The camera captures the conversation.
The storytelling makes the biography.
Peter Andersen, Personal Historian and Professional Storyteller
Over the years, Peter Andersen has conducted thousands of interviews with people from all over the world. He’s an award-winning author, a videographer and retired journalist.
Peter bought his first video camera in 1989 so he could interview his grandmother about her life story. Those recordings have since become a family treasure. By 2000 he was interviewing family and friends as a hobby. He soon found himself being asked to visit others and record their life stories as well. He interviewed dozens of people for a documentary he made about his parents’ home, which they owned for nearly 50 years.
He bases his work on two fundamental facts: First, he LOVES a good story and second, EVERYBODY has one to tell.
People Light Up When They Get to Tell Their Stories
Peter help records life stories in safe, enjoyable, compassionate settings. His work is unique in the industry, because he actually sits down face to face with the person and listens compassionately as they tell their stories, digging deeper through insightful follow-up questions.
This safe and positive atmosphere makes it easy for people to work with Peter. They light up when they tell their stories. They remember people and events they’d long forgotten. Perhaps best of all, they get to relive some of the amazing moments of their lives to date.
Recording your loved one’s life story for posterity shows them how much their life is valued. It brings people and families together and strengthens connections. With so much isolation in the world today, the opportunity to share and celebrate a life among one’s family and friends is an invaluable gift.
Peter has worked at Microsoft, Amazon, and other software companies. He’s a licensed private pilot, and he lives in Seattle with his family, dogs, and chickens.
“There are more than seven billion people on the earth, and every one represents an entire world of its own. Working together to capture some of that miracle and preserve it for posterity is the most thrilling job I can imagine.”