What are the best ways to turn family memories into a keepsake?

Most families want to hold on to the same things: the stories, the faces and the voices. There are now several good ways to do it, and they are not all trying to do the same job. This guide compares four kinds of service fairly, including our own, so you can choose the one that fits what you have and what you want to keep.

We checked each service's own pages on 12 November 2026. Details can change, so check their sites before you buy.

What are the main ways to preserve family memories?

There are four broad options:

1. Written memoir books, where someone answers questions over months and the answers become a printed book.
2. Voice-led story books, where someone records their stories by speaking, and the recordings are turned into a book.
3. DIY video editors, where you build a photo video yourself.
4. Done-for-you photo films, where you send photos and a short film is made for you.

How do written memoir books work?

Storyworth is the best-known example. According to its own site, the storyteller receives a question each week by email or text, answers by writing or recording, and at the end of the year the stories are collected into a hardcover book.

Best for: a parent or grandparent with a lifetime of stories to tell, who enjoys reflecting. It produces something you can hold and pass down. It does ask for steady effort over many months.

How do voice-led story books work?

Remento is built around spoken stories. Its help centre explains that weekly recorded reflections are turned into written stories and printed in a hardcover book, with QR codes that link to the original recordings.

Best for: families who want to keep the sound of someone's voice, and storytellers who would rather talk than write.

How do DIY video editors work?

Tools such as Canva let you upload your photos and videos, arrange them, choose a soundtrack and download the finished video.

Best for: people who enjoy editing and want full control over every photo, transition and song. The trade-off is time: choosing, ordering and polishing a film is all down to you.

How do done-for-you photo films work?

This is what Echoflicks does. You message Felix, the Echoflicks filmmaker, on WhatsApp and send 15 to 25 photos or short clips. Felix reads the photos, asks a few questions, then creates a cinematic movie of about 60 seconds with narration, an original music score, colour grading, titles and credits. We call it an Echo. Most Echoes are ready in about 20 minutes and arrive in the same chat.

Felix only uses your real photos. Some get animated, but nothing is invented. Our guide on turning family photos into a memory film explains how to choose and gather the photos, and our step by step guide shows how the WhatsApp chat works.

Best for: turning photos you already have into something to watch and share, quickly, without editing. It is honest to say what it is not: an Echo is a short film, not a full life story, and it is digital rather than printed.

How do the four options compare?

Which should you choose?

Ask yourself what you have, and what you are afraid of losing:

• Stories that live only in someone's memory? A memoir book or a voice-led story book will capture them.
• A voice you want to keep? A voice-led service is designed for it.
• A camera roll full of photos and an urge to edit? A DIY editor gives you full control.
• Photos you want to bring together quickly, for an occasion or a memory? A done-for-you film is the fastest route.

They also work well together: a book for the long story, and a short film for the faces and moments. If you are thinking of a present, see whether a short film made from your photos is a good gift.

What does an Echo cost, and what happens to your photos?

Your first Echo is free, no credit card required. After your first Echo, Felix may ask you to buy Echo credits before starting another movie; the exact price and credit pack are always shown in Stripe Checkout before you pay.

Your photos are yours. They are stored securely on EU servers and only ever used to make your Echo. You can read our privacy policy or ask us anything through our contact page.