Photographing funerals

Anorakus

Anorakus

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Has anyone been asked to do photography at a funeral?

I was asked to take a few shots at my other half's grandfather's funeral service a few months ago. I thought it would be really morbid, but it turned out to be a lovely day. Everyone was there to remember the good times they'd had with Ron, and although the service was a bit emotional (understandably), it was great to meet up with family and friends that we hadn't seen for ages.

Photographically speaking, I got some good candid shots, and a cracking couple of shots of my lil' nephew, the last of which I've been asked to get enlarged on a canvas for the wall:

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book.jpg


father_son.jpg


A.
 
It's all part of life, isn't it?

We have to cover the 'Ramp Ceremonies' as they're called in the Military when repatriating soldiers killed overseas...sometimes that can be a bit tough...
 
Quite interesting, never thought of it. I think it's because we usually don't celebrate the great life someone had but rather "complain" that the person passed away.

I'd much rather have my friends and family celebrating over a great meal with lots of fun rather than crying and sobbing!

So I think documenting the last party would be a nice idea. Just not sure who would actually look at the photos and what for? Perhaps to remember the last memory?

Thought provoking!
 
I like the second shot for some reason, think its because the child is smiling. The contrast in usual mood is strong.
 
On the subject of this, I am very tempted to pop along to Wooton Basset at somepoint to capture what must be very moving scenes there (when our boys come home) but don't know if it would be in bad taste or not...
 
I was talking about this at work the other day and peoples views where about 70% against it but I personally think if done correctly and professionally it's not a bad thing the only problem could be if someone sees you with the camera and dosent realise you've been asked to attend
 
Quite popular in our neck of the woods and also video, especially for the travelling community.
Filmed one a few months ago to go back to South Africa, quite sad really, she was only in her thirties.
 
One of my regrets is we do not have any photographs of my father-in-laws funeral. He was a well respected member of his local community and the funeral made me very proud of him. His granddaughter was to young at the time to understand, but I think photographs would have help her understand, what he meant not only to us but to other people as well.
 
Those pics looks more like a Wedding to be honest. ( laughing bloke with a can of woodpecker for example ) . If you are snapping away at a funeral , how can you show your respect and grief for the deceased? I would say leave your camera at home and pay your respects in your own way. Funerals are usually way too emotional to take pics.
 
willbaroo said:
On the subject of this, I am very tempted to pop along to Wooton Basset at somepoint to capture what must be very moving scenes there (when our boys come home) but don't know if it would be in bad taste or not...
Click to expand...

Having only seen photos in the papers there seems to be loads of people lining the streets pointing cameras so I don't think anybody would say anything to you.

Paul
 
I always thought funeral photo's were a no go.
I was asked to take some photo's of the flowers once, to send to overseas relatives, but the camera stayed firmly at the house during the ceremony and didn't get used at the wake either.
 
Went to three funerals (Grandma, uncle and a friend) in the span of 5 weeks covering May & June. Took pictures at each one ending up with 1289 pictures. Took pictures of everything including the service.

Took pictures for the following reasons. 1) For the family who were unable to make it. 2) To capture the moment, the group of people that attended each service will never be together again.

There are two things I don't photograph, someone crying or the one in the casket. Otherwise everything else is fair game. So my vote is to take funeral pictures.

543677217_Va2vo-L.jpg
 
Boldonian said:
Those pics looks more like a Wedding to be honest. ( laughing bloke with a can of woodpecker for example ) . If you are snapping away at a funeral , how can you show your respect and grief for the deceased? I would say leave your camera at home and pay your respects in your own way. Funerals are usually way too emotional to take pics.
Click to expand...

A fair point, but I think it comes down to how you regard funerals. A time to be sad, undoubtedly, but also a time to be happy in remembering the good times with your loved one, and the family you still have.

The pic you refer to was taken at the 'wake' afterwards. I think it's very sweet - a dad sharing a moment with his young son. Doesn't really matter if it was taken at a funeral or wedding - the emotion was the same :p

Another thought... as photographers, we are committed to recording the world around us, as we see it. Why should this only be happy occasions, and not sad as well? It's all part of life..

A.
 
willbaroo said:
On the subject of this, I am very tempted to pop along to Wooton Basset at somepoint to capture what must be very moving scenes there (when our boys come home) but don't know if it would be in bad taste or not...
Click to expand...

Please do it - the more people there, the better...
 
I took pictures at my Dad's funeral over 15 years ago, mainly of the flowers. They are some of the most treasured pictures in the family album as they are all we have left to remember the day that, while being sad, was a celebration of his life.
 
I took photographs of my brother in laws mums funeral, she had been terminaly ill & he had come over from Australia to be with her for 6 months, but could not be here at the end. It was as she asked a celebration of life & as a really devout Catholic, she wanted people to enjoy the day. So I took as many pics of family & old friends as possible to send over to him.
 
I have to cover them occasionally for the newspaper where I work. We only go however if the family say it is ok, and even then we stay well out of the way and use a long lens. We normally take shots of the hearse arriving and a couple of shots of the mourners gathering outside. Once everybody has gone into then church or crematorium then we take some close up's of the flowers outside so by the time they come out we have left the area. The undertakers know us and there is never a problem with them. Even thought the family are ok with us being there, you still feel uncomfortable and when you look through the photos after you can see some people in the big shots glaring at you.
 
All I would say is that by photographing the flowers and the cards, one can send a thank you letter for sending them and describe how beautiful they were. Infact for those that couldn't attend, including a picture of the actual flowers they paid for shows how gratiful you are for them being sent. It saves them asking if the flowers arrived etc.

Realspeed
 
I did.............about 7 years ago. I was not asked to do it, it was my choice as it was my dads furneral.
For obvious reasons I did take photos of the service. Shots were taken of the flowers and the cards. I took people shots at the wake afterwards. By this time everyone had by then relaxed a little and many of the tears had been shed. By this point everyone was in rememberance mode and most "cheerful" as they remembered the better times.

After I put together an album of pictures, words and card as a gift to my mum.

Me and my brother came acrossed it today..........................I had completly forgotten about it.
 
memorial shots really should encompass the attending but not too specific about facial recognition
candids after can be difficult..but there is always the 'wake' where celebration can overcome the grief
i have never though of photographing at a funeral unless the photographs are really required by the family or myself as memoria
 
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