9. Why You Should Document Your Life NOW / Kevin Pickard on Capturing Moments

Why are the smallest, everyday moments often the most valuable?

In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Pickard from Family Crest Studios, a filmmaker dedicated to preserving personal histories and family legacies through video. Kevin shares how his passion for storytelling grew from a personal experience, and why documenting memories (no matter how simple) can become priceless treasures for generations.

Kevin reveals the art and heart behind life story films, the challenges of making subjects comfortable on camera, and the responsibility of honoring each person’s story with care and authenticity.

What we go over:

➤ Why the “little things” and everyday moments matter most in storytelling

➤ Why it’s never too early (or too late) to start documenting your story

➤ The process of making people feel at ease and authentic during interviews

➤ Lessons learned from filming people with unique challenges, like memory loss

➤ The importance of always showing subjects in their best light

➤ How Family Crest Studios helps families preserve memories and legacies through video

➤ How success in this work is measured by meaning, not money

I'm confident this conversation will inspire you to pick up a camera, or even just your phone, and start capturing your own story.

Follow Kevin & Family Crest Studios:
➤ https://www.instagram.com/familycreststudios/
➤ familycreststudios.com 

Follow Jacob:
➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-christensen-b0701027b/
➤ https://www.instagram.com/filmdudejacob/?igsh=MW15NHFhMTJudmZzdQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#

Follow the podcast for more conversations like this:
➤ https://www.instagram.com/successisamythpod/?igsh=MThhNXJmcWVvazB0aQ%3D%3D#

Timestamps:

0:00 Trailer

1:08 Intro

1:44 What does the word "story" mean to you?

4:11 Telling somebody's life story

7:09 Freezing moments in time

13:15 What's the most reiterated life advice people give?

14:31 The most fulfilling part about what you do

17:18 How long are these videos typically?

18:41 How to connect younger and older generations

23:32 Make your subject/customer their own HERO

24:48 How do you make the most watchable content?

28:03 Diving into the technical processes

30:19 I realized I needed to do this thing

35:20 Opportunities

Chapters

• 0:00 Trailer
• 1:08 Intro
• 1:44 What does the word "story" mean to you?
• 4:11 Telling somebody's life story
• 7:09 Freezing moments in time
• 13:15 What's the most reiterated life advice people give?
• 14:31 The most fulfilling part about what you do
• 17:18 How long are these videos typically?
• 18:41 How to connect younger and older generations
• 23:32 Make your subject/customer their own HERO
• 24:48 How do you make the most watchable content?
• 28:03 Diving into the technical processes
• 30:19 I realized I needed to do this thing
• 35:20 Opportunities
• 36:48 DOCUMENT your life
• 39:33 Small stuff stacks up
• 40:57 Your favorite parts of projects
• 44:00 Representing people in the BEST light
• 48:49 A myth you've had to unlearn (about success)
• 54:57 Can a story really heal?
• 56:10 Their reaction to their videos
• 57:26 **Gear nerds segment**
• 59:55 Struggle makes victory sweeter
• 1:03:51 We autocorrect life, our cameras do not
• 1:05:26 I love talking to people that get it
• 1:06:31 The best content feels effortless
• 1:07:32 Why should I document the small things?
• 1:13:12 Outro