Sarah Gray’s Virtual Time Capsule

Sarah Gray communicates best through footage. For nearly a decade she’s compiled her own personal time capsule, capturing memories on her camcorder, splicing them into cinematic montages, and uploading them to her YouTube channel. Sarah has carved out her own little corner of the Internet over the years, earning herself a devoted following of viewers drawn to her warmth. There’s a certain glow within her being that radiates through YouTube’s media player and envelops her audience like a hug from an old friend.

Here, Sarah sheds some light on the ever-evolving landscape of content creation, reveals how she stays creatively sharp, and discusses some of her favorite artwork.

you've been posting on youtube for nearly a decade. how have you and your content evolved over the years? how was the platform as a whole changed?

Phew, where do I begin? It’s hard to believe that I’ve been making videos for that long. I think the biggest evolution for my channel has been what my content is informed by. When I first started filming YouTube videos, I was drawing a lot of inspiration from the OG YouTubers who were more polished – posting a lot of sit-down, well edited videos. Think makeup tutorials or well curated hauls and styling videos. I wanted to mimic that, in a way. It was more about things and materials versus creating something pretty or consequential. Now I post a lot more vlog-style content. I think this type of content is so much more relatable and feels better to watch as an audience member, too. I would say my current content is more informed by literature, music, photography, film, etc.

I think YouTube was seeing a slight disengagement from audience members due to the inception of short-form content. Though, now I see that people are coming back to long-form content and are more drawn to seeing a less curated and more thoughtful approach to content creation. I don’t think YouTube is going anywhere – if anything, I think we’re seeing a rise in YouTube consumption that’s coming from TikTok or Reels audiences.

what's your favorite video you've created, and why?

I made a video around this time last year and it’s only 3.5 minutes long and I don’t talk in it. It’s just clips of a couple days in my life with some acoustic music over it. Videos like that feel the most representative of me. I find I’m not always so good at speaking concisely or adding any value through words, but footage is one way that I love to communicate.

according to your own personal metrics, what are some of the essential elements of a successful video?

This is a great question that I’m still trying to find the answer to! As much as this is my job, I’m not so good at the back end of it. I think one reason I haven’t seen that much growth over such a long period of time is that I don’t pay much attention to numbers or number signifiers. 

I just like making stuff and hope that others will enjoy it too. From what I have learned, though, I think you need to have a somewhat interesting storyline or something that people will find relatable. It’s also important to do more showing than speaking. Niche concepts tend to work well, too – they’re a great way to create community and connection. A cutie thumbnail doesn’t hurt, either.

how would you describe the specific niche that you fit into?

I don't think my content necessarily fits into a niche, but I think my geographic location is what usually differentiates me. People feel nostalgic for the Pacific Northwest even if they've never lived here or visited before.

can you describe the process of honing your craft and developing your unique filming and editing style?

It’s been a lot of trial and error. A lot of watching other YouTubers that inspire me: Jenny Welbourn, Rachel Nguyen, and Lizzy Hadfield, to name a few. I truly think it’s just from doing it so often. I feel like I have a formula that feels natural to me. I’m really drawn to the background noise in clips, so sometimes I’ll keep the audio in and won’t play music over the videos. I love drawn-out video clips, so I’ll keep lots of movement that would normally be cut out. I also tend to focus on stillness in my editing practice.

I do try to find new techniques to integrate into my editing process so that I’m always staying sharp. Though I mostly like having a comfortable rhythm to exist within, which I think just comes with time and practice.

although running a youtube channel is certainly a creative venture, building a career on the platform depends largely on viewership. what has been your approach to building an online community?

My approach has always been to engage and to be honest. I love reading and answering all of my YouTube comments or DMs. It’s never lost on me that there are people on the other side of the screen consuming my content and I’ve always tried to give them the same amount of time and space that they’ve afforded me.

you recently announced that you're going to be taking a break from uploading videos. what prompted this decision?

I was feeling a little bit lost and wasn’t feeling as confident in my work. I felt like I was forcing things out of myself to keep up with the less organic part of content creation – paid sponsorships and ads – and it was no longer feeling good or fun. I needed to take some time to consume other art forms more intentionally so I could connect back to what made me want to make YouTube videos in the first place.

now that you're taking the time to consume more art, have you encountered any specific works that have made strong impressions on you?

There are so many, and a few that have made a lasting impact come to mind. I saw Wolfgang Tillmans’s exhibition To Look Without Fear at the AGO last year, which I still think about a lot. The Idiot by Elif Batuman informs how I feel about colour and visually showing stillness or that coming-of-age awkwardness (think wobbly/blurry/zoomed-in footage). I also recently watched a movie directed by Claire Denis called Stars at Noon, and while it didn’t blow me away, I think about the cinematography and colours a lot. And lastly, just about anything I’m coming across on Are.na – there is so much beautifully curated art, graphics, mind maps, ui/ux design to discover out there.

what motivates and inspires you?

Mostly my friends. They are so cool. They all do so many interesting things and tell me clever jokes and make me curious. I would be nothing without them. I really love filming the things we do together and I’m happy I have that footage that I can cherish forever.

what advice do you have for budding creatives?

My best advice is to just go for it. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you have to let people see what’s going on in your brain.

what's next for you?

So many new things! But also lots of the same. I love making content and all of the incredible opportunities it affords me. I feel so grateful to be given the space to share a part of myself. I want to do my best to always use my platform to share voices that don’t always get the space to be heard. I want to continue to make stuff, whatever that looks like.

Originally published February 19, 2024