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A sample family. Invented people, stories and photographs, to show what Family Stories looks like. Nothing here is a real family’s record. Start your own, free

Girmit · Family stories · Stories · Record

How to record

Press record. Then ask the next question.

You do not need a studio. A phone on the table, a quiet room and a cup of tea will keep a voice for a hundred years.

A phone on a stand filming an older person telling a story at home. Generated image.
Generated image. A phone propped up to film a story at home.

Sample family Invented people, stories and photographs, shown to explain the idea. Nothing here is a real family’s record.

Voice

The simplest, and often the best. People say more when no camera is looking at them.

  1. Open the Voice Memos app, or any voice recorder.
  2. Put the phone on a folded cloth, an arm’s length from the speaker, screen up.
  3. Tap record. Do not move the phone.

Video

Keeps the faces, the hands and the laugh. Worth it when the speaker is happy to be filmed.

  1. Open the camera and choose Video. Turn the phone sideways.
  2. Prop it up. Keep the face in the middle, with a little space above the head.
  3. 1080p is enough. Move closer rather than zooming.

Write

For the person who would rather type it, or the story you want to set down properly.

  1. Give the story a title and say who is telling it.
  2. Write it as you would say it. Do not tidy the voice.
  3. Add the people, the place and the decade.

Record here

Record straight into the archive.

Say the date, the place and who is speaking, then ask for the yes. The recording is saved with the family, and anyone can type up what was said.

Say this first

“Today is [date]. We are in [place]. The speakers are [names]. I am [your name], and I am recording. Is it alright if we record this so the family can keep it?”

0:00

Sample: this does not use your microphone and nothing is recorded.

An estimate is fine. “The year we were at school” helps too.

Already recorded something?

Upload a voice note or video you already have.

Many family stories are already on someone’s phone, sent in a WhatsApp chat. Bring them in, name them, and they become part of the archive.

Drag recordings here

MP3, M4A, OPUS, AAC, MP4 or MOV.

Nothing added yet. In this sample files stay on your device and nothing is sent.

    The session checklist

    Fifteen minutes of care keeps a great story.

    From the family’s interview kit. Tick as you go: your ticks are not saved in this sample.

    Before the session
    During the session
    After the session

    0 of 16 ready

    The interview kit

    Twelve session themes with questions, the consent line, how to ask, the old photos session and a prompt card to keep beside the teapot. Print it, or keep it on the phone.

    Download the recording kit (PDF)

    Consent, kindly done

    Ask first, every time.

    These are people we love, so this is about respect before it is about rules. The speaker can say “don’t keep that bit” at any time, and we cut it. Nobody has to answer any question.

    Recordings are private to the family. Nothing is ever made public.

    Privacy · for every story

    Private by default. Yours to take back.

    Stories are some of the most personal things a family keeps. The rules below apply to every recording, photo and written story, and none of them can be switched off for you.

    Only your family

    A story can be seen only by the people in this family, once they sign in. Nothing is public.

    The speaker says yes first

    Every recording notes that the speaker agreed. The speaker can ask for a part to be cut, or the whole story taken down, at any time.

    Everyone can add

    Everyone in the family can add stories and photos. The person who started the family can undo or delete anything.

    Delete, for real

    When you delete a story or a photo, the file is removed from the server. It isn’t just hidden.