Don't Film Everything

Yesterday was my son’s birthday. We celebrated with balloons, cupcakes and of course, presents. His energy was electric and it was so fun to see his excitement all day long. The craziest part? My cameras never left my desk. Don’t get me wrong, we snapped a few pics on our phones of him seeing his gifts for the first time, but there was no tripod, no lighting configuration, and no microphones. Just a family making lasting memories with a little boy who is growing way too fast.

These moments matter to me more than anything, so wouldn’t it make sense to turn it into a full production so I could relive the celebration in 4k? Not exactly. Despite my fascination with videography, I still believe that many moments are meant to be lived, not recorded. At least not to the extent that I would film a client. This may sound backwards, like maybe I should prioritize filming my kids over paid work, but I’ve got three reasons why that just isn’t the case.

Reason #1 - A smartphone will do

When I was a kid, camera phones didn’t exist and my parents didn’t own a camera. You either had to go to JCPenney for family pictures or buy a disposable wind-up camera and hope your photos would develop properly. And video? That was only for special occasions when it made sense to rent a video camera for a day. Years later, you’d all sit down around a scrapbook and reminisce on the ‘good times,’ or pop the VHS tape (what even are those) into the VCR to watch some good old fashioned home videos.

These days, it’s rare if someone doesn’t carry a high definition camera in their pocket. There’s no need for a full production, when our smartphones are perfectly designed to capture quick shots. That being said, I have no problem letting a moment turn into a memory, stored in the brain God gave me. I’ll explain further in reason number three…

Reason #2 - You may never watch those videos again

My phone is jam-packed full of random pictures and videos from various life events over the past 10-15 years. I probably have hours worth of “b-roll” footage that I intended to turn into a fully produced video but the truth is, my cats just weren’t that exciting. When a moment happens, it can be tempting to record every second so that you can play it back later or create some kind of video-montage, but the truth is, that footage is only going to get lost in the pile of pics and clips, never to be heard (or seen) again.

Before you say anything, I know this isn’t always the case as there are some exceptions. I once created a video montage of a Caribbean cruise I took with my wife and some friends from college set to some upbeat music. It was especially fun to relive the memories while editing the clips together, but I still have most of the clips on my phone even though the video was posted more than 6 years ago!

Side note: If you’re using your smartphone as your primary camera for your video work (something I fully support in a huge way!), this does not apply to you. I’m speaking directly to the person who feels a compulsion to pull their phone out every single time a rabbit hops through the backyard.

Reason #3 - Be present in the moment

If I were ranking these reasons by importance, this would be first. As a videographer, I’m all about capturing the right moment, but as I said at the beginning, some (arguably most) moments should be lived, not recorded. Growing up without camera phones was the best thing ever. At family gatherings, people actually had to interact with one another because there weren’t as many distractions, can you even imagine!? I don’t want to see the way my kids’ eyes light up on Christmas morning through a screen, I want to experience that in real time.

Being present in the moment doesn’t mean playing the part of a passive bystander. It’s an active role that requires participation and engagement. The energy in the room should change when you walk in because your presence is known. We’ve gotten too comfortable allowing everyday moments to slip by while we escape to some digital fantasy land, and even if our phones are out to snap a few quick shots, be cautious not to remain trapped.

What should I do now?

We live in one of the most amazing generations in human history. We have access to the kind of technology that once existed only in science-fiction movies. Best of all, we have the ability to create world-class content from a pocket-sized device that most of us carry on the regular. But we don’t talk enough about restraint and self control in our society. Just because you have the ability to do something, that doesn’t mean you should do it.

My recommendation to you – decide before your next event whether you will live in it or record it. If you choose the latter, make sure there’s a reason and treat it like you would paid work. If a smartphone will do, take a few clips and put it away. Life is best lived now, not later.