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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Funeral Dress and Etiquette for Media
Robert Boag, Student/Intern, Photo Editor
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Harrisonburg | VA | US | Posted: 11:31 AM on 08.22.10 |
->> I have to shoot a funeral today for the newspaper. This will be the first time I shoot a funeral and was wondering what the dress code for media is typically and any etiquette I need to know.
Thanks
Robert |
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David Manning, Photographer
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Athens | GA | | Posted: 11:38 AM on 08.22.10 |
->> Formal dress. Shirt/tie.
Less is more. Be as quiet and as respectful as possible. Pick your moments wisely. Don't hammer the shutter.
Treat it as if it was a funeral for someone in your family. |
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Jack Kurtz, Photographer
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Phoenix | AZ | United States | Posted: 11:41 AM on 08.22.10 |
->> Dress as you expect mourners and guests to dress. Dressing better is okay, dressing worse is not. At minimum I would wear dockers, button down, collared shirt and a tie. I would have a sport coat handy in the car. If it's more casual, you can ditch the tie.
Etiquette is going to be determined by the family of the deceased. I've been to funerals where I was invited to stand right next to the casket as people filed by for final goodbyes and I've been to funerals where I was put in the choir loft, far, far, away from anyone.
Be polite and professional. |
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Patrick Fallon, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Columbia | MO | USA | Posted: 11:48 AM on 08.22.10 |
| ->> Turn off the motor drive. |
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Joel Hawksley, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Athens | OH | USA | Posted: 12:03 PM on 08.22.10 |
| ->> Bring a point-and-shoot if you have one. There may be an occasion where you need to be completely silent. |
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Chet Gordon, Photographer
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Matt Brown, Photographer
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Fullerton | CA | USA | Posted: 1:48 PM on 08.22.10 |
| ->> Suit and tie, dress as if it was a family member. Listen to Mr. Fallon turn off motor drive. Be nice and respectful, Do not get in any face with a wide angle. |
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Jason Hirschfeld, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Norfolk | VA | U.S. | Posted: 3:35 PM on 08.22.10 |
| ->> A blimp for your cam body...and definitely a 70-200. As Matt said, don't get in anyone's face with short glass. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Indiana | IN | USA | Posted: 11:15 PM on 08.22.10 |
| ->> Dang, this is common sense stuff. You shouldn't even have to think twice or ask anyone about how to dress for this kind of event. |
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Robert Scheer, Photographer
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Indianapolis | IN | USA | Posted: 8:57 AM on 08.23.10 |
| ->> How did it go Robert? Pros/cons? |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Indiana | IN | USA | Posted: 11:19 AM on 08.23.10 |
| ->> Hey Mmatt Brown, what happened to you? |
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Paul Hayes, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Littleton | NH | USA | Posted: 11:23 AM on 08.23.10 |
| ->> I would wear a top hat and tails. Maybe a monocle ... But in all seriousness shirt and tie. Bring a 70-200 (or longer if you have it) because you are probably going to have to/want to stand a little ways away from the service. |
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Robert Boag, Student/Intern, Photo Editor
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Harrisonburg | VA | US | Posted: 11:27 PM on 08.23.10 |
->> Hey all,
It went very well. I will post images once we run them in the paper. While this does seem like common sense stuff I found that a lot of the "seasoned" staff photographers from other media outlets and news papers were very inappropriately dressed for the situation and did not always follow the "common sense" things you guys pointed out. The funeral home staff was extremely helpful and provided me with good places to be that were not obtrusive and still allowed me to get some good shots. There were plenty of shots that I wish I had been able to get closer for but from my very limited experience now shooting funerals they seem to be a balance between respecting the moment and getting the shot, and respecting the moment should always go first.
Thanks to everyone in the sports shooter community that provided advice and guidance, while all of this is common sense stuff there are a lot of things I thought about and learned before I shot the first frame from what you had to say. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Indiana | IN | USA | Posted: 11:32 PM on 08.23.10 |
->> It seems you have a positive attitude towards everything which is good. To the media who showed up inappropriately dressed, I say shame on you. There are some things in life you should already know and how to dress for occasions is one of them.
We had a discussion on here a few years ago about TV guys wearing shorts to former Pres. Ronald Reagan's funeral. It was, as you can imagine, fairly spirited. And as usual, there were some people who just didn't get it. |
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Robert Scheer, Photographer
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Indianapolis | IN | USA | Posted: 12:07 AM on 08.24.10 |
->> Robert, I'm glad things turned out well. Normally, I don't mess with anything tighter than a 70-200. Personally, I think stuff like a camera blimp is overkill, but that's just me. Last funeral I shot, I put the cameras on single shot silent (Mk III/IV), and shot about 18 frames total. Lean and mean, and most of all, respectful.
I've seen a fair number of journalists with jeans and shorts as well. Discouraging.
I often keep a suit in the trunk of my car, and if it's not there, I live four minutes from work, where it's hanging, ready to go, in the closet. |
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Matt Brown, Photographer
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Fullerton | CA | USA | Posted: 12:11 AM on 08.24.10 |
| ->> Check was in the mail. Must is common sense stuff. I'm still shacking my head once a week how people dress at events. I saw a students photographer Sunday at a UCLA soccer match and he looked like he just came from the beach. |
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Chris Large, Photographer
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Okotoks | AB | Canada | Posted: 1:08 AM on 08.24.10 |
->> I would wear a top hat and tails. Maybe a monocle ...
That is perhaps the worst case of stupid humour I have ever seen on this site. I would wear a top hat and tails. Maybe a monocle ...Paul - give your head a shake....a member was asking for some input....top hat and tails ?????
Maybe at your mothers funeral that would be funny. You owe an apology. |
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Paul Hayes, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Littleton | NH | USA | Posted: 7:38 AM on 08.24.10 |
->> Rob, what lenses did you go with, were you indoors (wake/church service) and/or outdoors (graveside service) and where were you positioned in relation to the casket/gravesite? And what was the nature of the funeral (natural death, murder, military casualty)?
Did the family set conditions on press access? Did other members of the press behave differently or take different approaches than you? |
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G.M. Andrews, Photographer
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Mobile | AL | USA | Posted: 12:58 PM on 08.24.10 |
->> Mr. Large, why compound "the worst case of stupid humor" that you've even seen on this site with comments about someone's mother?
Mr. Hayes DID provide some input -"But in all seriousness shirt and tie. Bring a 70-200 (or longer if you have it) because you are probably going to have to/want to stand a little ways away from the service."
I got the humor in his post, and appreciated his input regarding dress and using long glass to distance himself from the casket.
What did your post provide to answer the OP's question?
Methinks an apology is owed sir, but not by Paul Hayes. |
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Marc F. Henning, Photographer
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Bentonville | AR | USA | Posted: 3:42 PM on 08.24.10 |
->> Don't get me started on this one. I can think of numerous funerals I've covered over the years where T.V. camera dudes were dressed in t-shirts, shorts and flip flops and newspaper reporters were wearing blue jeans and un-tucked shirts.
marc |
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Robert Boag, Student/Intern, Photo Editor
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Harrisonburg | VA | US | Posted: 5:07 PM on 08.25.10 |
->> Hey Paul,
I came packing a 300mm and 70-200mm, It was a grave side service outdoors. The funeral was for one of the aid workers that was recently executed in afghanistan by the Taliban. One of the workers killed was a recent alumni from my college and a local from the town I am in. The family worked with the funeral home about press access. I was set up about 50 feet or so away from the ceremony which put me far enough away to not be an intrusion (as much as that is possible) yet still able to get some good shots. With the crowd that was gathered and the distance I was from, all press were limited to a few angles and most of us went about a similar approach with pretty similar equipment. All press were pretty respectful and quiet throughout the ceremony but I was kinda shocked how some members of the press came dressed like they had just finished lounging around the house.
overall it was a very sad occasion but a good life experience |
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Paul Hayes, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Littleton | NH | USA | Posted: 6:19 PM on 08.25.10 |
| ->> Sounds good. Look forward to seeing some photos. |
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