You may have been asking yourself if a family film/video is right for your family. It’s a question I often think about with new clients because I truly believe every family deserves their story to be more fully preserved in a way that includes sound and movement. The big question is WHEN.
Honestly, there is never a perfect time, but it’s more a matter of finding the balance when you can surrender to the chaos AND be present with your family. That’s where I come in. And here’s a secret: I will know right off the bat from our initial phone call if the present is a good time for a film or if it’s better suited for something further down the road. Call it a strong intuition or connection of hearts, perhaps.
It’s taken a few years to put these strong pulls into words, and I even hesitate to share my hunches because I firmly believe that every family is beautifully unique and there isn’t one umbrella that fits them all. With this mindset, please don’t be deterred from inquiring about a film if all these boxes aren’t checked. Promise?
Without further ado, a Family Film may be right up your alley if…
1) You value presence over perfection and are willing to open your hearts wide in documenting your family, just as they are. This holds true for photos, too, and may include all the beautiful mess and constellation of quirks that make you uniquely beautiful. I thought this was worth emphasizing because it’s at the heart of what I do.
2) You love your images from your family photo session but feel a tug for more.
3) You want to remember the soundtrack of all the coos, giggles, pitter-patter of feet, and jibber-jabber of voices (your laughter included) echoing through your home.
4) You want to hold onto how your children moved as they discovered their place in this world: how they learned to walk, twirled their hair nervously, skipped into a room, or bit their lip in deep concentration.
5) You want to preserve a specific time and place to revisit the countless little details your heart clings to today.
6) You are up for a collaboration. My work depends on a strong sense of connection and trust between me and the families I work with. This collaboration process is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work. It includes an initial “get to know you” chat on the phone, a pre-session questionnaire, and two video chats a week before our session (one to go over your questionnaire and form a loose plan for the session day, and the other is just to get acquainted with your kiddos). Don’t worry; this is all spread out over 2-3 months because I know first-hand the harried life of family. This little bit of legwork ensures that when it comes to the actual session day, your one and only job is to love on your people. I will take care of the rest, even if things go sideways…because with young kids, they always do. 🙂
7) You already take videos of your kids. In fact, your phone is filled to the brim with candids of your every day, and you return to them time and time again.
So, how did you fare? Are you ready for your family’s story to be preserved more fully? Not sure? Please don’t hesitate to reach out. I would love to hear more about the people you love most.
