Bridgette Newborn Film {Moab, Utah lifestyle and newborn videographer}

Angela is one of the coolest women on the planet.  Three days before she gave birth, we were at the park and she was doing pushups.

We go way back.  Our husbands were roommates in college.  My husband set the two of them up on their first date. We ended up in Moab a few years after them.  We have kids the exact same ages (until now!!). We both have a craving for adventure/physically exhausting fun.  A few of my favorites include riding the White Rim in day, summiting the Grand Teton in a day, and backpacking the Grand Canyon (in 2 days).  We are pros at cramming in as much fun as possible into short increments of time.  We know the exact amount of time it takes to mountain bike or trail run a large majoirty of the trails around here, making it possible to squeeze in adventure during preschool or before work.

Angela is also a fantastic photographer.  Check her out at Angela Hays Photography. 

Anyway- lets get to the point.  Two weeks ago, Angela had a baby in the middle of the night. Eight hours later, I drove to the hospital to film this beautiful bundle of joy and to capture three sisters meeting little Ms. Bridgette for the first time.  

I cried at least 3 times in that hospital room, and then multiple times again as I edited.

There is nothing like the love and joy a newborn brings to a family.

Hoffmann Family Film, {Moab, Utah lifestyle videography}

Lately I feel like time is flying by. Sometimes the days can feel so long.  But then suddenly a month has gone by.  And then a whole year.  This is one reason I love and believe in family films.  Video is such a great way to capture a time and a phase of life.  Next year the Hoffman family will look different.  Their baby won't be much of a baby and their oldest a teenager.  I love the opportunity to create pieces of family history to be cherished with the passing of time.

Interview Style Family Films

I was lucky enough to travel to San Clemente, CA for a week back in July.  If I could split my life between Moab and San Clemente, I would.  Surfing Donuts, SUP surfing at Old Man's, Pedro's Tacos, beach all day everyday with the kids.  I barely saw my boys all week they were so busy digging and boogie boarding.  

While I was there, I was able to film two lovely families.  I tried something different and created an interview style family film.  Audio adds so much emotion to a wedding film, so I've been dying to try it with a lifestyle film.  I absolutely love the result!  I love watching the parents' eyes sparkle as they talked about their children.  I loved the thoughtful things they said about each child.  Their words were not scripted nor rehearsed nor too rosy. 

I can't imagine having a film of my parents talking about me as a little one.  About how cute I was without my two front teeth, or what a stubborn toddler I was (both true ;).  

 One of the mothers said her film showed her kids as they truly are.  That is what I want!!!  I want something that will become more and more of a treasure as time passes, both to the parents and the kids.  I want to create films showing families in their true, authentic ways, doing what they do. Something more than families posed and smiling.  I wouldn't mind filming a few more 6 year old knock knock jokes, or brothers putting sand in their sister's hair either.  

Oral History

One night I couldn't sleep, because I had this idea of creating oral history films.  I truly believe that having video of our loved ones after they are gone is absolutely priceless.  And then to have video of that person talking about their childhood, hardships, and joys, would be all the more valuable.  And on top of that, imagine this footage including family young and old.

 So I filmed an oral history of an incredible local Moab women.  I am so proud of this film.  It is one of my finest creations.  However, the family would like it to remain private for a while, and I absolutely understand. So  until I can show it to you, know that it is full of wisdom, love, adorable great grandchildren, admiring grandchildren, tears, and laughter.

Baby Clara, Moab Utah lifestyle and newborn film

I got to snuggle with this little sweetie before I started filming her.  I love how newborns are so curled up and how they startle and squirm.  They just feel the best in your arms.  

Their home was bursting with love.  Family had traveled all the way from Michigan and Colorado to meet her.  I am so excited that this video not only captures Clara and her parents, but her siblings, her aunt and uncle, and her grandmother.  This little film will become a family history treasure as the years go on, and this is why I love doing what I do.  

The girls and me.

Women's Canyoneering Adventure, Moab Utah

With a combined total of 18 children, 5 women were able to get away for 3 hours and bag a gorgeous canyoneering route.  I'm pretty sure it was nonstop smiles.  I love how this video captured the outing and how it will allow everyone to relive the fun experience.  Moms deserve adventure too!

Lady Red Devils Basketball Team

I played freshman high school basketball.  It was ridiculously hard and I wasn't very good.  The varsity team won the state championship just a few years before so the program was running fiercely.  During preseason, we ran so hard under the AZ sun that they pulled trashcans on to the track so we could puke in them.  But apparently all that training paid off because we were undefeated that season.  And then I decided I'd rather play soccer, where practice was substantially easier. Even though I only played one season, it had a huge impact on me.  I often have dreams about it and I clearly see the face of Coach Flores in my mind.  High school basketball taught me to push myself physically harder than I ever though possible.  Thinking back, maybe it was one of the things in my life that helped convince me that I could do hard things, that I could run a marathon, climb mountains, do cross fit, maybe even skip the epidural.  

My point in all this is that I think high school sports are amazing and important, especially for girls.  The Grand County High School Lady Red Devils team was so fun to film.  I instantly wanted to cheer and yell for them, but that tends to mess up footage.  They played so hard and cheered each other on. The coaches were obviously devoted to the players and giving them the best experience possible.  It was such a positive experience.   Props to those girls for being willing to play.  To run and sweat. To practice, to take shots, to box out their opponents, to dive to keep a ball in bounds. To cheer and high five.  Go Red Devils!

And a big thank you to James The Mormon for allowing me to use his song in this film.