If you've ever watched a documentary, you've probably heard an unseen voice describing the sights and events being depicted on the screen. The use of "voice over narration" is a technique commonly used in professional documentaries. It's also a technique you can incorporate into your personal video biographies.

Why use narration? Maybe after listening to the interview you've taped for your video biography you decide you need to fill in some missing information. Or maybe your interview subject doesn't start his or her answer with a complete sentence and you need to "set up" the answer. For example, let's say you ask your subject about life growing up on the family farm. Instead of starting the answer with a complete sentence, "We all pitched in to make the farm a success. It was hard. I did chores for two hours every morning before school," he or she answers, "It was hard. I did chores for two hours every morning before school." To make this incomplete answer easier to understand, you can add a line of narration that introduces the subject: "The early years at the farm were challenging. Everyone pitched in to make it succeed, even little Catherine." Then you simply follow the narration with your subject's answer. In effect, the interview completes the thought begun by the narration.

You may also have no interviews, but lots of photos and family videos. In this case, you may want to create an entire video using narration to convey information and set the mood.

From a technical point of view, creating narration isn't hard. Attach a microphone to your computer's sound card and, with the right software, you can record directly onto your hard drive. Or, tape your narration by reading into a microphone attached to your video camcorder, then import your voice recordings into your editing program.

The real challenge is writing narration that conveys facts and emotions using as few words as possible. The last thing you want to do is drone on and on and bore your audience. If you're handy enough with words, you may want to do this yourself. Or you can hire a professional to do the writing for you. For example, Family Legacy Video's Steve Pender is an accomplished scriptwriter and will be happy to speak with you about writing narration for your project.

Another important point when it comes to writing narration: Narration is meant to be spoken. While you write, keep this fact uppermost in your mind. After you've written a passage, read it aloud. If you find yourself stumbling over convoluted phrases and overly long sentences, or if what you've written just doesn't sound natural, go back to the word processor or your pad and pencil and try again.

Once you've written your narration, it's time for the casting call! Will you be the voice talent? Is there another family member who would be perfect for the job? Perhaps you can split the narration up and have two or more family members take on narrator duties. If you have the budget, you can also hire a professional.

One more thing. Make sure you have video of some kind that relates to what your narration is saying. You don't want your audience looking at a blank screen or at photos and video that have no connection to your narration.

So if you're lacking in interviews don't despair. When written, read and recorded properly, narration can effectively help you tell your family's story.

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