From Letters to Videos: How the Way We Remember Has Changed Over Time

A Progression of Change Over Time

There was a time—not long ago—when the most heartfelt way to capture a moment, a memory, or a piece of your soul was with pen and paper.

Letters were sacred. A soldier writing home. A parent scribbling wisdom into a notebook for their child. A lover folding their thoughts into an envelope sealed with hope. These weren’t just words—they were relics. Tangible pieces of a person’s heart. We keep them in boxes, drawers, and shoeboxes. We unfold them carefully, as if the paper itself might whisper something we missed the first time.

There’s something profoundly human about a handwritten letter. It carries the weight of time, intention, and touch. That will never change. But just as letters once revolutionized the way we stayed connected, video is doing the same for how we remember.

The Gift of Voice, Expression, and Presence

It wasn't over night, this progression has been a change over time, but why? Where letters capture thoughts, video captures essence. It holds your voice. Your inflections. Your smile. The way you pause when remembering something tender. The way your eyes light up when you speak about your children or your faith. These are things a letter simply can’t show. And for generations to come, they matter more than we realize.

Because let’s be honest—many of us have held onto a letter or journal from a loved one, only to struggle through fading ink or handwriting we could barely decipher. The meaning was there, but the connection felt distant. Video removes that barrier. It allows you to speak directly to future generations. To share your story not just as a memory, but as a moment they can step into. It preserves the you that your family knew and loved.

A Beautiful Progression, Not a Replacement

This shift from ink to image isn’t a rejection of the past—it’s a continuation of something sacred. Video isn’t here to erase the value of letters. It’s here to enhance how we share legacy.

Where letters gave us the intimacy of language, video gives us the intimacy of presence. Both are beautiful. Both are necessary. And both will continue to shape how we honor the people we love.

Why Living Memories Matters Now

At Benaiah Studios, we believe that your story is worth more than a few dusty photos or a fleeting social media post. That’s why we created Living Memories—mini documentaries that capture your life, your values, your personality, and your presence.

We sit down with you in a relaxed, guided conversation, and help you share the moments that made you who you are. Then we create a powerful video that your family can return to for generations.

Imagine your great-grandchild watching your eyes sparkle as you talk about the day you met your spouse—or hearing your voice describe what faith meant to you during the hardest chapter of your life. That’s a Living Memory. And it’s something a text or letter, as meaningful as it may be, simply can’t replicate.

Don’t Let Your Story Be Guesswork

So many of us have sat around a table trying to piece together a loved one’s past: "I think she said she was born in ’34," or "Did he serve in the war, or was that Uncle Joe?" Why leave your story up to assumption? You already have everything you need: the memories, the heart, the voice. We help you preserve it—clearly, permanently, beautifully.

Letters will always have their place. They’re sacred. But in this season of life, video gives us a chance to add depth to our legacy. It’s not about choosing one over the other. It’s about letting both serve their purpose.

And when you speak your story on video, you’re giving your family something no one else can: you.