Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make a legacy video?

This depends on several factors, including how many people you wish to be interviewed, any necessary travel, scheduling, and the availability of key materials like family photos and home movies.  For example, a photo montage can be produced within 24 hours in certain circumstances, or for a more comprehensive family legacy documentary, it can take several months to a year to complete.  In special cases this process can be sped up to accommodate an important event, anniversary, or birthday.  However, if you are considering creating a complete family history documentary, it is best to begin the process as early as possible as these projects are often much larger in scope and can take several months to a year to complete.

How much does it cost?

The cost of each photo montage or biography video is determined by the time spent on all four phases of the process.  It can take us anywhere from 20-300+ hours to create one of our one-of-a-kind documentaries.  People who want to make a legacy video but find the cost prohibitive often invest with their siblings or extended family members to share the cost.  We do our best to collaborate with you to make sure that you are able to create the documentary you want that works with your budget.  Family legacy videos are priced on a project-to-project basis.  Prices range from $300 to $5,000 and more.  Please visit our Pricing page for more details regarding what’s involved in determining the price range.  Since pricing is so project specific, we will need to conduct a free consultation over the phone and then send you a bid in order to give you the most accurate estimate for your project.

All my relatives are long gone.  Can I still make a biography video about them?

It is quite common for people to realize that they wish they had made a legacy video about special relatives after they have already passed away.  Sometimes it is a death of a loved one that we are close to that prompts a video legacy project in the first place.  All our videos have some element of memorializing loved ones because we all have special memories of a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or parent that made an impact on our life.  Creating an In-Memoriam video of your beloved family member preserves their legacy so they can continue to live on daily in our memories.  The idea behind an In-Memoriam video is that we are bringing these loved ones back to life in the present moment through our tales about them and the memories that make us both laugh and cry.

I have so many family photos and home movies that I don’t know where to start! How do I choose which ones to include in my legacy video?

That’s why you’re hiring us.  We work with you to help you determine which wonderful memorabilia, photos, home movies, etc. are the most meaningful to your family.  We are here to help guide you in determining the best combination of memorabilia that best tells your legacy story.

What do you do for the camera shy?

Even the most camera shy people warm up when asked the right questions in a comfortable and safe environment.  That is why, as much as possible, we interview our clients in the space they find most comfortable.  We conduct our interviews so people feel like they are talking to an old friend.  Or, some people prefer to have another family member or close friend interview them.  Whichever situation is most appropriate, we are dedicated to helping you feel comfortable and at ease in telling your story.

In addition, our equipment set up is minimal in order to be as unobtrusive as possible so that even the camera shy can forget that they are being taped.  In the event that someone really doesn’t want to appear on camera, projects can be tailored to meet those needs.  For example, voice-over can be placed underneath photographs, home movies, and other moving or still images.

I’ve experienced so many things in my life I don’t know where to start.  I’m not sure some of these experiences are interesting enough to talk about.

Many people feel overwhelmed at first when starting to review their life story.  Some people may also feel their life was uneventful.  As normal or uneventful as you may feel your life is, at My Legacy Videos we believe that everyone has a story to tell and that your story and life experiences are special and unique; this is why we are dedicated to helping you sift through your memories because no matter what you have done in your life, big or small, your life means a lot to those who love you.  To assist you in this process, we have created thought-provoking questions to help you determine and keep track of the most important tidbits that you want to make sure to include in your video.

I have family living in different areas.  Can I still make a legacy video?

Absolutely!  The majority of our projects involve travel.  Some people opt to fly in relatives, or in some circumstances, we can travel to video relatives in their home town.  Also, family events such as reunions, weddings, or anniversary parties are a great opportunity to capture videos of your loved ones in a festive environment.

I feel I am too young to start documenting my life story.  Shouldn’t I wait until I’m older?

It’s never too early to start documenting your memories!  Some people actually record a new video every few years so their kids, grandkids, and other family members can watch them throughout different stages of their life.  It’s magical that you have the opportunity to give your loved ones much more than a photograph – capturing on video your thoughts, memories, voice and presence at different stages throughout your life is the greatest gift you could give future generations.

What if I still have more questions?

Please contact us!