Funeral Photography
As we continue to embrace the idea of funerals as life celebrations they are becoming key family events. An opportunity for a family to gather and pay tribute to a life and to say goodbye. We are happy to engage professional photographers for births, christenings, birthdays, proms, weddings and anniversaries.
We want our precious moments, as a family, captured, to be remembered and cherished so why not have a photographer to chronicle what are often the most poignant moments in a family history – a funeral? To find out more about the, often misunderstood, role of a funeral photographer funeral magazine spoke to Australian photographer and funeral book designer, John Slaytor.
How did being a funeral photographer first come about?
A long story! In 2007 I went to Southern India to photograph for the Indian Coffee Board. When I returned to Sydney, I published a book of the trip and showed it to a neighbour. Whilst looking through the book my neighbour loved that my photography was primarily about people’s relationships (as opposed to landscapes or travel) and he appreciated how I had designed the book. When his favourite aunt’s husband died later that year, he asked me if I would photograph the funeral and then create a book as his gift to his aunt.
Was your first experience a positive one?
The first funeral was an eye-opener for me. Prior to that funeral, I had attended numerous family funerals but never as a photographer. As a photographer, you have very different experience (this is the same at any family celebration such as a christening) as you’re trying to build a story as the event progresses. I realised that the story of the funeral was the emotional strength and humanity of the widow. I had assumed the widow’s spirit would be subdued but I noticed that she supported the mourners and as she did her spirit energised her and those around her. I found this to be the most surprising and beautiful aspect of her husband’s funeral. So yes, it was a positive and unexpectedly moving experience.
If the feedback had been negative do you think you would still have pursued this aspect of photography?
I doubt I would have continued to photograph funerals as it’s such a new avenue and I would have been thrown by negative feedback. However, the feedback to date is so positive it continues to motivate me.
In the 7 years since I’ve photographed funerals I’ve only had one negative experience and that was because it was apparent that the deceased was a very difficult character and all the mourners left as soon as they could! It was just so clear that this was a ’20 minute’ funeral and everyone was there out of some sort of terrible obligation! There was no atmosphere, it was perfunctory and awkward.
“Funerals celebrate and honour a life and deserve to be chronicled” – John Slaytor
As funeral photography is a relatively new concept do your clients feel the need to ‘warn’ other mourners that you will be there, how do they generally react to your presence at the funeral?
Prior to the commencement of the funeral service, I make a point of being seen with key family members so mourners understand I have been invited by the family. The last thing I want is for mourners to think that I am “paparazzi” or a rather obtrusive attendee of the funeral. That said, because people don’t know what to expect of a funeral photographer, after their initial surprise they ignore me and this means I can work unobtrusively without people and groups asking me to photograph them (as is the case at weddings) or behaving in a way in front of the camera that is expected of them
Do you find that there is a particular demographic who ask for your services or are you approached by a wide range of people?
I work in Sydney which is an international city and I would have assumed that the main reason families engage me is because they have friends and family overseas who are unable to attend the funerals. However, looking back at the funerals that I’ve done, there is no one demographic / particular class. Recently I have photographed Buddhist, Aboriginal, Anglo-Celtic, Maltese and Dutch funerals in Sydney.
“Funerals are too important not to be photographed”
How do people generally respond when you tell them what you do for a living?
The most common response is, “Oh, I wouldn’t like that.” The second most common response is, “Do people really want funeral photos?” However, people who see my work understand my photography’s role in the grieving process and how “funerals” and “photographer” can work together harmoniously.
Have you been contacted by other photographers who are interested in becoming funeral photographers and what advice do you give them?
I have been contacted many times; it seems to come in waves. I suggest to start with less sensitive family photography such as weddings and work out how to photograph them unobtrusively. Thankfully, there are people getting married who really don’t want, what I call the “stretched, white, limousine” style of photography. This is great as they prefer natural, unposed photos of their weddings. I also recommend using a camera which works well in low light so a flash isn’t required during the funeral mass so the photography isn’t disruptive.
You are a professional but do you find it difficult to stay emotionally detached?
If funerals were painful I would find it difficult to remain emotionally detached but in my experience they are about celebrating humanity and for this reason I am never emotionally detached. On the contrary, my work succeeds because I have an emotional radar which seeks out kindness and compassion. That said, it is harder if the person is young. I photographed a funeral of a young guy and that was harder but the guy’s parents were honoured that more than 300 mourners attended so I focused on how they felt.
We live in a social media driven culture, have any of your clients posted photographs you have taken on social media? How do you feel about that?
I am not aware of clients posting images and this may be because my clients are generally of an older age bracket and not really conversant with social media. However, I want my work to be seen and I don’t think social media trivialises it. As for “royalties” and things like that, well, once you’ve taken the images and your services have been paid for, the images are theirs to use as they want. You can’t be too precious about that, nor demand they credit you as the photographer, however much you may want to. It’s the nature of social media and etc. so you go with that.
How has photographing funerals affected you and how you live your life? Has it made you more philosophical or accepting of death?
I don’t think you can live without embracing death and photographing funerals has made me aware of just how little discussion or acknowledgement of death there is in our society. Somehow, death is seen as ‘’failure’ and something to be swept under the carpet. I am dismayed at how little our society does to preserve the memory of the deceased. We have got rid of gravestones, the ashes on the mantle piece. So I perhaps more consciously accept life having thought more about death.
What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?
Photographing people being kind to each other and getting feedback from families about my work is very important but most of all, the books that I create for families is for me the most important thing that I do. Creating the books is a very consultative process, I encourage families to choose the images and add items to the book such as favourite poems, tributes, eulogies and photos from the life. Being involved in such a positive and constructive process with the families at such a time is, for me, very enriching emotionally.
In the UK we are seeing a definite increase in ‘celebration of life’ funerals. What changes have you seen in Australian attitudes to funerals since 2007?
Every funeral I have photographed is unique so I haven’t really seen a trend.
Have you made plans for your own funeral?
My plans are evolving as I encounter different traditions for funerals. For example, I photographed a Kenyan funeral where two mourners sung to the body as part of the funeral service and I thought this was unbelievably beautiful. After that funeral I thought I’ll add the singing to my funeral plan.
Images Courtesy of John Slaytor
thefuneralphotographer.com.au
