Documenting a Relocation: What to Film in Your First 90 Days Abroad

A relocation is one of the most compelling narratives you can tell. Here is a shot-by-shot framework for the first 90 days.

Why Relocations Are Instagram Gold

A relocation contains every element of compelling content: conflict (leaving the familiar), transformation (arriving somewhere new), real stakes, and ongoing narrative. It is also finite and structured. Day 1. Week 2. Month 3. The timeline creates natural chapters audiences follow.

The 90-Day Shot List

Days 1–7: Arrival

• First view of your new home — before unpacking
• The neighborhood at 6am
• Your first grocery run — film the products you cannot find
• The view from your window, multiple times across the first week
• Your face on Day 1 vs Day 7

Weeks 2–4: Settling

• Your new morning routine
• The first time something goes wrong — internet, bureaucracy, language
• The local market or food scene
• One interaction that changed your perspective
• Your workspace, honest version

Month 2–3: Integration

• What you miss — honest, not performative
• What you do not miss at all
• Something you learned about yourself
• The moment it started to feel like home
• Expected vs. reality comparison

The Narrative Arc Across 90 Days

Act 1 (Days 1–30): curiosity and overwhelm. Act 2 (Days 31–60): the dip — everything is harder than expected, and this is the most compelling content if you are honest. Act 3 (Days 61–90): integration and transformation.

With HEVEA Pulse, upload your relocation footage and the Narrative Engine identifies the story arcs automatically. A week of content: Monday Reel (arrival highlights), Wednesday Story sequence (honest moment), Friday Carousel (expected vs. reality).