I know this is a weird and rather sensitive subject, but I have been asked to take some photos for a funeral tomorrow. Before we begin, I have been asked by the guys wife, with his sons, mother and siblings blessings. It is also not a decision I have taken lightly - he was my best friends' Dad and I knew him rather well.
I have been asked to photograph the flowers, the car arriving, the coffin being taken into the chapel and people at the wake afterwards. I am not to take photos during the service (just one of the coffin up at the front).
I don't imagine the family will look at these photos for a year or two, if ever. They just want something to remember if they want to - better to not want them and have them than want them and not.
I was wondering whether anyone had any suggestions or tips for me. I would greatly appreciate it - I have never done anything like this before, and she is not expecting works of art, just photos that are in focus.
not about how but just in general. Sometimes extended family only come out for things like weddings and funerals. If they havn't seen aunt Milly in 6 years make sure to get an image of aunt Milly!
just take as many as you can, try and be subtle as people who aren't in the loop will think it is insensitive. tell as many people as you can that you have been asked to do it as it will put them at ease - i've photod flowers at a funeral upon request as the family have been too distressed and having to do meet/greet duties, so they do miss a lot too.
i agree with @heatherhughes make sure you get relatives that only appear for family gatherings, grab smiles as no one probably wants to look back at photos where people are crying.
Hi there. I took some photos at my father in laws burial this past summer. Just some of the cremation box to be lowered in the ground, the kids pulling the wagon with the ashes and the piper and a few family members. I think I have one up here I will post. I have not shown them to my MIL. yet, but she knows I have them just incase she wants to remember the day. Just be discreet and like you said do not take any during the service. Just things you think they would like to remember.
Here is one of his niece playing the pipes
This is his grandson, my nephew waiting for the service to begin.
Since the time photography was invented until recently, families would all dress up and the deceased for one last family protrait. This was more common in the 1800's.
You are not being asked to anything like that. As one who officiates funeral, my one piece of advice is to be respectful and do not get the in way of any processions (i.e. from the herse to the chapel and chapel to herse, and herse to grave).
I recall ONE funeral photographer who I wanted to throttle and yank the film from his camera! The funeral was my father's and the photographer was a ten to twelve-year-old nephew of my step-mother. He actually photographed my father in his casket! Now that was tacky beyond words!
My sister and I chose not to say anything.....we just ignored the young boor.
try to get the flowers and coffin during visitation before the funeral when the visitation time is for immediate family only (they can let the funeral director know you're expected ahead of time) My dad is a professional photographer (well, was before the strokes) and was hired to do the very same thing many times. When it comes time to move the casket, its best to stay back well out of the way and use a telephoto lens of the guys carrying it into the chapel.
I took pictures the day of my father's funeral. His urn up at the front of the church and one at the cemetery of the Military bits. Then I took family photos at the house. The family has asked you for them and as you said, better to have them and not want them than to want them and not have them.
@cally@cromwell I've a very close friend in the UK who does this as a small business. Been featured recently on the BBC. (will check first with her before i go posting links)
@cally I took pictures at my mother's burial earlier this month. I was gratified and pleased that the members of my family even asked for me to take certain shots and I've had several requests for different ones since then. I was the most happy, however, to have my camera with me for this shot which I will always feel was something special just for me at the graveside:
I took this shot at my father's burial this past May. I also took some photos at the church- mostly of the altar, flowers, and flag but not when anyone was speaking or singing. I also took a few photos of the grave site and family after they'd paid their last respects. In some ways it was difficult to do this but in other ways I'm glad that I did. It has helped with some of the grieving process. I think the best advice I can give is to be as unobtrusive as you can, don't use a flash and if you can, ask the funeral director or pastor what they think might be appropriate and inappropriate. You can always get pictures of the sanctuary before people arrive for the service, but you might not be able to do the same at the grave. I think that whatever you do, it will be appreciated.
I have pics of our families flowers. Especially the special made like a treble cleft for my best friend and a lady bird for my grandma and a fab anchor for my grandad who was in the navy. They are nice to look back on and remember just how special others thought they were to do so much and say so much. Have pics on what was written on the cards too. Nice to read and remember what special thoughts others had about them.
Thank you very much for the responses. They helped me a lot when it came to working out what I should do. I got a photo of his sons carrying in his coffin, and luckily they didn't close the curtains and take the coffin away at the end, so I got some nice shots of the detailing on there (it had planes on it - his first love!) and obviously some flowers. I hope I got some nice shots of people at the wake laughing, but it was hard. I wasn't comfortable, and people were looking at me weirdly.
Next hard task will be to get them off my camera and process them. May leave that a few days, as it is all very raw right now...
Again, thank you, and thank you for sharing your experiences and your photos with me :)
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i agree with @heatherhughes make sure you get relatives that only appear for family gatherings, grab smiles as no one probably wants to look back at photos where people are crying.
good luck with it
Here is one of his niece playing the pipes
This is his grandson, my nephew waiting for the service to begin.
You are not being asked to anything like that. As one who officiates funeral, my one piece of advice is to be respectful and do not get the in way of any processions (i.e. from the herse to the chapel and chapel to herse, and herse to grave).
My sister and I chose not to say anything.....we just ignored the young boor.
I took this shot at my father's burial this past May. I also took some photos at the church- mostly of the altar, flowers, and flag but not when anyone was speaking or singing. I also took a few photos of the grave site and family after they'd paid their last respects. In some ways it was difficult to do this but in other ways I'm glad that I did. It has helped with some of the grieving process. I think the best advice I can give is to be as unobtrusive as you can, don't use a flash and if you can, ask the funeral director or pastor what they think might be appropriate and inappropriate. You can always get pictures of the sanctuary before people arrive for the service, but you might not be able to do the same at the grave. I think that whatever you do, it will be appreciated.
http://www.farewellphotography.co.uk/
Thank you very much for the responses. They helped me a lot when it came to working out what I should do. I got a photo of his sons carrying in his coffin, and luckily they didn't close the curtains and take the coffin away at the end, so I got some nice shots of the detailing on there (it had planes on it - his first love!) and obviously some flowers. I hope I got some nice shots of people at the wake laughing, but it was hard. I wasn't comfortable, and people were looking at me weirdly.
Next hard task will be to get them off my camera and process them. May leave that a few days, as it is all very raw right now...
Again, thank you, and thank you for sharing your experiences and your photos with me :)