Funeral Photography

[Jaydandy]

Does anybody here have any experience with funeral photography? Last week I was asked to take photos at a friends funeral. They wanted to share with people that could not make it to the service. I was curious if this is common.

[Rson]

When my FIL was dead...(4 times) we planned a full Military funeral with bell, guns and military. We asked a friend to shoot it for us. Kind of a Time Life style photo montage to send to all his marine buddy's from around the world. He pulled through and is still here but that will happen in the future.

[BeccaJ]

My family asked me to document my cousin's military funeral December before last. I kicked myself for not bringing my camera to the airport when his body returned open. I thought it'd be inappropriate. But his parents asked me specifically to have the camera at the funeral. I'm really glad i had it there too. I think it's becoming...more common...i keep hearing more and more about it.

[JP171]

it is very common at military funerals, death sux bigtime, but a military funeral is something more than saying goodbye to a loved one, it is a celebration of spirit,pride and honor. the idea is to capture what you can of these things that most likely the person who you are celebrating lived by. I spent alot of money on dvd's and lots of time on the puter putting together a photo slide show and short (45mins) film for family members when my wifes uncle died. my mother in law watches her copy on his BD and day he died.

[Jenny Z]

It's common at Southern funerals, I think... when my grandmother died, it seemed like everyone had a camera. We even did family pictures next to the casket. Even for me, it was very strange.

[ifly223]

I have been Honor Guard at many military funerals. Its not uncommon for someone to take picture per the request of the family.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

I actually have pics of grandparents caskets, and they passed away either before I was born or soon after and that was in the mid 1950's.

I took some pics at my mothers funeral, even though she didn't look right-funeral staff overstuffed her cheeks and neck- and I look at them every so often.

I see no problem as long as you are descreet, many times it is one of the occasions that the family will get together.
(wished I had shot some of my two uncles funerals).

[studiocygnet]

I just recently shot my father-in-law's funeral back at the end of January. Even without actually photographing the body, there a lot of other things that you can get for the memories. I'll throw a couple pics in here so you can get an idea. As you can see, the funeral home gets memorabilia from the family and puts together a display of it. At this funeral, there was a military presentation, including wrapping the flag from his coffin and presenting it to his daughter. I went in and photographed all the men in uniform getting ready for the presentation, preparing their guns and flags. But there is one thing I missed. They did the gun salute outdoors where we could see them through the windows. I couldn't get to a door fast enough to take pics of that.
As far as the equipment, shoot raw for all the different kind of lighting, and I used a wide lens mostly to get in as much as possible of the displays. I bumped the ISO way up and didn't use any flash, so I wouldn't bother anyone.
I figure no one is going to blow these up large and put them on a wall, so the bit of noise you get at higher ISO's won't matter at print size.

[hotshot38]

I've shot a few firefighter funerals, back in the days of film. Luckily, I haven't been asked to shoot any lately. As above, shoot Time-Life style and be discreet. I even have the 'Kennedy' shot of a little boy saluting the casket.

You may get some weird looks, but as long as YOU know you are shooting under the auspices of the family you'll be fine. It's KINDA like shooting a wedding in that you should know what is going to happen in the ceremony and be prepared for it.

[janetg]

i took some photos at my mother's funeral last saturday. i simply asked my husband to watch the door - and keep everyone out for a few minutes. i'm glad i did it. while that is not how i want to remember her, it is the final chapter and i will cherish those photos as much as ones i have of her entire life.

[J Eddington]

Originally Posted by janetg

i took some photos at my mother's funeral last saturday. i simply asked my husband to watch the door - and keep everyone out for a few minutes. i'm glad i did it. while that is not how i want to remember her, it is the final chapter and i will cherish those photos as much as ones i have of her entire life.

Janet, I am sorry about your loss.

[kayumangi]

Sorry to hear your loss Janet. We shoot funerals not because we revel on our loves death but because we want to remember the moment.

I did my aunts funeral two years ago, candids and posed, the works. I had to detach myself from the moment. I was shooting because a lot of our relatives from around the world couldn't make it on time. Aside from being a pallbearer I had the responsibility to document everything, as in everything including shots of her body and everyone who attended.

I even asked a photographer friend to come over and shoot for me while I was doing pallbearer duty.

Only when I was alone was I able to cry.

[C!LLY]

I've shot a few military funerals for the Patriot Guard out here and have been asked by some of the families for copies. If the family is unaware of my photographing beforehand, then I try to shoot around them or not to include them in the shots and will get the pall-bearers, and the bugler, and the honor guard and if it was someone KIA, then I get shots of the soldiers cross.

I mainly photograph the PGR and the flagline for their website.

[janetg]

thanks janice - i'm just now able to talk about it a bit

[johnastovall]

Not funeral photography but I've done death bed photography. I think that captured the final image I wanted to keep not sanitized model present by the undertakers.