Overshare: I re-edited this film 3 times. I switched music twice. I’m a perfectionist. I overthink. I worry. I want these family films to be *perfect*. But friends, life ain’t perfect. It’s out-of-focus and wobbly (just like this film tbh).

It’s feeding your youngest a breakfast treat and them breaking out in allergy hives 5 minutes before your photographer arrives.

It’s deciding to go for a bike ride and your kid bails on the bike halfway thru the adventure.

It’s chasing your kids down the street in pjs & slippers.

Friends, if life has taught me anything .. GO WITH THE FLOW. Life is messy, it’s okay if your film session is messy too. In the end, it’s exactly what it needs to be, YOU. xo, k

So you just received your family film. Now what? What do you do with it? Before anything .. BACK. IT. UP. Grab a free account at Vimeo, YouTube, or Dropbox and upload your film immediately. Download the video to your computer, the cloud, an external hard drive, your husband’s computer, and maybe your neighbors computer (lol, jk kind of). You get the picture, right? BACK IT UP.

Okay, you’ve backed up your family film, now what? One of the most common questions I hear about family films is “what do you do with it?” You don't really have to DO anything with it. Think of them as home movies. Home movies are for reminiscing, enjoying that part of your life again, remembering the details of that specific day. Keep the videos safe so you or your kids can enjoy them in the future. It’s a keepsake. It’s the same with any other kind of movie. If you love it, you buy a copy and watch it whenever you want. Re-watching the film takes you back to that time in your life. And that is priceless.

What is the easiest way to watch and re-watch your family film? Add them to your phone home screen or favorites for easy access! Here are my iPhone directions (sorry to all the other fancy phones out there. I am sure you have a similar option!)

1. Head straight to your Vimeo (or YouTube or Dropbox) link and click that little box with an upwards arrow.

2. Scroll over until you find “Add to Home Screen” and click it

3. Give your film a name!

4. TA-DA! This will give you an icon on your phone to watch your film whenever and wherever. Pro tip: Add the film to your iPad .. kids love that shit!

xo, k

When I asked Ashlee what she wanted to document for their family film, she responded “weekend mornings are honestly the best.” Yes, yes they are! The Ciaramitaro’s spent their morning snuggling, playing, and making breakfast as big brother Eli begged to go outside (can you blame him?!) Ashlee laughed as Eli went outside in his pj’s. And then she looked at me and goes “that’s our life!”

Your life is perfectly imperfect. Your life contains precious details. Your life is worth documenting (yes, even on a Saturday morning before you can put makeup on). Thanks Ciaramitaro fam for letting me be a part of your story. xo, k

It’s official, family films are my favorite. It’s probably because I come to your home, your safe place. I’ll be the first to admit I’m a homebody. I can’t go on vacation for too long because I get homesick. I went away to college and barely made it a semester. I like being home.

Family films give me the opportunity to document your family in your home. The things you do everyday are oh so special and it’s a privilege to show that through video.

Thank you Dutton fam for opening your home to me and showing me your Saturday routine - pancakes, dance party, and painting. xo, k