Preserving childhood before it’s gone

Documentaries for parents and their children

What are KID DOCS?

A Kid Doc is a professionally filmed documentary portrait of you and your child at this stage of their life made by an actual documentary filmmaker. Think of it as the evolution of the family photo shoot.

Whether they are going to preschool or moving off to college, I help you and your child get in touch with what matters most and we capture that together.

At the end you will have a cinematic film that shows the essence of who your child is right now and preserves that essence in a family heirloom.

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Why this matters

Childhood doesn’t disappear all at once. It fades slowly while we’re too busy to notice. The version of your child that exists now, toddler or teenager, will never exist again.

The way they speak.

The way the think.

The way they look at you.

These films help parents and their children get in touch with what matters most through a unique cinematic experience that can be cherished for a lifetime.

This is not a home video, it’s a film — about you, your children and your love.

A Kid Doc Moment

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How it works

1. The Booking

We’ll start with a pre-production call so I can get to know you and what makes your child unique. It’s also a chance to learn what you, as a parent, hope to capture—tone, mood, specific moments or stories.

2. The Shoot

On the day(s) of, I’ll spend a several hours filming with your family based on our pre-production call. It’s relaxed and kid-friendly—part documentary, part guided interview. I capture natural moments, voice, play, and presence—so your child can just be themselves.

For parents, I’ll help you get in touch with and express the powerful feelings you have for your children. Your words, your love, are preserved for your children to have for the rest of their lives.

3. The Film

You’ll receive a beautifully edited film, crafted with professional sound, color, and attention to detail. You get a round of notes to make sure everything is just right. Then I deliver the final cut - a cinematic family heirloom that preserves and celebrates your family’s story.

What Families are saying

“The day of filming itself was already so valuable before we even saw the film. Kirk helped us get in touch with really powerful feelings about each other and the process itself brought us together in a special way. When we saw the film, there wasn’t a dry eye among us.”

— James, Father

“I can’t recommend this enough for families. Invest in this now. You’ll have it forever and rewatch it time and time again. We spend money on all sorts of frivolous things. This is an investment in what matters most, and a gift to our future selves.”

— Mandy, Mother

“It was so fun making a movie and being in it! I got to be on camera with all the lights and even got to sing! The movie was awesome!”

— Evaline, Daughter

About the filmmaker

Kid Docs was created by filmmaker Kirk Benttinen, director of the documentary series RI Docs available on PBS, and the feature film, Spin Junkies. He lives in Providence, Rhode Island with his wife and two young children.

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