Using Video for Your Family Tree

Researching your family history is priceless.  Knowing about your ancestors and recording your family now can help future generations know the influence past generations had on the family.  While many people print out information about their family history and make scrapbooks or use online genealogy tools, an alternative is making a video.

How to Make a Genealogy Video

Making a family genealogy video is quite simple.  Take the information you have found and save it on your computer where you have your video editing software.  Doing it this way, will provide you with higher quality imaging on the video.  The alternative is to print out the information, read it while videotaping or record the information if it is large enough that it will be visible on the video.

The next thing you can do is gather pictures.  Again, it’s best if you are able to have these on your computer so you can add them into your editing software.  Pictures can be those of generations past and current ones.  If you have names for the people in the pictures, make sure to include them somewhere, either on the picture or have a section with the names indicating which name belongs to whom.

You can also include interviews in your video.  Interview each person in your family.  You may want to ask questions about what each person does for a job, what life is like, and how much certain things cost.

Storing Your Video

As your family genealogy grows, you will want to add to it, so using a media device that allows you to continue to record on the same one is best.  Of course, the media device will eventually run out of space so you might need multiple ones.  Make sure you label them well so you are able to store them in chronological order.

After you’ve completed your video family tree, be sure to store the media devices in a safe, cool, fire resistant place such as in a safe or safety deposit box.  Let family members know where they are so that they can have access to them as well.  Pass the videos down from generation to generation and your future relatives will be amazed and appreciative of your efforts.

(Photo Credit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/8049856@N03/532594861/)

June 4th, 2009 by Marcelina Hardy | Posted in Family Trees, Geneology Projects, Genetic Roots | (0)