HOW TO DOCUMENT ...

(This blog is a follow on from my previous post, if you’ve not read it yet, i recommend reading that one first!)



If you’re ready to start documenting your life for your future self, here are a few simple tips to make it easier:

  1. HAVE AN OPEN MIND – You don’t need to film every moment, but having your device accessible is important. If a moment crops up, you can easily hit record! Having an open mind is important because, at first, it can be confusing what to film and capture but as you become more confident, you become more aware of the moments that are special. Look back on old videos, what videos make evoke emotion? Is it videos of people laughing? If so, whenever you spot a moment of laughter, capture it! It is simple! An example from my experience is living with friends. Videos of us pottering around the kitchen and being silly in each other’s rooms was an every day occurrence that you wouldn’t think to capture. But I KNEW that when this season of life is over, these are the moments I’ll remember. These are the moments I’ll miss, so that’s what i captured! Boy, I am thankful I did! Even having short clips, they can add up over time and tell a story.
  2. DON’T WORRY ABOUT PERFECTION – You don’t need fancy equipment or perfect cinematography. Authenticity is what matters most. Sometimes the best moments are the ones captured in imperfect, raw footage. Think, your dad with a camcorder. The video starts with his voice… “*tap tap* is this thing on?” and all you can see is his blue slippers and your kitchen floor. These are the videos that tell a story! Even that video is an introduction to who your dad is, his accent. That was your first home, the floor was always freezing because it was a cottage - things that get lost in photographs! The sound of someone’s voice is something that can become so very precious in the future. 
  3. TELL THE STORY – Adding context to your videos by talking into the camera is a way to help capture what is going on in the video. Share what you're feeling, what’s going on around you, or what the significance of the moment is. These small touches will make the video even more special when you look back on it later. Going back to the ‘Dad’ video, often in old home movies, you’ll hear someone saying over the video “today is……. and we’re here at…..” It somehow gives the video such a nostalgic feel! It can be important to highlight special events like how old someone is at a birthday party and who the guests are. In years to come you might look back on the same video and wonder… how old was I in this video? Or, who is that person talking to aunt betsy?
  4. CAPTURE THE MUNDANE – Some of the most beautiful moments aren’t the big, eventful ones, but the quiet, everyday occurrences. Don’t hesitate to capture a morning routine, a walk in the park, or a simple conversation with a loved one. These moments may not seem significant now, but years from now, they’ll become precious memories. Set up your phone on a shelf in the room to not only capture the chat you’re having with your great nan, but the room she’s in and how you’re sat holding her hand and the way she’s tapping her feet to music! Sometimes the surroundings support with telling that story. The same way detailed shots can! 
  5. ORGANISE YOUR FOOTAGE – It can be overwhelming to have a lot of raw footage without a plan. Consider organising your videos by dates, events, or themes so that you can easily revisit them in the future. Put them into an album or save them to iCloud under the year it was filmed and the month. Saying this, I organise my footage in an album named Videography > RAW Footage. When I’ve completed a home video with a full edit and music etc. i then put it into an Album under Videography called ALL COMPLETED VIDEOS. This way, whenever I have made a video of an event, rather than sifting through Years and Months, Its super easy to find. One thing that is a benefit of putting your footage into a longer video with music, it means the videos are more accessible!  
  6. HOLD IT LOW - this sounds bizarre but it is something to remember! When videoing with your phone don’t hold it up and in peoples faces! If you’re trying to capture a fleeting moment, don’t steal it with distraction! Hold your phone Low and to your chest, when you hit record you don’t have to do anything else! It takes a bit of practice to aim the camera without looking but, you’ll get used to it! If you’re really struggling… 0.5 is a beauty! 



Finally, there is a magic to time and memory and as time moves forward, we inevitably change. Life doesn’t slow down, and the seasons of life change. But video documentation provides a beautiful way to look back and appreciate the people, places, and experiences that have shaped you. It allows you to relive moments that might otherwise fade, to hold on to those little slices of life that make everything so meaningful.

So, the next time you're caught in the middle of a perfect moment, consider pressing "record." You might be surprised at how beautiful it feels to watch it all again someday. In a world where everything is temporary, the act of documenting is a way of preserving what truly matters—memories, emotions, and the people who make life worth living.