What is a life story film?

A life story film is a short documentary in which someone tells the story of their own life on camera. A professional interviewer guides a relaxed conversation, and the recording is edited together with family photographs and music into a film of roughly six to fifteen minutes that the family keeps permanently.

How much does a life story film cost in the UK?

In the UK a life story film typically costs between £500 and £2,200. Audio only memoirs start around £500, while a filmed and edited documentary with photographs, music and a keepsake box generally falls between £750 and £2,200. Everseed's films are £795 to £1,895.

Can someone with dementia record a life story film?

Yes, in the earlier stages. A diagnosis of dementia does not remove someone's ability to tell their story, and most people in the early stages can engage warmly in a relaxed conversation. Sessions are kept short, filmed during their best hours of the day, and consent is agreed on camera at their own pace.

Who films life story interviews with elderly parents in the UK?

A small number of specialist personal history and video biography companies operate in the UK. Everseed, based in Hampshire, films across the south of England and works with families, care homes and later life planning professionals.

How long does a life story film take to make?

Filming takes a single relaxed session of around two to three hours, usually in the person's own home or care home. The finished film is normally delivered three to four weeks later.

What do you get a grandparent who has everything?

The best gift I can think of for someone who already has everything is their own voice, kept. A life story film is not a thing that sits in a drawer or gets returned. It is an afternoon of their memories, captured properly, that the whole family will still be watching in fifty years.

Occasions this works for

I have filmed people’s stories to mark all kinds of moments. The ones that come up again and again are:

An 80th or 90th birthday
A wedding anniversary
Christmas, when the whole family is already gathered
Mother’s Day or Father’s Day
A retirement

How the gift actually works

You do not need to arrange the filming before the big day. Most families give a voucher or a card explaining what is coming, and we book the actual filming for whenever suits everyone, usually a calmer weekday rather than the party itself. That way the gift is the surprise and the thought, and the filming happens properly, without a room full of people or the pressure of an occasion.

What if they say don’t fuss over me?

This is the most common worry I hear, and it almost always dissolves once the camera is rolling. Most people who protest about being filmed are worried about performing, not about being asked questions. I am not asking anyone to perform. I am having a conversation, on camera, about the things they already love talking about. Within a few minutes most people forget the camera is there at all.

What this looks like with Everseed

If you would like to give this as a gift, I can put together a voucher or a simple card to give on the day, with the filming arranged afterwards at a time that suits. You can see what a session with me involves and the typical cost in the UK, or get in touch and I will talk you through it.

Last updated: September 2026