Photographer at a funeral?

At the gathering/tea/ afterwards is ok I think but maybe not at the crematoria or cemetery

Having read all the comments on this ( and I had never heard of anyone taking photos at a funeral ) my feeling is that the husband/wife of the deceased should decide what to do, and let all who are coming know either to take or not take any photos.I cannot imagine standing in a group and smiling at a funeral , but maybe some shots taken of the church and mourners etc and then afterwards at the 'wake' some of close family and friends, if the chief mourner whoever it is, says that they can do.

My couisin had a photographer at her husband's funeral about 5 years back. She wanted a record of the flowers and who attended so she could properly thank people afterwards.

I haven't read all the posts so sorry if someone else has said this but on one of the family history sites I use the comment was made that photographs are rarely taken at funerals but they can be useful as a record of the deceased's family, how they are all related and can be added to the family tree. And some previously unknown relatives might come who can be added to the tree.

My late son had a friend who always had a camera round his neck. So it was no surprise that he turned up at our sons funeral with his camera.

We have a large family flung to the 4 corners of the world. As we all get older funerals are often one of the limited opportunities we have to get together.

I am usually the photographer. We don't take pictures at the actual funeral but afterwards at the wake I do. We reminisce, we laugh, we cry and some of my best pictures have captured my family at these moments.

We look back and remember the times we were together and those no longer with us.

I have never seen this, and don't wish to either.

My family have taken photos at funerals - of the wreaths and their messages, the wake, etc. I wouldn't have thought of hiring a professional photographer but I don't really see why it should be looked upon so harshly.

At many of the funerals I have attended recently I feel it would be very inappropriate to take photographs at the wake as a lot of people feel a sense of release of tension and eat, drink and be merry because it is not them who have died. This is hardly conducive of a memento for the immediate bereaved.

I went to a funeral recently where someone (not a professional photographer) was taking photos and videoing. I thought it wasn't right until they explained it was for family in Australia who were not able to attend.

My son died whilst serving in the RAF in Cyprus.
By the time he was repatriated and we had the funeral I was in such a state that I am only too glad one of our friends filmed the service on a video.
I am now able to actually see how beautiful the service was as I didn't take in much at the time.
I also have a photograph of my son in the casket wearing his uniform. This may seem a bit gruesome to some but I take great comfort in it on the odd occasion I look at it.

Perhaps the deceased was a personal friend of the photographer and asked him to make a souvenir of the celebration of his life.

Really interesting to read all different points of view. I can clearly see the merit of a discreetly taken video recording, or pictures of flowers, and possibly even at the wake. I remember our old parish priest saying that he never went to the wake, because he maintained that everyone would be releasing tension, and sharing funny stories about the deceased, and they would feel guilty for laughing if the priest was there!

The photos taken at my brother's were mostly of his ( estranged) wife and her family posing and smiling by the hearse.

No I dont like the idea if photography at funerals seems disrespectful

My husband's family wanted a photograph of him after he died. I took it myself and went down to Asda to have prints made from his last few months to send to them. (Before home printers). Assistant insisted I viewed all the pics to select the best, I ended up in tears and had to leave the shop. The poor girl had no idea what the problem was but I told her to print all. (Cost a fortune) I wondered if she had a look at them and realised why I had cracked up. It went so much against my upbringing but my in laws did appreciate my compliance. Different cultures, different norms.

Each to their own. Not for me.

I took photos of my dad's coffin in grave before it was filled in. I wanted to remember how it was with flowers from mourners. I think my daughter thought it strange but has since asked to see the pics. I also took photos of the folk who came. I find it comforting to have this record.

So sorry for your loss. No, I have never seen a photographer at a funeral. I can only speculate that it could have been a dying wish perhaps?

Oh how I wish someone had taken photographs at my DHs funeral. The only thing I can remember is his coffin. I don't know who was at the Church or graveside. I did return to the Cemetery when everyone had gone home and took photos of the flowers on the grave. Its just I cannot remember the people who were there. It haunts me.

At my mums recent funeral, the crematorium audio recorded the service. We did this for my brother, who lives in Australia and auntie, elderly and infirm who couldn't attend the service.
No one knew it was being recorded.
I haven't been strong enough to listen to it yet, but I'm glad we did it.