How to Record Video Memories

Audience: Contributors — people sharing memories about photos using the Video Narration feature.

Video Narration lets you record yourself on camera while you talk about the photos. It's a great option if the organizer would like to capture not just your words, but your face, expressions, and presence as you share your memories.

Before You Start

  • You'll need a device with a front-facing camera — a smartphone or tablet works perfectly. Most modern laptops also work.
  • You'll need to be somewhere with decent lighting (face a window if possible).
  • Make sure your browser can access both your camera and microphone (the app will guide you).

Step 1 — Choose "Voice Narration" from the Welcome Screen

From the welcome screen, tap "Voice Narration". (Video narration is accessed from within the narration flow.)

📸 [SCREENSHOT: Welcome screen with "Voice Narration" button highlighted]

Step 2 — Grant Microphone Permission

You'll first be asked to allow microphone access. Tap "Allow" when your browser prompts you.

📸 [SCREENSHOT: Browser microphone permission prompt]

Step 3 — Choose "Video Narration"

On the next screen, you'll be asked to choose between Voice Narration and Video Narration. Tap "Video Narration".

📸 [SCREENSHOT: Recording mode selection screen — "Video Narration" card highlighted]

Step 4 — Grant Camera Permission

Because video narration also uses your camera, a second browser permission prompt will appear:

"zeuge.io wants to access your camera. Allow?"

Tap "Allow".

📸 [SCREENSHOT: Browser camera permission prompt]

Tip: If you denied either the microphone or camera permission, you can reset it in your browser settings. Look for a padlock 🔒 or camera 📷 icon in your browser's address bar and change the setting to "Allow."

Step 5 — The Photo Carousel with Video Recording

After permissions are granted, you'll see the photo carousel, similar to the voice narration mode. The main difference is that video narration shows a camera preview so you can see yourself on screen.

📸 [SCREENSHOT: The video carousel UI — photo displayed with a camera preview inset, record button at the bottom]

Step 6 — Record a Video Memory

  1. Look at the current photo and think about what you'd like to say.
  2. Press the record button (●) to start recording. You'll see a red recording indicator.
  3. Speak and look at the camera. You can glance at the photo shown next to the camera preview. Say whatever you remember — names, places, stories, dates.
  4. Press the button again to stop. The clip is saved automatically as a draft.

📸 [SCREEN RECORDING: Starting a video recording — showing the camera preview active, recording indicator, contributor speaking]

Lighting tip: Sit facing a window or lamp so your face is well-lit. Avoid having a bright light source behind you.

Length tip: There's no time limit, but 30–90 seconds per photo is usually plenty. Speak naturally and don't rush.

Step 7 — Navigate the Carousel

Use the left and right arrows (or keyboard arrow keys) to move between photos. The carousel works the same as in voice narration mode.

Photos you've already recorded will show a visual indicator (e.g., a green checkmark or border).

You can skip photos you don't recognize by simply moving past them.

📸 [SCREENSHOT: Carousel showing completed items (green) and skipped items (grey)]

Step 8 — Recording Multiple Photos in One Clip

If several photos relate to the same memory, you can record one video covering all of them:

  1. Hold Shift and select the additional photos you want to include.
  2. Record your clip — it will be linked to all selected items.

Step 9 — Finish and Submit

When you've finished recording, tap "Done". You'll see a brief "Finalizing…" screen while your videos are uploaded and processed.

📸 [SCREENSHOT: "Finalizing..." loading screen]

Then the thank-you screen will confirm your contribution.

📸 [SCREENSHOT: "Thank You" / Done screen]

Common Questions

Can I use the front or back camera? Zeuge defaults to the front-facing (selfie) camera. Some browsers may allow you to switch — look for a camera flip icon if available.

The video looks dark or grainy. What can I do? Move to a better-lit area. Facing a window works well. Avoid recording with a bright light or window directly behind you.

What happens to my video? Your video is uploaded securely and stored privately. Only the person who invited you can see it. Zeuge extracts the audio from your video to create a written transcript automatically.

Can I delete a video I recorded? Once submitted (after you tap "Done"), the organizer manages the recordings. If you'd like a recording removed, contact the person who invited you.

The camera isn't showing — what's wrong? Your browser may have blocked camera access. Try refreshing the page and allowing camera permission when prompted again. If that doesn't help, try a different browser (Chrome and Safari work reliably).

Next Steps

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