The Leights

We’re so glad you’re here. Whether this is for you or someone you love, thank you for entrusting us with your project.  It's a privilege to help bring someone’s stories to light—and we don’t take that lightly. 

If the video’s for you, just reach out to schedule an Intro & Tech Test Zoom meeting with us. If the video is a gift, please email both the recipient and us (donna@sonderfulproductions.com) so we can connect directly—we’ll take it from there. If you have thoughts on what you'd like the video to capture, great. If not, that's totally fine too. You show up, we’ll take care of the rest.

The Intro & Tech Test Zoom meeting is a chance to get to know each other, toss around ideas, and walk through what to expect on Recording Day. Prior to our Intro & Tech Test start time, please find a spot you can sit comfortably in, and that you think will be the optimal spot for our actual Zoom recording session.  At our scheduled time, just click on the Zoom link (which we'll email you ahead of time), and, once our session begins, we'll take you through everything you need to know! We'll work together to ensure you're in a room with a strong WiFi signal, we'll make sure you are comfortable with your background (we'll need a real one - not blurred or virtual) including picking a spot without piles of papers or other distracting items you will not want to see in the background of your video, check that lighting is good and not casting shadows on your face(s), and check to be sure your microphone, camera and speakers are functioning in the best way they can.  We can talk about silencing alerts on your devices (phones, iPads, computers, etc.)   We’ll ensure the device you are using is in its best positioning, we'll be sure that video, audio, background (no virtual or blurred ones!), lighting and Wi-Fi are the best they can be. We'll also look at our calendars to confirm the date and time for our actual Recording Day session(s).  Most importantly, we'll get the chance to meet you, learn about what you hope to accomplish in your video recording, and answer any questions you may have as we go along. We'll give you a good sense of the recording day format, and then you'll be all set! 

As you go about your days, we suggest you jot down quick notes or keywords to remind you of what you want to share on Recording Day—including any family history and any hard-to-remember ancestors’ names or details. Start gathering favorite photos—from baby and childhood, school and career, to travel, weddings, family, and friends. If your family or friends want to share photos too, that’s great—send them our way. And if you have any special objects with a story behind them, keep those handy. It’s those little details that add an extra something to your story.

Touch base with family and friends to see if there are any “must-tell” stories or questions they’d love to hear answered. Or, if you prefer, you can introduce us directly—we’d be happy to connect and gather their notes and ideas ourselves.

You’d be surprised how many people start by saying, “I don’t have enough stories to fill an hour,” and then ask for more time once they get going. We like to think of the longer videos as a library of information about a person or couple. Friends and family can check out a “chapter” (we’ll add clickable timestamps), and the storyteller gets the peace of mind knowing we’ve captured everything they wanted to share. Here’s how it works: We ask a bunch of questions, then shut up and really listen. When you feel like you’ve said what you want to say, we wrap. Simple as that. Here's what we do on our end: Throughout the recording, we communicate how much time is left to record, and have our interviewees determine if they'd like to continue, or if they've reached a point they are satisfied with.   

Think about the kinds of things you wish you could ask your own grandparents or great-grandparents. Let’s capture those answers now—for your future generations. We’ll ask about your childhood, parents, siblings, ancestry, education, military experience, dating, love, marriage, career, family life, children (and their partners), grandkids, great-grandkids, friends, pets, hobbies, values, and passions—plus anything else that’s uniquely you. Not everything will apply, and you can always skip anything you’d rather not talk about. The conversation is entirely up to you. 

Some of our favorite moments come from a mix of fun and sometimes unexpected questions. You can answer with whatever comes to mind, or skip any that don’t spark anything. Our only ask: if a question (or your answer) jogs a memory, don’t hold back—tell the story. These rounds often uncover parts of your life that don’t come up in a traditional interview. They’re quick, revealing, and often full of surprises—the little things people love to remember most.  Click here to view some of our video examples, or click here to listen to one client's testimonial and her detailed answers to the questions we get asked the most. 

Wear something comfortable (just skip the stripes—they’re tricky on camera). If we might do a second session, pick something you’d be fine wearing again if needed (for continuity). Have a glass of water nearby, and keep any special photos or objects within reach. If you’ve made a list of stories or names to remember, keep that handy too. And one last thing—silence your phone and other devices so we can keep the recording smooth and interruption-free. 

IMPORTANT: Please be sure to pick an area with a strong Wi-Fi signal! 

 Click on the Zoom link (which we'll email you ahead of time) up to 30 minutes prior to our start time. Logging in a little early will allow you some time to relax and get settled in before we begin.

 Once you are logged in, make sure to match as closely as possible everything we chose during our Tech Test (position of your device, arrangement of your seating, lighting, background, etc.). 

 Make sure your face(s) is/(are) centered on screen as close to the middle as possible (not too high or low, not too much left or right).

 Turn off any alerts and alarms on your devices to decrease the chances of unwanted sounds during your recording. 

 Turn off Wi-Fi for any devices (yours and those of others near you) that don't require it during our recording session. We want to ensure the strongest signal possible.

 We'll go through this together on Recording day: If you are on a laptop or desktop computer, adjust your microphone in Zoom by clicking the up arrow next to the "Mute" button in the bottom left corner, click "Audio Settings", find the "Microphone" section and be sure the box with "Automatically adjust microphone volume" is unchecked. Then drag the blue circle for microphone volume all the way to the right. 

 Clothing: Wear anything that's comfortable for you (but avoid stripes if you can). Be sure to wear something you can wear a second time if we opt to do another session on another date.

 Get yourself a glass of water/any beverage to keep beside you.

 Have any photos or special items you might want to share at arms' reach.

 Bring a list of any stories you want to be sure to cover, or any names you don't want to forget (like ancestors).

After the recording day, we embark on the editing journey—the last step before your video is ready to share. This usually takes about 30 days, during which we polish, organize, and make sure your story really shines.  The questions Donna asked will appear in the form of "title cards" typed on screen (you will not see Donna asking the questions) so that the focus of your video is on you and your stories. You’ll get the first look via a private YouTube link just for you, with the chance to request any adjustments before we send the final link (complete with clickable timestamps for each “chapter”) that you can share with anyone you choose.   

The final full-length video can be delivered in several ways:

• YouTube link (only viewable by those you share the      link with) along with time stamps noted so you can click right to a      certain "chapter" you want to watch
• MP4 file uploaded for your easy download access      (Google Drive, etc.)
• Flash Drive mailed to you upon request

Whether it’s a one-hour, three-hour, or six-hour video—we suggest you pop some popcorn and settle in! 

Recording life stories has been a true privilege. We’ve cried (really cried) with clients during the hard parts, nearly fallen off our chairs laughing during the funny ones (yes, there’s footage!) and navigated our way together through everything in between. We’ve been amazed by how open and real people become once we settle in and start talking. It turns into an experience we share—and one we don’t take for granted. We definitely want to know if there’s anything we can do to make the experience more comfortable for you, and we hope you’ll let us know.