Catholic Cemeteries Association Logo

Taking Photos of a Funeral

MemorialAdmin • October 3, 2016

Depositphotos_9925426_original Can I take pictures of the guests during a funeral? Is it allowed to take a picture of the casket? What if it’s an open casket? Would taking photos of a burial service be inappropriate? These are all valid questions that may go through your mind if you are attending a funeral in the near future.

Let’s talk about photographic ethics.

If you are attending a funeral as a guest, my first and foremost advice is to ask questions. Photos of the event may be important keepsakes to you, but it is wise to ask the host for permission before you snap pictures left and right. Remember that a funeral is a sensitive time for many people and offense could be taken if questions are not asked. Just approach your host and explain that you would like to take photos of the guests, the decorations, even the body if that is important to you. If they feel uncomfortable, they will ask you to refrain from photography, and if they allow you to take pictures, you will feel freedom to do so with the ease of permission.

There are some cultures and religions that prohibit the taking of pictures, especially of a dead body. The best way to know of these restrictions is to ask your host. Some of the guests may feel uncomfortable being photographed as well, especially when emotions are running high and some people may be crying. Remember my advice: ask questions. Approach a table of guests with your camera and ask, “would anyone mind of I took a photo of your table?” This is simply a polite way to make your intentions known and ask for permission. The likelihood that you will be turned down is minimal, and everyone will feel comfortable being in a photo if they previously agreed to it.

What about the burial service?

A burial service provides for some great aesthetic opportunities for photography. Pictures of the pall bearers marching the casket to the plot, the guests gathered around the grave, a flag ceremony or servicemen performing “Taps.” These photos could be beautiful reminders of a lovely service that many people worked hard to put together. If you’ve been given permission, I would encourage you to focus your lens specifically on the burial proceedings. A word of caution, however: the burial is often the most emotional part for friends and family members of the deceased. Be sensitive and aware of their feelings before you take pictures of them during this time. They may want to look back on the ceremony and the support of the burial services, but the emotions they were feeling in that moment may be too painful to relive in a close-up photograph of their face.

In summary, always ask for permission before you photograph a funeral and be sensitive to those who are in attendance. Pictures can be a beautiful keepsake and a lovely gift, but only if they are acquired in the appropriate fashion.

The post Taking Photos of a Funeral appeared first on Memorial Mortuaries.

John Allen Gilbert “Pop Pop”

By MemorialAdmin • April 5, 2023
John Allen Gilbert, “Pop Pop”, passed away April 1, 2023 at his home in Salt Lake City. He was born July 23, 1956 in Los Angeles, California to John Allen Gilbert and Patricia Sanderson. He married Delene Ann Gilbert on April 16, 1986. John was a mechanic, handyman, and a jack-of-all-trades. He loved music, playing … Continued The post John Allen Gilbert “Pop Pop” appeared first on Memorial Mortuaries.

Austin David Westley

By MemorialAdmin • September 27, 2022
Austin David Westley, 32 passed away peacefully at home surrounded by those he loved after a brutal fight with appendix cancer. His beautiful soul touched so many lives and we will all forever be changed having known him. The world became a brighter place when Austin was born to loving parents David and Janis Westley … Continued The post Austin David Westley appeared first on Memorial Mortuaries.

Grief Integration

By MemorialAdmin • September 21, 2022
  Written by Memorial Mortuary & Cemeteries in-house Grief Counselor, Amanda Nelsen How can I get closure? This is a question I hear on a pretty regular basis. And I completely understand what is behind it – we want to be able to put the painful feelings of grief behind us. We want to be … Continued The post Grief Integration appeared first on Memorial Mortuaries.

Regret

By MemorialAdmin • June 30, 2022
Written by Memorial Mortuary & Cemeteries in-house Grief Counselor, Amanda Nelsen The topic of regret has been on my mind recently. I often hear clients talk about the regrets they had after a loved one died – some become quite reflective on things they could have done differently or “better” while their loved one was … Continued The post Regret appeared first on Memorial Mortuaries.

Patrick Arthur Murphy

By MemorialAdmin • May 30, 2022
Our most beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend unexpectedly returned to his loving God on May 20, 2022.   Patrick Arthur Murphy was born on July 4, 1942 in Coronado, California. Pat was a twin to his brother, Pete, rounding out the four sons of John Tennyson Murphy and Mable Burnett Murphy. Pat spent … Continued The post Patrick Arthur Murphy appeared first on Memorial Mortuaries.

Navigating Grief During and After the Covid-19 Pandemic

By MemorialAdmin • March 30, 2022
    As a grief therapist, I have seen a lot of people grieving loved ones who died from Covid-19 over the past couple of years. A recent study has shown that people who have experienced the death of a loved one due to Covid-19, have increased mental health issues than a pre-pandemic death (Breen, … Continued The post Navigating Grief During and After the Covid-19 Pandemic appeared first on Memorial Mortuaries.

An Update regarding COVID-19 and its impacts on funeral, burial, and memorial services

By MemorialAdmin • April 23, 2020
We are grateful your family has chosen to entrust your loved one into our care. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has required us to enact some adjustments to how we conduct arrangement conferences, viewings, funeral or memorial services, and other aspects of our processes. Our goal is to allow you and your family to spend as … Continued The post An Update regarding COVID-19 and its impacts on funeral, burial, and memorial services appeared first on Memorial Mortuaries.

Why is a funeral so important?

By MemorialAdmin • September 26, 2019
  Recently, an article came out highlighting the incredible relationship between a mother Orca and her baby calf, who passed away shortly after being born. The mother, Tahlequah, used her snout to keep her deceased calf afloat for 17 days and covered over 1,000 miles of ocean in the process, an unprecedented display of mourning … Continued The post Why is a funeral so important? appeared first on Memorial Mortuaries.

Coping With A Terminal Illness

By MemorialAdmin • May 7, 2019
Many of us have seen a loved one struggle with a terminal diagnosis. It isn’t something we like to talk about, but many of us will also get our OWN terminal diagnosis.  Having a terminal diagnosis brings its own type of grief and decisions to be made. How do you grieve your own death before … Continued The post Coping With A Terminal Illness appeared first on Memorial Mortuaries.

Grief Resources for Children

By MemorialAdmin • January 3, 2019
Written by Memorial Mortuary & Cemeteries in-house grief counselor, Amanda Nelsen: I am often asked for resources for young children who have lost someone close to them. Stories are often a good way to open up dialogue with children and illustrate death in a more concrete fashion. I compiled some of my favorites for easy … Continued The post Grief Resources for Children appeared first on Memorial Mortuaries.
More Posts
Share by: