Episode 187: Week in the Life: Capture Techniques - Photos & Words

Crafty Ass Female

This week we are continuing our Week in the Life series with our second roundtable episode.

On today's show Kristin is talking to Shu-Wen of Choux Puff Creations, Kirsten Heal and Steph Grimes all about the best ideas for capturing photos and words during Week in the Life.

What is Week in the Life?

From Ali Edwards.com:

A seven-day documentary project, Week In The Life™ began in 2005 as an annual opportunity to capture the simple everyday details of life with photos and words. The albums I've created are some of my most treasured in that they are wonderfully true representations of my family's life at a particular point in time. From the mundane to the profound, it's those simple little everyday moments that I treasure most.

Very Special Guests:

Shu-Wen Hello! My name is Shu-Wen (Choux Puff Creations) and I'm a baker / crafter / music maker from Canada!
I've been making cards for many years, but only recently started scrapbooking in 2020, and I've loved every moment of my creative journey! You can find my work through my Instagram or YouTube channels, as well as through my design team work for Citrus Twist Kits, Color Cast Designs, Layered Life, and on the Ali Edwards Brand Ambassador Team!

Kirsten Heal Hi, I’m Kirsten and I live in beautiful North Vancouver, BC where I take every opportunity to enjoy the mountains and the oceans. I’ve always had a love for crafts and photography, and when I found scrapbooking was like a really thing, I was hooked. That was 20 years ago. I live with my husband (who wonders when this phase may stop, yet buys me crafty stuff), my almost grown kids (19 & 17), two dogs (9&7) and two cats (12 & 1).

Steph Grimes I’m Steph Grimes and I’m a lifelong storyteller and memory keeper. I made my first scrapbook from a kit bought at Michael’s when I was 21 and have been making scrapbooks ever since, for over 20 years now. I live in Maryland with my amazing husband and our little red pup, Ruby. I enjoy documenting all types of stories from our day-to-day life to our grandest adventures, but travel albums are my favorite! This is my 6th year participating in the Week in the Life project and it is one of the highlights of my year each year.

Best advice for capturing photos for Week in the Life

• The best stories can come from photos that are just captured in the moment
• What is a Wednesday?

Remote control or Apple Watch

• Makes people feel more at ease
• Helps you take really cool pictures
• Use portrait mode

Invite others to take photos

• Be specific

Sometimes scrapbooking and documenting our lives can feel a little extra

• This is the time to do all the extra
• This is the time to set up the cool photos
• What do you WANT to capture?

Spend 10% of your photo energy on taking interesting photos

• 0.5 wide-angle lens is your friend
• Look for different perspectives

Best advice for capturing words throughout the Week

• The advice I start with is never the advice I finish with
• It’s okay not to have a lot of words

Use lenses to help narrow down the stories you’re telling

• Use a kit to create your lens
• Look at each day through a different lens
  • Currently List has seven prompts

There is a Thursday slump — here are some solutions

• Ask somebody else to tell you a story
• It’s okay to have less photos or words than the rest of your pages
• Just do your Thursday3

Write Notes

• Set up a notes template
• Use whatever works for you
  • Journal
  • Post-its
  • App