Funeral photos

[jkderby]

Any one photograph a funeral? Suggestions or comments.

[parrotmomma]

Actually, I did. My father in laws, 3 years ago. It was out of state, so I brought my camera along. My mother in law asked me to take pictures, otherwise I would not have. But it was something she wanted, and told me what to take (including him) It felt very odd, and I've never gone thru them except for when I put them on my computer and scrolled thru them. I definitely wouldn't do it unless the immediate family said it was ok or requested it.

[busytexan]

I've photographed the people at the funeral.....not during the funeral but at the church after the funeral. There is typically a meal with friends and family after the service. These folks had not seen that seen each other in years and it was a lovely experience. The one time I photographed the person who passed, it was well before the service and certainly before the family arrived (my aunt).

If I were photographing a funeral by request, I would certainly ask enough questions of the family that you would know exactly what they were asking to be photographed.

The funeral(s) that I photographed were my close family members, my dad and aunt (within 2 days of each other!). Crazy...but I look back at the images of the people sharing a meal and old memories....with fond memories.

[jkderby]

This would be total strangers.

[mdparthum]

I was asked to photograph a fellow firefighter's funeral and it was a weird feeling. I felt out of place, but everyone thanked me for doing it. I just tried to concentrate on the families and friends visiting and sharing memories. Also, all the fire apparatus present makes for lots of traditional shots.

[L Stegall]

I can't say I've photographed one, but I have gotten some family shots at one for my mother-in-law and, for my aunt, I photographed each flower arrangement and the card that went with it when my uncle died 3 years ago, so it was easy for her to be able to match the flowers with the sender when she sent cards later and be able to comment on them. Also, she could send a picture to the giver (especially those out of town), so they could see what they spent their money on. That was really appreciated and just made it a lot easier on my aunt.

[hue-e]

I had to do it once... but only because it was my wife's, father's mother.

I felt very awkward about it, and people's reaction to getting their picture taken at a funeral wasn't very cool at all.

I won't do it again... if it's out of town, and I bring any of my gear, I won't even tell people I have it, or just leave it in the hotel.

[Angelo]

I was asked by the husband to photographer his deceased wife.
I made arrangements with the funeral home to do it after the wake.
It was her and me, there alone in the room.

It took awhile to forget the event.

[SpeedRacerSlots]

Have been asked by close friends to shoot for them, but its a REALLY awkward feeling.

[carrbowl]

If you do a search on this forum, it has been discussed. There is also a photograph that "advertises" that he does this. Sorry I'm not smart enough to be one of those geeky people and search it for you and give you the link!!!

[lfmerrell]

I heard genealogists and family historians feel funerals should be photographed. It being a rare time when remote seldom seen family members are present and can be recorded with certainty place and date.

[J Eddington]

In history, many people were photographed after they were dead. The family wanted to preserve their memory.

Think of it as a social event. Many families only get together for weddings and funerals, what better chance to have photos of your family and friends? My family believes it is a celebration. A celebration of that persons life, a part of their life's journey. And those that attend the funeral are the blessings that the deceased person had in their life.

Here are a couple of links that discuss the subject:

Funeral Photography - Funeral Photographers

Funeral Photography | Our Man Inside

Photographing a Funeral - Photo.net Wedding and social event photography Forum

[Abel]

Originally Posted by jkderby

Any one photograph a funeral? Suggestions or comments.

these Showcase Sections are to display photos only...

discussions threads are to be done in an appropriate section.

Moving this thread now...

[kenw]

I was asked at some family funerals (actually just the visitations, we've had a lot lately) and one of the most overlooked was mentioned by Lisa above: pics of the flowers and the cards that accompany them. Too often the cards get pulled and separated and at a lot of funerals the flowers and plants go out the door with various family members. For National Cemetery events, the number of flowers that can go to the burial are very, very limited. It was huge benefit to us to have pics of the arrangements so that we could send thank-you notes correctly.

In none of the ones I did did I take any of the deceased. That's just not the way I wanted to remember them, certainly other situations might be different. The visitations were always much lighter and the willingness to have folks pose for pics seemed pretty easy. As the funerals were: my dad, then my mom, then my brother; to have taken pics during the actual funeral service would have been too much and posing of guests impossible. Maybe it would have been easier if I hadn't been 'involved'. Or not, I tear-up easily even for strangers.

Another that would have been helpful from my perspective would have been (if) there had been a head/footstone in place at the burial site. Most often they are not placed until later, but in some cases they are already there and a pic of the headstone is valuable to geneologists and is treasured by a lot of family members who travelled to be there. For someone doing it professionally, I would think a return trip to capture a quality shot of the finished headstone would be a big plus. (Headstones are pricey and there is a significant number of headstones that are paid for and just never show up, especially if the remaining family is distant.) PS: don't forget that often there is info on both sides.

Also a photo of the 'program' of the service, with dates, family names and such is a great source of info in years to come, even tho there will be plenty of printed copies a digital version is good to have.

Just my thoughts, mostly from the family's perspective.

[KJoSewell]

I have photographed a couple of funerals. One was a family friend (closest thing to a dad that I had), so I was there through the last days as well. I got some of his wife and son taking care of him, feeding and shaving him. I got a pic of the night that he told them that he had cancer. I also got pics of the family holding his hand while he was in the hospital bed and very sick.
The funeral pics were at the visitation. I took some of the flowers. It was after everyone had left and I snuck up (had to stand on a chair) and got a shot when the wife and son where looking into the casket. I also got one when we all got home and the wife and son were holding each other and crying.
You could get one of each family looking into to the casket. Where their backs are turned away from the camera.