When someone asks me what a family film is, I’m immediately transported back to my own childhood. As a free-spirited, only child of a single mom, I was the subject of many camera clicks and VHS recordings. In fact, I have inherited boxes of VHS tapes and Kodak moments. Every time I’d turn around, there was a camcorder (kids – ask your parents or grandparents) tethered to my mom’s hands. At the time, it seemed a bit annoying, but now I couldn’t be happier that my childhood is recorded. There’s Wisconsin snow days playing with my cousins, school performances, planting in the garden with my grandparents, lots of camping and everything in between.

Family Films do more than document.

Photographs document a place and time, but family films also preserve sound and movement. Each person has their own voice, accent, mannerisms, walk and presence. Films create a legacy of someone’s life. Let’s think about this for a moment. Do you use your phone to record your kids, an event, maybe a surprise? Why do you record it? Most of us have recorded a time or event with intentions to relive it at a later time. As we rewatch the video/film, it puts us back in that moment stirring memories and feelings. Kids change frequently and grow up quickly. The years do seem to pass by faster the older we get.

What kind of proof do you have that someone’s presence was preserved? Are your parents meeting their grandchild for the first time? It could be your baby’s first word that sounds like ‘mama’, their first steps, first tooth peeking through. These are all joyous moments to relive. Some moments will trigger mixed emotions to look back on, but we usually want to remember the sounds of a loved one’s voice. None of us know which day on earth will be our last. A family film preserves moments we’ll cherish and pass down to our children and grandchildren.

Family Films are intentional.

I remember life before the internet. I’m an 80’s and 90’s kid. Personally, I think it may have been the greatest generation.:🥰 I’ve been blessed to experience life with and without social media. Everything was intentional then and now society is relearning how to be intentional in life. There wasn’t access to the whole world 24/7. This is a huge reason I’m drawn to providing films for families.

Before I film a family, there’s a personal family questionnaire, a ‘how to prepare for your session’ guide and a zoom call to get more in depth about the family I’m filming. Your film is not me showing up and just filming your daily activities. Your film is intentional. Time with your kids is intentional. Intentionality is where connection happens. It’s about nurturing, listening, slowing down and being present. It’s not about what activities you are doing in your film, but who you are doing them with. Family films are with the people that matter and who we will never forget. You will never be able to control the world around you, but with a family film, you can choose what you give your attention and focus to.

Family Films are storytelling.

Have you ever read a kid’s bedtime story? I had a thick book of the most popular kid’s stories when I was little. They’ve been around for what seems like forever. There’s ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, ‘The Three Little Bears’, ‘Goodnight Moon’, ‘Velveteen Rabbit’, ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ and the list goes on and on. Why do we know these? Why do we teach kids these stories? These stories are ingrained in our head at an early age because we hear them over and over and over.

What if we started telling kids their story and why they matter so much? Kids love stories. Stories matter. Your family’s story is important!

Please find this family film on YouTube at https://youtu.be/6rOpsc9iuao