What is a Life Story Film?
A professionally made film that captures a person’s memories, experiences, voice, and personality in their own words.
Rather than simply recording an interview, we create a documentary-style film around their life. Their stories are brought together with photographs, home videos, family footage, music and other memories to create something personal that can be treasured and shared for generations.
At Relative Memories, we take a relaxed and conversational approach. The aim is to help people feel comfortable enough to talk naturally about the moments, people and experiences that have shaped their lives.
Every film is different, but a life story video can bring together:
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A relaxed, professionally filmed interview
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Family photographs
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Old photographs, Polaroids and slides
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Home videos and family footage
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Voice recordings and other personal recordings
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Footage filmed in meaningful locations
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Stories and memories shared by family members
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Music that suits the story
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Documentary-style editing and storytelling
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A finished film to keep and share with family
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A digital or USB keepsake
The result is more than a collection of photographs or an interview recording. It is a film shaped around the person's own story, voice and personality.
What does it include?
How We Create Your Life Story Film
Every film is different, but the process is simple.
After first getting in touch using the contact details at the bottom of this page, we will arrange an informal phone call to discuss the stories and type of film you have in mind.
We will then arrange a time to meet for your interview (it will feel more like a casual catch-up!). After the interview takes place, you can relax while we get to work editing your stories into a professional, documentary-style legacy film you can keep, watch and pass down.
Frequently Asked Questions about Life Story Films
Yes. Children, grandchildren, partners, siblings and other loved ones can contribute interviews, memories and reflections where they form part of the story.
Yes. We understand that filming a life story of an elderly or unwell loved one may require a gentler and more flexible approach. The person's comfort comes first, and interviews can be adapted around their energy, mobility and needs.
Rather than expecting someone to sit through a long filming session, we can take regular breaks or divide filming into shorter sessions where appropriate. If someone's health is declining, it is worth starting the process sooner rather than later so their voice, memories and personality can be preserved while they are still able to share them.
The finished life story film belongs to you and your family. Relative Memories does not claim ownership of your personal stories, photographs or family memories.
We treat your family's material and the finished film with care and confidentiality. Our clients retain exclusive ownership of their finished film, giving your family control over how it is kept, shared and passed down to future generations.
Relative Memories is primarily based in the Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay and Auckland, but we create life story films and legacy videos for families throughout New Zealand. We can travel to your home or another meaningful location for filming, depending on the project.
For projects outside our usual local area, travel requirements and any associated costs will be discussed with you before you commit. If your family is based elsewhere in New Zealand, get in touch and we can discuss what is possible.
Yes. Alongside life story films and legacy videos, Relative Memories can create a printed memoir book using the stories gathered during the interview, together with your family's photographs and other memories.
A memoir book provides a different way to preserve a person's life story. While a film captures their voice, expressions and personality, a printed life story book creates a physical keepsake that can be held, displayed and passed down through the family.
Yes. Our Tribute package was designed with this purpose in mind. We can create memorial videos, funeral tribute films and celebration-of-life videos using photographs, home videos, music, recordings and other personal material supplied by your family.
A memorial film can tell the story of a loved one's life and provide a meaningful tribute to share at a funeral or celebration of life. We can also create a longer keepsake version for the family to preserve and revisit after the service.
That's completely fine. You do not need to sort through every photograph yourself before contacting us. We can help you determine which photographs are most relevant to the story and which will work best within the finished film.
For larger collections, we can discuss photograph scanning, digitisation, restoration and selection as part of the project. The goal isn't necessarily to include hundreds of photographs — it is to select the images that genuinely add something to the person's story.
Yes. We can restore old, damaged and deteriorated photographs as part of your life story film or family history project. We are professionally trained in photo restoration and can carefully repair and enhance photographs affected by fading, scratches, tears, stains, creases and other damage.
Where appropriate, we can digitally restore photographs while preserving their original character and appearance. Restored photographs can then be incorporated into your life story film, legacy video or printed memoir book, helping bring precious family memories back to life for future generations.