Each of us has a remarkable story to tell of the journey we have been on.
In the past people commissioned painters or photographers to create a lasting portrait for their family and future generations. These still images could only give a glimpse of who they were and the details of their stories would be lost to the winds of time.
Now through the experience and skill of award-winning documentary filmmakers, it is possible to create a unique Moving Portrait of someone’s life that gives anyone the opportunity to tell their own story for their loved ones.
Using interviews, photographs and old movies, Wairarapa-based Moving Portraits will weave together a person’s memories and the important events that shaped their life, creating a personalised film that immortalises who they are and gives a special gift to their family, as well as future generations to remember them by.
Let us tell the story of your life
Please email your details to story@movingportraits.nz or contact us here
You can also add your email address and first name below to receive some really useful information to help you decide on a Moving Portrait.
“Sean and Phil’s dedication to capturing the essence of my father’s story of immigration is commendable. Working with them was very straight forward, the process was seamless, and they demonstrated a genuine passion for storytelling. The final result exceeded my expectations, beautifully encapsulating my dad’s journey and reminding us all of the power of keeping an open mind and staying positive. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”
Liza D. (Silver)
Our Services
We understand that each individual’s story is as distinct as a fingerprint, and we pride ourselves on tailoring our approach to suit your personality and experiences. Our collaborative process begins with a thoughtful consultation where we listen to your anecdotes, milestones, and cherished moments.
Moving Portraits will then interview you, covering the important events of your life. Intercutting your own archive material of photographs or old films into the interview, a bespoke film is created. Once finished and agreed upon, the Moving Portrait film is handed to the client on a personalised memory stick as well as uploaded to a secure password-protected online storage service to be accessed at any time by friends and family and for future generations to come. (All prices include GST.)
Bronze $1,700
An in-depth pre-interview to discover your life-story from the moment of your birth. This is also a chance to look through your photos to choose which will be included in the final film.
A one-hour* filmed studio interview.
Your photos will be scanned to be included in a beautifully edited personal film of approximately 30 minutes duration.
Please take a look at our How it works page for more in-depth information on the process.
*We are not overly strict about the time taken for the interview, it’s more important for us to capture all the details.
“Last Christmas my husband gave me an unusual Christmas present; the opportunity to record my life story with Moving Portraits.
I was a little nervous at the prospect of being interviewed and filmed talking about my past. I needn’t have been.
Phil prepared me well by going through my old photos and asking pertinent questions that allowed me to think about my past. This meant that on the day of filming I was already “in the zone” as it were with plenty of remembered anecdotes. It was just like chatting with a friend and I soon forgot the cameras were rolling.
But what really blew us away was seeing the finished film. Sean had incorporated my photos and also found amazing footage of many of the things I was describing which made the film really dynamic and fascinating. Even I thought my life story looked intriguing … and everyone who has seen it agrees!
This is a wonderful way to capture our unique stories for future generations. I am so pleased to have done it.“
Gabrielle F. (Bronze)
Silver $2,700
An in-depth pre-interview to discover your life-story including historical details of your parents and grandparents to be documented in your film. This is also a chance to look through your photos and home videos and choose which will be included in the final film.
An up to two-hour* interview with you and interviews with up to two family members that will document your life and ancestry.
Your photos will be scanned and any home movies digitised to be included in a beautifully edited personal film.
Please take a look at our How it works page for more in-depth information on the process.
*We are not overly strict about the time taken for the interview, it’s more important for us to capture all the details.
“I think this process is a really amazing opportunity to have a record of our father
Alexandra W. (Gold)
and have it for our future generations to share some of those beautiful stories
that get lost when people move on.
I think about my grandparents and the stories that they used to tell us,
but I already start to forget the details”
Gold $5000
An in-depth pre-interview to discover your life-story including historical details of your parents and grandparents to be documented in your film. This is also a chance to look through your photos and home videos and choose which will be included in the final film.
An up to three-hour* interview with the subject and interviews with family members that will document your life and ancestry.
Filming of a separate family gathering such as a dinner or outing (this can be anything of your choice to be included in the film.)
Your photos will be scanned and any home movies digitised to be included in a beautifully edited personal film.
Please take a look at our How it works page for more in-depth information on the process.
*We are not overly strict about the time taken for the interview, it’s more important for us to capture all the details.
“We talk about writing an autobiography or writing stories to pass on,
Alan W. (Gold)
but this really is a whole different level.
And future generations, the kids will hopefully see what the old fellow was like.
Yeah, great process, great experience.”
Platinum (price on consultation)
Personalised and customised family documentary of the subject shot over several days.
Moving Portrait Memorial. $500
At any time a shorter video can be created using the material from any of the longer Moving Portrait films that have been previously made to be shown at a commemorative service or funeral.
“I think it’s such a special opportunity to have the stories and the life of your parent immortalised that can be passed down to your grandchildren and their grandchildren. I would have loved to have heard the stories of my great grandparents and had a chance for them to voice them and share them. And it’s a really lovely process also, of us all coming together and thinking about what we are grateful for and asking the questions that we want to ask, and hearing things that we may not even have heard before because of this process. I think it’s a really, really beautiful thing to do.”
Emma W. (Gold)