Don’t be fancy or precious about how your videos look. The story will always trump aesthetics. Go get it.

But why not just record audio? Seems like it would be a lot easier.

Audio is great but it hides part of the story. Seeing someone’s mannerisms, the sparkle or sadness in their eyes, how they gesture, tells you just as much, if not more, than the words coming out of their mouth. Video helps bring these stories to life—stories we need to preserve.  

Why a phone? Why not a proper video camera?

OHN is about inclusiveness, and the need for expensive equipment or hiring specialists works against this idea. Mobile video technology has never been better, and this amazing documentarian tool lives in our pockets waiting to be used. So with the explosion and rapid adoption of mobile phone technology, this is the simplest thing that everyone can do.