Questions people ask
If yours is not here, ask it on the short call, or write to us at alastair@remarkablelives.co.
Before you begin
What happens on the short call?
Fifteen minutes, on Zoom or by phone. We talk about who the portrait is for, what the family hopes to hear, and any questions you have. There is nothing to prepare.
How long does it take?
About eight weeks from start to finish: two weeks to gather the outline and the family's questions, two weeks of conversations, then the writing and a call to read it through. If there is a date that matters, tell us and we will plan around it.
Can I give a portrait as a gift?
Yes. The full price is paid when you book, and we send you a card to give. The conversations begin whenever suits the person whose story it is. Requests by 23 December can be given for Christmas.
Pricing
What does it cost?
Portraits start from $2,650, an introductory price. That includes the conversations, the writing, the portrait online and one printed hardback book. The details are on the What it costs page.
When do I pay?
Half when you book, after the short call, and half when the portrait is delivered.
How does paying for a gift work?
The full price is paid when you book, and we send you a card to give. The conversations begin whenever suits the person whose story it is.
What if we need to stop part way?
If the portrait stops before the first conversation, everything you have paid is refunded. After the first conversation, the first half is kept and the second half is not due; for a gift paid in full, half is refunded.
Is there a yearly fee to keep it online?
No. The portrait stays online at no charge for as long as we exist, and for at least ten years, and the family can download all of it whenever they like.
Can we order more printed books?
Yes. Further copies are $50 each.
The conversations
How do the conversations work?
Four conversations of 45 minutes over two weeks, on a video call on Zoom, or by phone if that is easier, from their own chair at home.
What if hearing is difficult?
Tell us on the short call. A video call with captions, the phone with the volume up, or a slower pace can all help, and we will find what works.
Can a son or daughter sit in?
Yes. Many people like someone with them on the first call to help with the technology. After that, most carry on by themselves.
What if there is something they would rather not talk about?
Then we leave it. Any question can be passed over, and anything said can be left out later. A portrait is a selection of the stories they want to share.
Where are you, and when do you call?
In Gothenburg, Sweden. Conversations are arranged at times that suit the person whose story it is, in the United States or the United Kingdom.
The portrait
Who reads it first?
The person whose story it is. We go through it together on a call, and it reaches the family only when they are happy with it.
Do you check what they say?
A portrait is their account, in their own words, and we do not correct their memories. Where it helps, a short note beside a chapter describes the town or the year as it was.
What does the family receive?
The portrait online, in chapters, with their photographs, short recordings of their voice and the world around them, and one printed hardback book.
Can the family add to it later?
Yes. Relatives can add a memory or a voice message of their own after reading, and a portrait can link to others in the family as they are made.
Privacy and keeping it
Who can see the portrait?
Only the people the family shares it with. It is protected by a family password, is not listed anywhere, and cannot be found by search engines.
What happens to the recordings?
They are used only to make the portrait. The person whose story it is is offered a copy, and the recordings are deleted 90 days after the portrait is delivered, unless they ask us to keep them.
How long does it stay online?
For as long as we exist, at no charge, and for at least ten years. The family can download all of it whenever they like.
Can it be taken down?
Yes. The person whose story it is can ask us to take the portrait down at any time.
Start with a short conversation
Tell us a little about who the portrait is for. We will arrange a short call to answer your questions, and begin whenever suits them.