scsdesphotography Loc: Southeastern Michigan

I have done all of the above mentioned types of photography at memorial services. When I go to a service I always bring my camera. If I haven't already discuss it with the family, I always ask if they want pictures, sometimes this is the only time all those individuals will be in one place. Some families say no, but most say yes. Sometimes they want a picture of the loved one in an open viewing, sometimes they don't. One thing for sure, some people look horribly debilitated by disease or accident for months or even years before they pass. After the morticians do their magic, the deceased frequently look way better than when they were alive. That might be the image that people would prefer to remember.

During the family "hour," I don't take pictures of the visitors, but right afterwards I do photograph all the picture boards and the flowers (I try to get the name tag in the image) and the loved one if requested. During the service I don't take pictures (most churches won't allow photography anyway), but right after (or sometimes before) I'll do pictures of the church and the setup. Now at the reception that usually follows I do take pictures of the guest and offer the possibility of a group photo, although they most often do not organize for that. Also, if requested, I'll do the service at the cemetery.

I get various reactions from the attendees. Occasionally I encounter some hostility, more often a bit of confusion (traditionally, photography at funerals was frowned upon by older generations) and some of course don't want their pictures taken under any circumstances. In those situations I'm careful to introduce myself and let them know that I'm doing this at the request of the family. And for the reluctant I explain that as the photographer it's my job to make them look good, no worries. But no means no, so I just move on.

The value of photographing these inevitable events in the circle of life, taking pics of the attendees, has paid off for the future. In the last three services I attended (I now seem to be going to more of those than I do weddings), the big framed picture at the front of the room was one of mine that I took of that person when they were at someone else's memorial.

David C.

Since the early days of photography it has been used to record death/funerals. It became as common as the death mask which were still used in Eastern European cultures during and post WWII. A photo was quick, cheap and accepted as the last image and often is posted in the Family Bible.
Oh...and don't forget the death photos of outlaws and criminals which became common place. Morbid...maybe, historical record... defiantly.
David C.

brooklyn-camera I Loc: Brooklyn, NY

When I leave the building I am planing to take my cameras with me. Never know who might want a photo or two from the great beyond.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

David C., you wrote "Morbid...maybe, historical record... defiantly. " Did you, perhaps, mean "definitely"?

You and I have the same name and last initial. I'm glad I'm using "David in Dallas", so folks can tell us apart. (Not that I would be embarrassed to be associated with you, but I think it's a good idea for us to remain individuals.)

skylinefirepest Loc: Southern Pines, N.C.

As a fire photographer I have had the opportunity to do quite a few funerals. Planning ahead is critical. Most of the ones that I do are fire or military related involving ladder trucks with flags, blocked intersections, bagpipers, etc. I usually press my wife and sometimes other firemen into service so that we cover the pre-arrangements, the service itself, and the procession to the gravesite. Last summer I did one on a day that was so hot that my camera overheated and shut down in the video mode. I can sometimes get the use of an emergency vehicle so that I can get ahead of the procession. Now I realize that this is a totally different type of thing than most of you would be asked to do but I've learned several tricks of the trade over the years. To take any shots inside a church you MUST get the okay of the pastor. I'm already assuming that the family has requested your presence in the first place. Get bunches of shots of the people attending...even include the register from the funeral home or church. In a funeral the family will have no idea of what happens because they are in shock so anything that you get will help them in their time of sorrow. TURN YOUR CELLPHONE OFF OR SILENT! It is totally a piss off when in the middle of a solemn service some idiot's cellphone starts chiming! No call is so important as to disturb a funeral. The one exception to that is when the pagers go off for an emergency...bear in mind that a city pretty much has extra coverage but the guys in small towns are always on call and have to respond...and the family's know this. On the type of funerals that I do there's a "last call" that goes out over the pagers and it's really an emotional thing...I've seen grown men cry when that page goes out. When it's all over there's usually an invitation to go somewhere at the convenience of the family for refreshments...go there also. That's where you'll get good shots of the friends of the deceased. When it's all over I take the material that we've gathered and find someone to put it all to music. I do go through the stuff first and take out blurred or duplicate shots. Ask the family what songs they want on the video. If, like me, you're not able to do this yourself ask a teenager...I've used a couple of guys from our local college and they've done fantastic work. I've also had the good luck of getting one of the guys from our local newspaper who can do this for me. Make a copy of what you give out...very important as you don't want to lose your material by accident. Even after the final edition is made keep a copy for yourself as there'll always be people later on that want a copy. Oh, and don't take pictures at a funeral unless it has been asked for. Hope this all helps.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

As a professional photographer, I have had a number of occasions to photograph funerals. As a press photographer, I covered funerals of public figures, entertainers, politicians, police, fire department and military funeral services, and the occasional tragic circumstances in a community where the funeral services were newsworthy. The proper decorum, the manner of dress and respect for the solemnity of the occasion, applies without saying.

At these events, the media presence is expected but we always kept a low profile, usually shot from a distance, made a few images and left quietly.

In my portrait, event and commercial business, I never promoted this particular service or even listed it in any of my advertising or literature. Over the years, however, I did receive some requests and assignments from families that I have served over time. Of course, not coming in as an outsider, my presence was expected so there was never an issue of intrusiveness with family members, guests, the clergy or funeral directors.

Again, this is not a service I promote, however, I have found. The concept of photography at funerals, as to permissibility, decorum, acceptance, and taste is dependent on religious, ethnic, social and cultural traditions, laws and family requirements. Much depends on the funeral customs themselves- some are rather lavish and complex events with long periods of visitation, religious services, and ceremony. Others are extremely brief, private and simple.

There are some ethnic groups where photographs are sent to family and friends overseas who could not attend. As morbid as it seems, they might require family group pictures including an open casket. At the other end of the spectrum, there are religious and cultural groups that consider it an indignity and a serious transgression to so much as a display or publicly view the dead and a simple service and burial have to a take place within 24 hours after death. I mention this because if anyone is actually interested in doing this work, they should be familiar with the societal customs in the communities they serve.

Frankly and personally speaking, this is not work that I particularly enjoy, however, I have done it and will probably continue to occasionally do it for folks that I have covered weddings and other more joyous family events for and I won't refuse their request in that they want someone who they know and trust doing the work. I have, in the past, taken on this work at no charge or if it is a more elaborate event, I just charge to cover my basic costs.

In my own culture, we have an expression that we say at the conclusion of a funeral or before leaving when visiting bereaved family or friends. Loosely translated it means "...we shoud have to gather only at joyous occasions"! I like that idea!

David C.

That is fine with me, did not want/intend any confusion with names, and yes it was a spelling error...sorry! David

If you want I can use E David in the future or will continue with David C if it is not a problem???
Never caught the common name use, on the site.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

Not a problem, David C. I think folks can tell we aren't the same person. Just thought it was interesting to have two guys here with the same name.

Indiana Loc: Huntington, Indiana

Were I interested, I would approach the funeral homes directly and offer my services...then leave it to the funeral director to make those service available to the deceased relatives.

tita1948 Loc: North Idaho

I photographed a funeral once and was very pleased with the out com. It allowed me to be creative. I never took a full view of the deceased but they could tell it was of their loved one. I worked hard to make sure it was respectful and never with painful emotions. No crying. Please check with the church and absolutely no flash. Take pictures of the flowers and wreaths, the limo/Hearst. Maybe something special to the family like pictures or medals, or the deceased special horse, dog, boat. They all mean something to the family.
You can check with the funeral home to see if they would forward your name. I don't think that's a problem.

PH CIB

Just attended today a Funeral for a Veteran at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery at Van Meter, Iowa....The Veteran had no living Family or Friends that the Nursing Home was aware of,,,so the Funeral Home put the word out to the Veterans Organizations so a nice gathering of people, none who knew the Veteran, could Honor and pay their Respects to the Veteran at his final Goodbye...The Veterans Organizations carried in the Casket and stood outside with an Avenue of Flags and the United States Air Force provided the Firearm Salute, Taps and the Folding of the Flag on the Veterans Casket...I don't remember ever seeing a Funeral Photographed before but a few were using cell phones and the Press was there with a Professional Photographer...No One seemed to mind and I had a very good time after the Service talking with the Professional Photographer about his Career, he was using a Nikon D3S....

NikonRocks Loc: Sydney

Recently I was asked by a friend if I would video her mother's funeral which I was happy to do. I was able to make do with the available lighting. Having arrived ahead of time I was able o sus out the best location to set up my gear (D7200 + tripod and Atomos recorder) without appearing too intrusive. I was able to place my gear to one side of the church and cover all the necessary aspects of the funeral service. Afterwards, I produced a DVD of the event which was gratefully accepted, A few week later, my friend requested a further 3 DVD's to send to relatives overseas who were unable to attend the service.

When my wife died 18 months ago, I was surprised to receive a DVD of the whole ceremony, including sound, that was produced by the crematorium staff and handed to me at the conclusion of the service. The DVD was in a nice jewel case and a customised cover insert included.

rochephoto

My requirement is that the deceased always pay for the photo session prior to death. You can never trust the heirs to honor payment and there is little recourse when trying to collect from the deceased after the funeral. I also put a usage fee in the contract so that the heirs don't try and profit from the funeral pictures without compensating the creator/photographer. There are a lot of people out there that try and take advantage of people who have passed.

Stephan G

The adage about separating family from business works at this as well. Maintain the business decorum at all times.

ERay

My 40 year old father died of lung cancer in Feb 1960. It was right after I turned 17 and I took a couple of pictures of him in his casket to show to his mother who was in a nursing home several hundred miles away. She was paralyzed on one side of her body after a stroke in the mid 1950s.

In the late 1990s one of our neighbors had a teen daughter who had had a full-term stillborn baby. The neighbor had photographed her daughter holding the baby's body and asked if I would do some work on the picture to make the baby look more lifelike. I agreed to try, but was rather relieved when she never brought over the picture for me to work on it.