Morbid question

We've all been asked to photograph weddings, christenings, engagements and the like. Anyone done funerals and cremations? After all, its the final memory of a loved one so looking for the correct approach.

As someone who officiates at funerals, I have come across this maybe twice in the 25 years I've been doing this. IIRC no photos were taken during the actual service - that would seem like an intrusion on people's grief. (I get annoyed when news-reporters home in on a grieving relative following some terrible incident!) I think the key thing is to ask the nearest and dearest to the deceased (ie next of kin etc) exactly what they would like and what they hope to get from having the funeral recorded in this way. One of the main subjects would be good quality images of the floral tributes along with a record of the tribute card with them. Not sure if that helps or not!

Useful point of view Andy. Just one of those oddball thoughts I have from time to time

Personally, it's not something that needs remembering or as an annual memorial. Better to remember the person as they were when living.

I've never shot a funeral, but it does happen. I think when relatives gather together from all over the world it's something that a family just might want to record in some way. In some cases people may never meet together again.

If I was asked to cover a funeral I would do so, but I would carefully clarify exactly what was required to avoid stepping on anyone's toes.

There are professional funeral photographers. There was a programme on them on the BBC some years back. It was all done in accordance with the family's wishes, very discrete. Some photographed the service too, but not the mourners individually, but most concentrated on the carrying out of the coffin, the courtege, the flowers etc. . The families all said it was worth doing and were grateful for the photos.

I've took photos at a friend's daughter's funeral. Massive turnout of family & friends were there. a year later I send them one photo and the couple was very very interested to see the rest, wanted two of them as larger prints. Didn't take any inside the ceremony.

Hey that's an idea Apple haven't thought about .......

A Black IPhone to bury with the deceased so that they can continue to take selfies

There used to be a photographer in Liverpool who used to do funerals complete with a Black Album. One of the shots I remember was the dropping of the first sod. He's passed onto the other side now ..... probably photographing new arrivals He actually arranged his own funeral.

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It's a cultural thing, David. Last November, my mother-in-law passed away (I should point out that my wife's from Thailand), and my wife and I went over for the funeral. Their ritual is basically a series of prayers for at least 5 days at the local temple. Although not unlike a "western" funeral in the actual mourning process, the Thais perceive death as being ready to "move on" to the next phase of incarnation. Although I thought it was a bit "disrespectful" for the relatives to take "selfies" beside the coffin, etc I realised that this is done as a way to "celebrate" the deceased's sad passing.

Read about it here: http://www.thaibuddhist.com/what-to-expect-if-you-are-invited-to-a-thai-funeral/

Here is a link to a piece by the woman featured in the Beeb programme I talked about: http://www.dyingmatters.org/blog/importance-funeral-photography

A simple search throws up plenty of funeral photographers, and examples of their work.