Our StoryFraming beauty, framing truth.
We started Family Crest Studios with one clear mission: to preserve real people’s life stories through cinematic, timeless video. Not just interviews. Not just nostalgia. But the actual essence of a person—captured, celebrated, and shared with those who love them.
At Family Crest Studios, we believe everyone has a story worth telling. And someone who needs to hear it.
Family Crest Studios began with two people—Kevin Pickard and Trent Ross—arriving at the same idea from two different life-changing paths. In the midst of difficult personal events, both were struck with the same realization: life is fragile, stories matter, and there’s nothing more meaningful than preserving the voices and memories of the people we love.
In early 2023, Kevin’s close friend Tom was diagnosed with ALS. Kevin set out to record Tom’s life story, but the disease progressed rapidly, and Tom lost the ability to speak before the project could begin. Determined to preserve his friend’s life story, Kevin turned to Tom’s friends and family to create the video. That experience revealed the profound power—and urgency—of recording someone’s legacy while we have the chance.
Not long after, Kevin faced a life-altering experience of his own. He suffered a heart attack on his 40th birthday while shoveling snow, a moment that shifted everything. He emerged from that experience with a new perspective—one focused on family, legacy, and helping others connect more deeply with those they love.
At nearly the same time, Trent had begun developing a similar idea. Having worked for years as a videographer, he felt a growing pull toward filming personal life stories—everyday people with extraordinary journeys. When Trent and Kevin met and began to share their thoughts, they realized they had independently landed on the same vision. It didn’t take long before they decided to join forces and form Family Crest Studios.
Family Crest Studios was born from that serendipitous moment—two lives intersecting with a shared mission: to help families preserve the voices, faces, and stories of their loved ones in a way that feels timeless, honest, and deeply human.
What truly drives us isn’t just the craft—it’s the people. We’re endlessly fascinated by the details of a stranger’s life, by the way each story is completely unique, yet still somehow familiar. Everyone’s story holds humor, heartache, wisdom, and warmth.
Our mission is to help those stories live on.
Our TeamKevin Pickard
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Kevin has lived all over the world—from Western Samoa to Ireland to Hawaii—but his favorite place is wherever his family is. After more than 20 years in the software industry, a heart attack on his 40th birthday shifted his priorities. It deepened his passion for family, legacy, and connection—ultimately leading him to turn a casual hobby into a full-time “jobby” in filmmaking. His favorite part? Sitting down with people, hearing their stories, and imagining their great-great-great-grandkids watching a century from now.
Outside of work, you’ll find Kevin taking photos with his kids, serving in his church and community, cheering on the Dodgers, and going on dates with his amazing wife. He’s an Eagle Scout and once sang the national anthem at his high school graduation (Mom was extra proud that day).
Casey Pickard
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Casey brings warmth, heart, and a deep love of people to every life story project she’s part of. While raising her family, she nurtured a passion for family history and legacy storytelling—especially after the loss of her grandmother and a close call with her husband’s health. These moments reminded her how quickly life changes, and how important it is to preserve the voices and wisdom of those we love.
Casey thrives on authentic connection and instantly bonds with the clients we serve. Her favorite part of the work is sitting down with families, helping them uncover forgotten stories and find common threats and traits passed down, and witnessing the joy when they see the finished video. When she’s not filming, you’ll find her cooking for loved ones, gardening, running her homeschool co-op, or cheering for the Dodgers.
Trent Ross
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Trent has been in the film business since a young age where he met and worked with T.C. Christensen, a well renowned movie director in Utah. Trent later served as 1st AC for T.C’s son Tanner on his recent documentary, Standout. After years as an in-house videographer for various companies, Trent took the leap from employee to entrepreneur, where he is following his heart to tell the powerful, untold stories of everyday people.
Trent’s favorite part of being a part of Family Crest Studios is creating life long friends with everyone he works with. He enjoys golfing and backpacking with his wife in his free time. A fun fact about Trent is that he could spend hours sitting behind his camera looking for wildlife.
Kayla Ross
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McKayla has always had a deep love for listening to people’s stories and discovering the memories and values that shape who they are. Her warmth, curiosity, and thoughtful style help others feel at ease as they open up and reflect on their life. As a child she enjoyed listening to her parents' bedtime stories of their life and family members who had since passed from this world. She joined this work through her husband’s passion for storytelling and quickly found meaning in helping others preserve their memories for future generations.
She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work from Utah State University, with a background rooted in serving others, witnessing their experiences, and building trust through genuine understanding. When she’s not capturing stories, McKayla enjoys hiking, kayaking, trying new recipes, and spending time with her family.