14 February 2026

Sit Down With Someone You Love and Capture Their Stories

Before I Forget — February 2026

Not everyone who has stories to tell is comfortable with technology. Your grandmother might have decades of memories but no interest in typing them into a screen. Your dad might have a box of old photos but wouldn't think to upload them anywhere.

That's where you come in.

Before I Forget works just as well when two people use it together — one person with the memories, and another person helping to capture them.

Use it as an interview tool

Start a conversation on the platform, then sit with your relative and read the AI's questions out loud. Type their answers as they talk, or tap the Speak button next to the dialogue box and let them answer in their own voice — the platform transcribes their words instantly. The AI will follow up with prompts that draw out detail — the kind of questions you might not think to ask yourself.

You don't need to get the wording perfect. Type what they say, roughly, in their voice. The platform polishes the raw conversation into a proper narrative afterwards. What matters is getting the memories down.

Bring their old photos and letters

If they have a box of photos in the cupboard, pick one out and upload it. The AI will ask about it — who's in the photo, where it was taken, what was happening that day. One photo can unlock 20 minutes of stories.

The same goes for old letters, handwritten notes, or documents. Scan them with your phone camera or take a photo of the page. Upload it and the platform extracts the content and turns it into something readable.

Record them talking

Some people are better talkers than typists — and that goes double for an older relative who grew up without a keyboard. Use the Speak button and hold the phone near them while they talk. Their words are transcribed automatically.

For longer sessions, record the conversation on your phone's voice recorder app and upload the audio file afterwards. A 30-minute conversation with your mum about her childhood becomes a polished story without either of you writing a word.

A practical guide to a good session

Pick a time when there's no rush. Make a cup of tea. Don't try to cover everything in one sitting.

Start with something specific — a photo, a place, a person's name. "Tell me about this photo" works better than "Tell me about your life." Specific prompts lead to specific memories, and specific memories make the best stories.

Let them wander. If the question is about school and they end up talking about their first job, that's fine. The platform captures everything and you can sort it later.

Do it more than once. One session captures one or two stories. Come back next week with another photo or another question. Over time, the collection builds into something neither of you expected.

What you end up with

Every session produces a polished story — properly written, in their voice, ready to download or print. Over time, you build a collection: childhood memories, career stories, family holidays, the people who mattered most.

And because you can create a version of any story for different purposes, that one conversation about Nan's kitchen could become a short speech for her birthday, a letter to cousins overseas, or a chapter in a family memoir.

Start with one memory

You don't need a plan or a list of questions. You just need a person, a memory, and a bit of time.

The stories are already there. They just need someone to ask.