Creating and Sharing Your Family Video Archive

Getting Started

We recommend creating a Google Doc to organize your digitized videos and share them easily with family and friends. You can paste your video links directly into the document and add notes about what’s in each clip. Once complete, you can share the document link with others for collaborative editing or viewing.

To share your Google Doc:

  1. Go to your document.

  2. Click Share in the top right corner.

  3. Choose “Anyone with the link” and set it to Viewer or Editor depending on your preference.

  4. Copy and paste that shareable link into an email or message to your family and friends.

Tips for Organizing Your Family Videos

1. Include as Many Details as Possible
When documenting each video, add specific details such as:

  • Names of people featured

  • Event or occasion (birthday, holiday, vacation, etc.)

  • Year or date of the recording

  • Notable moments or highlights

The more detail you include, the easier it will be to search and identify special moments later on.

2. Use Searchable Keywords
Include keywords like “Christmas 1998” or “Mom’s 50th Birthday” so you can quickly find specific videos later using the search bar in Google Docs or Word.

3. Access and Add on the Go
If you’re using Google Docs, you can open your archive from your phone or tablet. For convenience, add the document to your home screen so you can easily update it while watching videos. You’ll be able to click video links directly from your phone to stream or download them instantly.

Tips for Viewing and Sharing Videos

1. Stream to Your TV
To enjoy your videos on a larger screen, you can stream directly from your phone or computer to your TV using:

  • AirPlay (for Apple devices)

  • Chromecast or Google Cast (for Android and Chrome users)

Steps:

  1. Open the video on your phone or computer.

  2. Tap the AirPlay or Cast icon.

  3. Select your TV and begin playback.

2. Download and Backup Your Files
Please download your videos to your own cloud or hard drive within 90 days of receiving your completion email to ensure they remain accessible long-term.

Recommended storage options:

  • Google Drive

  • Dropbox

  • YouTube (upload privately or unlisted)

  • Amazon Cloud Drive

  • External hard drive or USB backup

3. Organize in the Cloud
Create folders by year, event, or family member in your chosen cloud storage. This keeps everything tidy and easy to find.

4. Stream From the Cloud
You can stream videos directly from most cloud platforms on smart TVs or devices like Roku, Chromecast, or Apple TV. Log into your account on the TV app or use your phone to cast directly.