of family.
• Record family progression by making a yearly recording schedule. Choose one holiday a year, and record an entire day of family happenings that day. For instance, choose Memorial Day to start recording from the moment you wake up, to the moment you go to bed. Record everything unscripted and choose a different person each year to make the recording so that you can gain different perspectives through the years.

Take your videos a step further and burn them to DVD, set to appropriate music. Use a tripod to avoid shakiness when recording interviews. Use good equipment so that your videos will not degenerate. Most importantly, make sure that you set aside one day a year to view your videos as a family, so that you can relive the memories.