Save a building project

Why use multi-part capture

A building project is a story with a beginning, middle, and end. There was a plan (maybe a sketch, maybe an idea in the child's head), there was the work of putting it together, and there is the finished thing standing proud on the living room floor. A single photo of the finished build misses the process. Multi-part capture keeps the whole journey together; the planning, the building, and the result; so the family can see not just what the child made, but how they made it.

Unlike a drawing that sits in a drawer, a Lego castle or a pillow fort exists only until someone knocks it over. Capturing it in parts means the memory survives the teardown.

Getting started

On the Create tab, tap "More ways to create", then choose "Add more parts".

Step by step

1. Tell us about the whole project

Before the first capture, the child can introduce the build in a voice note:

"This is my Lego castle. It has a drawbridge and a dragon on top. It took me two hours."

This plays at the start and gives context for everything that follows. It is optional and can be re-recorded.

2. Capture the plan or inspiration

If the child sketched a design, laid out a blueprint, or has a reference photo, capture that first. The first part becomes the gallery cover, so a plan or sketch makes a great thumbnail; it shows the idea before the building even started. If there was no written plan, skip this step and start with the first build photo.

3. Capture the building process

As the child builds, capture key moments; the base going up, the first wall, a tricky section being assembled. These mid-build shots show the work and skill involved, not just the finished product. The child can record a voice note at any point to describe what they are doing:

"Now I'm putting the towers on. The tricky part is making sure the walls don't fall over."

Even two or three process shots add a lot of context. There is no need to photograph every single step.

4. Capture the finished creation

When the build is complete, capture it from the best angle. For a block tower, get the full height. For a Lego castle, show the whole structure. For a blanket fort, step back and capture the whole setup; cushions, blankets, the whole thing. If the creation has special features (a working drawbridge, a hidden room, a light inside), capture those details as additional parts.

5. Capture the creation in action

If the building project has a purpose; a fort you can crawl into, a tower with a flag that waves, a Lego car that rolls; capture it being used. Put a toy figure inside the castle, pull the blanket fort door open, or roll the Lego car across the floor. These action shots show what the creation actually does, not just what it looks like.

6. Review and reorder

Tap "Done adding parts" to review the full project. The plan or first build shot should be first, followed by process shots in order, then the finished creation and any action shots. Use Move earlier or Move later to fix the order.

7. Name it and save

Add a name in Details; "The Dragon Castle," "Our Living Room Fort," "The Tallest Block Tower"; then save. The project appears in the gallery with the plan or first shot as the cover.

Building a creations collection

Create a space called "Builds," "Creations," or "Engineering" to group all building projects over time. A child can suggest the space from the Spaces tab; a grown-up approves it. Every building project saved after that can live inside the space.

At the end of the year, the space becomes a record of every tower, castle, fort, and invention; from the first wobbly block tower to the elaborate Lego city. Grandparents can flip through and hear the child explain each one in their own words.