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Commonly asked questions
Select from topics on the right to filter through some commonly asked questions.
Do you recommend in-person interviews over online interviews?
We have had great success with both in-person and online interviews. We have more control over the quality of the audio in-person but online audio recording has improved so much in the last few years that we can create a high-quality product with an online recording tool. If you feel that you will be more comfortable speaking about yourself virtually, then go with the online options. If in-person interviewing feels more comfortable to you and we are in your vicinity, we recommend interviewing in person.
What languages can you work with?
Currently, English is the only language we can craft with. Our hope in the future is to have a multilingual team and be able to craft portraits in many languages.
What (if any) equipment do I need for an online interview?
The minimum equipment required is a computer that is connected to the internet and headphones that plug into your computer (not wireless). You are more than welcome to use a microphone and other recording equipment to help ensure high-quality audio, but it’s not required.
Are there any interview questions I can know beforehand?
We do not share the interview questions beforehand. I know for some this may feel unsettling. But please know that we have designed the interview to make sure we capture many elements of you and have designed the flow of the interview to help you remember and reflect on your life thoughtfully.
What can I do to be prepared for the interview?
There is no preparation you are required to do before the interview however if you want to feel more prepared, we recommend you start by reflecting on the moments in your life that have had an impact on you. Maybe start jotting them down as they come to you.
Do I get to pick the questions asked?
The interview is strategically designed to get the answers we need to create a true audio portrait of an individual. This means one can not review the questions beforehand and pick and choose which question to ask and not ask. However, during the interview, the interviewee can skip any question that does not spark an answer. They will also be asked at the end of the interview if there is anything else they would like to add.
What types of questions do you ask?
The questions were first inspired by two sources, Essie’s experience of the many interviews she has conducted over the years and questions designed by behavioral scientists to understand the narrative people tell themselves about their own lives.
This has led to quite broad questions that allow the interviewee to interpret the question so it works from them. For example “What has been a high point in your life” is a question. Using the word “high” can mean something different to one person than the next.
There are 4 main sections of the interview; Before, Now, Later & Challenges to Growth. These sections are not designed to capture everything in your life story, but rather the moments that have shaped who you are and what makes you…you.
Do I have to wait 5 years to receive my polaroid portrait?
We highly recommend waiting 5 years. It gives you the distance from your answers and time to gain more perspective. If after 2 years you have a very strong urge to receive your polaroid portrait, email us at info@quinceportrait.com and we will see what we can do.
What is the main difference between a Heirloom and a Polaroid Portrait?
The main difference between the Heirloom and the Polaroid is the editing. The Heirloom Portrait will be highly crafted including storytelling, editing, and a customized musical score. The interviewees’ voices are fully removed and all the content is weaved together to capture the essence of the individual. The Polaroid portrait is not edited. It’s the raw recording designed to be listened back to 5 years after the interview took place.
Will the public ever hear my audio portrait?
The public should only ever hear someone's portrait if the author has decided to share it with people. We provide the author with a downloadable mp3 file and a password-protected site that the portrait can be played from. From there it’s the author's description who hears the portrait.
What does “custom musical score” mean for the Heirloom Portrait?
We approach our Heirloom Portraits as art, and when we score them we use an artistic approach. Moments in the story which conjure a mood are scored subtly, not to heighten the emotion unnecessarily, but to place the listener in the emotion with the speaker. Sound acts as a frame for the portrait, giving it gravitas and weight.
Can I say what gets included and not included in the Heirloom Portrait?
The author of the portrait will receive a final draft of the portrait and can request content to be removed if desired. We will not be able to add new content or move content around.
Do you create videos too?
No, we do not create videos (even though we love videos and films, today we solely focus on creating audio portraits)
What is an audio portrait?
An audio portrait is a uniquely crafted audio recording designed to capture one’s personal experiences, ideas, and memories.
What does “custom musical score” mean?
We approach our Heirloom Portraits as art, and when we score them we use an artistic approach. Moments in the story which conjure a mood are scored subtly, not to heighten the emotion unnecessarily, but to place the listener in the emotion with the speaker. Sound acts as a frame for the portrait, giving it gravitas and weight.
Can I say what gets included and not included in the Heirloom Portrait?
The author of the portrait will receive a final draft of the portrait and can request content to be removed if desired. We will not be able to add new content or move content around.
What is the main difference between a Heirloom and a Polaroid Portrait?
The main difference between the Heirloom and the Polaroid is the editing. The Heirloom Portrait will be highly crafted including storytelling, editing, and a customized musical score. The interviewees’ voices are fully removed and all the content is weaved together to capture the essence of the individual. The Polaroid portrait is not edited. It’s the raw recording designed to be listened back to 5 years after the interview took place.
Will the public ever hear my audio portrait?
The public should only ever hear someone's portrait if the author has decided to share it with people. We provide the author with a downloadable mp3 file and a password-protected site that the portrait can be played from. From there it’s the author's description who hears the portrait.
Do I have to wait for 5 years to receive my portrait?
We highly recommend waiting 5 years. It gives you the distance from your answers and time to gain more perspective. If after 2 years you have a very strong urge to receive your polaroid portrait, email us at info@quinceportrait.com and we will see what we can do.
What is the main difference between a Heirloom and a Polaroid Portrait?
The main difference between the Heirloom and the Polaroid is the editing. The Heirloom Portrait will be highly crafted including storytelling, editing, and a customised musical score. The interviewees’ voices are fully removed and all the content is weaved together to capture the essence of the individual. The Polaroid portrait is not edited. It’s the raw recording designed to be listened back to 5 years after the interview took place.
Will the public ever hear my audio portrait?
The public should only ever hear someone's portrait if the author has decided to share it with people. We provide the author with a downloadable mp3 file and a password-protected site that the portrait can be played from. From there it’s the author's description who hears the portrait.
Do you recommend in-person interviews over online interviews?
We have had great success with both in-person and online interviews. We have more control over the quality of the audio in-person but online audio recording has improved so much in the last few years that we can create a high-quality product with an online recording tool. If you feel that you will be more comfortable speaking about yourself virtually, then go with the online options. If in-person interviewing feels more comfortable to you and we are in your vicinity, we recommend interviewing in person.
What languages can you work with?
Currently, English is the only language we can craft with. Our hope in the future is to have a multilingual team and be able to craft portraits in many languages.
What (if any) equipment do I need for an online interview?
The minimum equipment required is a computer that is connected to the internet and headphones that plug into your computer (not wireless). You are more than welcome to use a microphone and other recording equipment to help ensure high-quality audio, but it’s not required.
Are there any interview questions I can know beforehand?
We do not share the interview questions beforehand. I know for some this may feel unsettling. But please know that we have designed the interview to make sure we capture many elements of you and have designed the flow of the interview to help you remember and reflect on your life thoughtfully.
What can I do to be prepared for the interview?
There is no preparation you are required to do before the interview however if you want to feel more prepared, we recommend you start by reflecting on the moments in your life that have had an impact on you. Maybe start jotting them down as they come to you.
Do I get to pick the questions asked?
The interview is strategically designed to get the answers we need to create a true audio portrait of an individual. This means one can not review the questions beforehand and pick and choose which question to ask and not ask. However, during the interview, the interviewee can skip any question that does not spark an answer. They will also be asked at the end of the interview if there is anything else they would like to add.
What types of questions do you ask?
The questions were first inspired by two sources, Essie’s experience of the many interviews she has conducted over the years and questions designed by behavioral scientists to understand the narrative people tell themselves about their own lives.
This has led to quite broad questions that allow the interviewee to interpret the question so it works from them. For example “What has been a high point in your life” is a question. Using the word “high” can mean something different to one person than the next.
There are 4 main sections of the interview; Before, Now, Later & Challenges to Growth. These sections are not designed to capture everything in your life story, but rather the moments that have shaped who you are and what makes you…you.
Do you create videos too?
No, we do not create videos (even though we love videos and films, today we solely focus on creating audio portraits)
