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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
photographing my first funeral... advice
Joseph Molieri, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Ardmore | PA | US | Posted: 11:07 PM on 04.26.09 |
| ->> I am photographing my first funeral and want some advice on getting the best shots and while not being obtrusive. I shoot weddings a good deal so I'm familiar with shooting in churches (which is where the service is held) then the burial. Tips and advice is welcome... Oh if it matters it is a double funeral and will most likely have a good deal of attendance. |
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David Seelig, Photographer
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Hailey | ID | USA | Posted: 11:36 PM on 04.26.09 |
| ->> If shooting for a paper stay in the back and shoot with a long lens and no flash . |
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Joseph Molieri, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Ardmore | PA | US | Posted: 11:39 PM on 04.26.09 |
| ->> I'm not shooting for a paper. I'm shooting for a personal project. I've spoken with the immediate family and they are very open to me being there. I'm just not completely comfortable in my own skin with a camera yet when it comes to invading peoples personal lives. A little self conscious I suppose. |
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Colin Mulvany, Photographer
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Spokane | WA | USA | Posted: 11:46 PM on 04.26.09 |
| ->> When I was covering my first funeral- a policeman who died in the line- I was kind of lost in a sea of 1000 cops who lined up outside the church. I asked the local newspaper photographer for some advice. He said: "Just do everything in half time. Walk slowly, raise your camera slowly, move like a sloth." Do this and you won't attract attention to yourself. It was great advice that I have used daily for the last 25-year! |
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Steve Ueckert, Photographer
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Houston | TX | | Posted: 11:51 PM on 04.26.09 |
->> Find the funeral director and ask if there are any ground rules, do's or don'ts. For covering both the funerals and the burials, position your car at the edge of the parking lot, maybe even off-campus so you don't get caught in the procession. Shooting long glass of the caskets leaving the building and being carried to the hearses can make a strong image, but there may be people blocking your line of sight, so maybe a two or three step ladder will get you over their heads.
NO MOTOR DRIVES, single frame advance; and if you are using an EOS MK IIn you can go into the user preferences, via a computer, and set it for quiet mode when shooting single frame advance. It really quiets the camera. If you are using a D3, consider long glass. If you have a G9 or G10, have it with you as they are silent.
But check with the funeral director well in advance (at least half an hour, even an hour wouldn't be too early) as to where you can position yourself. I have done some funerals where I wasn't allowed on the funeral home grounds and shot with a 500mm, others where the press was welcome and I shot from the wings off to the side of the alter. But don't assume anything, present your questions to the funeral director, and not an assistant, the funeral director is in charge and does exactly what the family wants.
Shine your shoes and consider wearing a sport coat or even a suit. |
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Sandy Huffaker, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 11:54 PM on 04.26.09 |
->> Joseph,
There is usually someone at the venue who has received instruction from the family as to media positioning. If not, get someone to check. If the family is OK with you shooting, you can get right in there(delicately). Just get a few shots and respect their space. Wait for the right moments and no diarrhea shooting! I find people get pissed when you motor too much.
Dress appropriately and should be good to go. |
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Chet Gordon, Photographer
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Newburgh | NY | US | Posted: 12:29 AM on 04.27.09 |
| ->> Wear a sport jacket, (pressed) slacks, and comfortable dress shoes. Perhaps a tie. If you don't have any of these - borrow them. Shave. Be respectful to EVERYONE. Just because you have permission to be there from the family, doesn't mean that some distant relative might not appreciate your being there photographing. Get there early, and believe it or not, remember to eat something so your stomach isn't growling when you're in the church. (Maybe stash a few pieces of fruit & juice in the car for the processional drive to the cemetery, or at least a power-bar in your bag.) Dressing appropriately will go a long way with the respect you're showing the family. In all the funerals I've covered through the years, I've always tried to dress as a professional, even wearing a full suit when covering funerals for returning military veterans PD, FD and 9/11 funerals, particularly when there are dignitaries in attendance. Once you understand how your overall presence as a photographer is perceived at a funeral, you'll be more likely to be "comfortable in your own skin" at the next one. Good luck. -cg. |
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Danny Gawlowski, Photographer
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Bellingham | WA | USA | Posted: 2:06 AM on 04.27.09 |
->> Just be respectful and always be aware of how the family is feeling. Put their needs before yours.
Relationships always trump rules. |
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Dominick Reuter, Photographer, Assistant
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Boston | MA | USA | Posted: 9:22 AM on 04.27.09 |
->> +1 to silent shutter feature on 1D
+10 to attire |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Princeton | IN | USA | Posted: 10:27 AM on 04.27.09 |
| ->> If the family is OK with you being there, I would let the funeral home people know that ahead of time and even have the family verify it with them if possible. You don't want any problems after things start. |
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Wesley R. Bush, Photographer
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Nashville | TN | U.S. | Posted: 12:16 PM on 04.27.09 |
| ->> Turn the camera to single-shot mode. It's your personal project. It's their last chance to say goodbye to a loved one. BIG difference. Be more sensitive than you think you are expected to be. |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 3:59 PM on 04.27.09 |
->> This has been said, but let me reinforce it. If you're wear a sports coat, make sure it's a DARK one (navy blue or black). Dress shirt with dark tie. Dark suit if you go the suit route. Speak in soft, muted tones. Turn the cell phone off.
Some great advice. Re-read it. |
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Joseph Molieri, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Ardmore | PA | US | Posted: 5:58 PM on 04.27.09 |
->> Thanks some of this advice really came through. I wore a dark suit and black tie. I wasn't expecting it but a few other photogs were there and in their normal vest and gear and some not so subtle colors. I was really glad I over dressed and I think it got me some access where another photographer was actually asked to back off. The whole food and drink thing was a life saver too. started at 11am ended at 4pm. Thank you all!
p.s. I've shot police funerals before, this was my first more intimate access pass kind of funeral. |
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Larry Clouse, Photographer
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Colorado Springs | CO | USA | Posted: 6:45 PM on 04.27.09 |
->> A little over a year ago, I covered a funeral for a family at my church. There was a military ceremony at the Air Force Academy and then a church service. Afterwards, I put together a CD of the images accompanied by music from the service. The music was composed by another church member; so, I didn't have to deal with copyright issues, just permission from the musician, which he was glad to provide.
I also put together a soft-cover book of the images (designed in iPhoto). Blub would also work well. I was very pleased with how it turned out and the family was thrilled. They paid the printing costs and nothing more. They've told me a number of times how much the book has meant to them, especially as they talked with friends or family who couldn't be at the memorial service.
The original three books were only for the immediate family; however, we have just come up on the one year anniversary of the death and they have ordered more copies for other family members out-of-state. Again, they only paid the printing costs.
I arrived at each service early and asked about the order of service so that I would know what would happen and when. I was able to move around during the military ceremony easily. At the church service, I primarily shot from the front of the church. No flash. I found out where musicians and speakers would be. Then, I found a central place and sat on the floor. That seemed to work well. Most of the people attending said that they didn't notice that I was there. Once the church service started, I didn't move around.
Neck ties often get in my way; so, I wore nice dark slacks and a black turtleneck. That worked well in this situation.
Hope this goes well for you. This was one of the more meaningful things I've done. |
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Patrick Murphy-Racey, Photographer
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Powell | TN | USA | Posted: 9:50 AM on 04.28.09 |
->> strange, I was just asked by a family to shoot their son's funeral. I shot very few frames so as not to disturb the family and the solemn moments in the mass...
Here is what I came up with:
http://vimeo.com/4358466 |
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