photo's at a memorial service?!

S

smilezoomclick

Messages
142
Name
paulb
Edit My Images
Yes
i am going to the memorial service of my girlfriend's aunt next week. it's going to be at a lovely location that means a lot to the family.

i've met them a few times and we all get on pretty well...

BUT

...should i pop the ole camera out and snap some shots?!

nice momento or asking for a punch in the nuts?
 
I had a video taken of a family funeral as one member of the family lives abroad and could not attend but the family were aware of this - I don't think I would take photos as a matter of course at such an event a) without good reason and b) without family knowledge and consent.
 
I would not do it even if asked to do it but then that is just me :)
 
my friend took and posted loads of photos at her husbands funeral, she wanted the momentos (they had a proper party), I think it would be nice to offer.
 
if it's what the family have asked for, then yes...
I certainly wouldn't turn up with a camera unless EVERYONE knew what you were doing.

I would think a lot of people would feel very uncomfortable having their photo taken at such an event (ie. looking sad, crying, etc.)

Whoever is organising the service/inviting people, needs to to tell EVERYONE that they have asked for photos to be taken... that it's a family request.

Even if you get to go ahead with it, I would only take photos of people with their backs to camera, atmospheric shots, etc. If you say the location is important, then landscape shots of the location would be most appropriate.
 
We record significant family events, birth, christening, engagement, weddings. It is just that death is the ultimate taboo for many people, hence it is not treated in the same manner as other family occasions. Is this partly the taboo, or do we only record what we feel are happy occasions. Yes there is sadness, but in many instances a celebration of a life lived and death is part of that.

As to whether it will become more acceptable in the future remains to be seen, much the same as death it isn't discussed, perhaps we as photographers should instigate a public debate which may change the perception of photographing this event which is common to us all.

This is particularly poignant for me at the moment as my Mother in Law has just died, however I don't think I shall be taking my camera, but personally I wouldn't object to a photographer discretely and sympathetically taking some shots. Whether other members of the family would feel the same I wouldn't know, a bit like death, it hasn't been discussed.
 
I certainly would not be offended if someone wanted to capture the moment at one of my family's send off
 
I wouldn't unless your girlfriend is cool with it and has run it past her family first. You had better be ready to answer the 'why do you want to do it' question intelligently though as she is going to ask it assume she is not in to photography herself. What reason will you give out of interest? Just wondering how you would word it.
 
I've done a few memorial services. Groups like the British Legion and the Lions sometimes want shots, often with copies for the press, to show respect to long serving members or people who performed significantly in some field. Usual thing is a shot of an honour guard at the entrance to the church/cemetery.

As mentioned above, far-flung family members who can't get to the funeral may want a memento, which sounds reasonable. A single group shot would be enough, I'd think, and perhaps a shot of the memorial stone when it goes up a bit later.

Obviously you should never intrude, be very careful to find out if anyone is against this.

And it's probably best not shout `everybody smile at the camera!`
 
Even if the family agree, I'd use a discreet quality compact, not a dslr with a big flash on the top and "motordrive" mode.
 
garry71 said:
Even if the family agree, I'd use a discreet quality compact, not a dslr with a big flash on the top and "motordrive" mode.
Click to expand...

Then you wouldn't get the pics - I'd more likely use a D3 with 70-200mm from a discrete distance.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top