Funeral photography, should you do it or not?
Saturday 17 August 2019, 14:41 by Jerry van Es | 8,255 views | 7 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
Funeral photography is about capturing 'the final farewell'. Photographing a funeral is an emotional process that not everyone chooses. This applies both to photographers and to the bereaved people attending the funeral ceremony.
Yet quite a few people actually find it very comforting to have some tangible memories captured, or have them captured for them. In this blog, we look more closely at the reasons why people do or do not choose funeral photography.
Vulnerable
One of the biggest concerns for bereaved people is that they do not like being photographed at their most vulnerable moment. Certainly not while they are crying and paying their final respects.
This is very understandable. The farewell between the bereaved person and the deceased is very personal, after all, and you do not want anything from 'outside' to come between them. What many people do not know, however, is that most 'funeral photographers' do not photograph crying people unless this has been specifically agreed beforehand.
So what does a funeral photographer capture? In fact, everything that takes place around a funeral. The ceremony itself, the coffin, the funeral procession, flowers, et cetera.
Another reason why not everyone is immediately open to having a cremation or burial photographed is that we are not used to being photographed during a sad moment. We mainly associate photographs with happy moments, such as a wedding, a party or a gathering.
Extra memories
Bereaved people who have chosen to have the farewell captured by a funeral photographer are almost always extremely positive about it. Family members and partners of the deceased in particular experience the day of the funeral as a kind of daze.
Everything that happens passes them by, or they only experience it subconsciously. It is then very comforting to be able to relive the day calmly afterwards, and also to take some time to enjoy the beautiful images and the emotions of the bereaved and other guests.
A funeral photographer also often manages to capture the small moments that you would otherwise have missed completely, such as a hand on someone's shoulder or a heartfelt embrace.
Family abroad
Sometimes it is not possible for bereaved people to attend the service because they live abroad or have limited mobility. For these people in particular, it is very comforting to be able to experience some of the farewell through photographs. The photos are also tangible and can offer comfort at any time of day.
A photo of the deceased or not?
Does a funeral photographer also take photos of the deceased? Sometimes, but not always. This really depends on the preference of the bereaved person or people. In general, this is still fairly taboo.
Many people find it a morbid idea to photograph a 'dead' person. There are also often enough photos of the person from better times, meaning there is often no need for photos of the deceased in their coffin.
A good funeral photographer?
Many photographers offer 'funeral photography' on request, but the real specialists can be counted on one hand. When asked what they consider important, they say it is the art of being invisible. To capture emotions as honestly as possible, people must not feel that a photographer is present.
About the author
Jerry van Es is blogger en online marketeer. Naast het beheren van het online magazine Menlife en een offerte website schrijft hij artikelen voor verschillende online mediaplatformen. Als ZZP'er helpt hij verschillende bedrijven, waaronder ook fotografen, met hun online vindbaarheid.
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7 comments
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Ria Scheewe wrote on Tuesday 20 August 2019 at 13:37 | replyI would really love to do bereavement photography. And I have read up on it and talked about it a lot with a bereavement photographer. I am ready for it. Only how do I reach the people who want that.
Translated from Dutch. -
Elja Trum
wrote on Tuesday 20 August 2019 at 13:43
| reply
@Ria; I’m not a bereavement photographer, but I would start talking to funeral directors and the like. They speak to your target audience every day and perhaps they could include your service in the package. I can imagine that you could also offer them a referral fee for that.
Translated from Dutch.
And of course set up a website where you show photos and write about your services. Then people who are looking for a bereavement photographer can find you. -
Rob de Joode wrote on Tuesday 20 August 2019 at 17:01 | replyI have specialized as a funeral photographer, which means that I take on few other assignments alongside this. Every week I am out photographing a farewell. But you cannot get there with photographic skills alone.
Translated from Dutch.
You also have to empathize with grief, how do people respond emotionally. In addition, of course, you need to adapt your equipment to the situation. But no less importantly, you need to be aware of funeral etiquette and adapt to different religions and their customs.
80% of my work consists of funeral photography or farewell photography. Corporate shoots for funeral directors and suppliers. This also means that I am available 24/7 and that all other assignments have to make way for funeral photography. This is also known in advance. But it is not the case that I just cancel an assignment, I have great colleagues who then, for example, take over a family shoot for me. Even during my vacation I am available and arrange who will handle a request for funeral photography.
Farewell photography really is a specialization, if you do it on the side, you have to have many things properly arranged because this simply cannot be planned. Your portfolio is also difficult, I cannot show the most beautiful photos anywhere.
I will stop now, because I could tell you so much more about it.
See article magazine Nikonclub Nederland:
https://www.kiekfoto.nl/bestanden/uploads/Uitvaartfotografie-Nikonclub-Nederland.pdf -
Jerry van Es wrote on Tuesday 20 August 2019 at 17:39 | reply@Ria
Translated from Dutch.
What Elja says is indeed a very good tip. Talk to funeral directors and other photographers. In practice, they will come into contact the most with people who need beautiful bereavement photography.
@Frans
Thank you for your valuable addition!
@Rob
Thank you for your response. I completely agree that bereavement photography is a field in itself, especially considering all the emotions involved. -
DeAfscheidsfotograaf.nl
wrote on Thursday 16 April 2020 at 12:36
| reply
My advice is: do it!
Translated from Dutch.
We actually take photos of just about everything. Of a pregnancy, birth, birthday, anniversary, wedding but (unfortunately) far too few of a funeral.
Especially at a funeral, family members and next of kin often experience this day in a daze and do not take in everything of this day.
Having a beautiful photo book (memorial album) gives them the opportunity to look back on the farewell. This also helps with the grieving process.
There is only 1 chance to have photos taken at a funeral. I recommend everyone do it. But preferably by an experienced funeral photographer who knows how to blend into his surroundings and works completely stel.
For everyone who wants more information about this: feel free to contact me!
Also read https://www.deafscheidsfotograaf.nl/wat-is-afscheidsfotografie/ if you want to know more about what funeral photography is. -
Michelle Peeters wrote on Thursday 16 April 2020 at 12:59
| reply
@DeAfscheidsfotograaf: I don't think there will be much work for funeral photographers at the moment, as funerals are currently often held online (streaming video), with only a few family members allowed to attend. That streamed recording is often given to the bereaved on a USB stick.
Translated from Dutch.
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