Photos from my very first Funeral experience
Recognizing the Opportunity
I was about to leave for the funeral of my friend’s father when it hit me: this could be my chance! The chance to try my hand at funeral photography. The idea had come to me after the disappointing results from the photographer at my mother’s funeral.
Daring to Propose
I called Hanneke: “Hey Hanneke, how would you feel if I brought my camera to take some photos today?”
She responded positively, saying she would have otherwise asked her partner André to take a few pictures.
With that sorted quickly, I grabbed my camera bag and headed out.
First Impressions at Church
When I arrived at the church, I saw Hanneke’s family gathered around the open casket. Even I could say goodbye to Coen, as I had spent a lot of time at their home since I was 13 years old.
I greeted everyone and offered my condolences, mentioning that I had my camera with me. Hanneke’s brother, Dirk, immediately expressed his discomfort: “Oh, but I don’t need that.”
“Is it okay if I take photos? Hanneke is happy for me to be here,” I asked.
“Sure, as long as you don’t bother me,” he replied. Luckily Dirk was honost and knew to trust me.
Overcoming Emotions
I started with a lump in my throat, seeing how sad everyone was. I photographed the grandchildren giving their grandfather a final goodbye, proudly showing the inside of the casket lid adorned with glow-in-the-dark stars.
Due to the dim lighting in the church, I chose to use and bounce my flash, as I didn’t have a fast lens. I followed the proceedings closely, familiar with Catholic services, starting with lighting candles around Coen.
The tears kept flowing, and the youngest child cried persistently, occasionally letting out loud wails. I felt compelled to capture these moments, to show the raw emotion and grief.
Daring to Maneuver Through People
I moved as discreetly as possible, staying on the sidelines and out of sight. My approach was similar to my days working in news photography, constantly capturing new images to create a comprehensive visual story. For a news piece, you need a variety of shots, including details like also hands and feet, to fully tell the story.
Respecting the Dead
At the cemetery, I saw the row of tall, old trees and chose a path alongside them to avoid being in the way while capturing a beautiful scene. I anticipated where the procession would go, maneuvering alongside gravestones to get ahead and photograph them coming towards me.
At the grave, I found a good spot to capture all the events, including music played by one of the grandchildren and drawings drifting into the grave. From my position, I could frame the scene with flowers and tree branches, creating a beautiful composition.
Reflecting on the Experience
I felt confident during the shoot, knowing I had captured a complete reportage. My mission was to see if I could handle photographing an entire funeral, and I felt successful. Whether Hanneke would be satisfied or not didn’t matter; I was proud of my accomplishment.
I also realized that despite using a flash without disturbing anyone, I needed a fast lens for future reportages. The flash made me overly conscious, limiting the number of photos I took.
This experience solidified my desire to continue in funeral photography, capturing the poignant and emotional moments that define these important occasions.
Believing Funeral Photography Can Heal
Do you believe This Phenomena is something calling on you as well? Please get the first steps into place on how to capture a funeral the right way. As I have done this profession for over 12 years now.
Receive my Free Guide with the important tips and ideas on how to be prepared and capture it professionally.
Get the Free Guide with steps to Photographing a Funeral here by signing up for our community at Farewell Focus by hitting the button
