Taking photos at a funeral?

Just recently...I've seen a lot of people (close to the person that's passed of course) taking photos of the person, casket, flowers, etc...I think it's a bit strange, but memorable at the same time. Why do people do this?
Taking photos at a funeral?
It's actually quite common. As some other people have said, people grieve in different ways. Each to his own.



As a funeral director, I get requests to take photos of the deceased for the benefit of family members who are out of town or unavailable at the time of the funeral. As a rule, we make it a practice of asking the next-of-kin, or the family member in charge first before we take photographs.



Our funeral home serves a large portion of the Asian community locally. Asians are the ones who most often take pictures or video tape the funeral. Literally every funeral, you can bet there is a camera there. They will even try and video tape the funeral procession if there is one, that is until the traffic escorts prohibit them from doing it for safety reasons.



Why do people do it? I don't know. As I said, people grieve in different ways. I try not to judge. I respect that everyone in this world is unique.
Reply:I think it's been more acceptable these days than in the past, where before it was a complete NO-NO! But, it's slowly increasing and becoming more acceptable. I do not agree with it...it's kinda scary to do that.
Reply:i think it's a bit weird also. i myself would never do that. i have a friend who has video taped a funeral and has taken pictures also. it's just a way for them to remember their loved ones since it's the last time they will ever see them. everyone has their own ways in doing things. it might seem weird for us who think it's strange, but to them it seems perfectly normal.
Reply:it could be cool at a holloween's party, blow up the dead guys pic and tape him to the door!
Reply:I wouldn't do it. My brother was in prison at the time of my mother's funeral and his crazy wife (he's definitely crazy too obviously as he's imprisoned) wanted to take pictures to mail to him. I gave her a big fat no.

-B
Reply:I don't know why they take photos but they have their own reasons %26amp; I respect them for that. When my 15 y/o son died suddenly %26amp; so tragically, I didn't need to take photos of him. That image of him will forever be in my mind.
Reply:ummm, that's creepy. personally, I hate going to funerals %26amp; seeing the body. that's not how I want to remember them. not sure why anyone else would.
Reply:Cultural reasons...I have seen a photo of the dead person lying in the casket in people's living rooms too!!!
Reply:I bet they're all digital cameras? I don't think people would do that if they had the hassle and expense of getting them developed.



To be honest, I don't get that... you want to remember a person's life, not their funeral. Maybe you don't want to forget it, but you don't want to look back and reflect on snaps, just have your memories...
Reply:Seems tacky to me, I have seen people taking pictures of the living though, discreetly, sometimes the older people only see each other at funerals and weddings due to it being harder to get around:(
Reply:my mom took pics at granpas funeral to send to the relatives that were not able to come. I hate looking thru the photo box and running across the ones of grandpa in the casket ewwwww
Reply:I wish I would have taken pictures of my great grandfather's casket.......I miss him so much and I just want to see him





A lot of ppl think its taboo though
Reply:my mom did this at my Gma's funeral. I didn't say anything to her, but I found it really strange. She even went as far as to put a few pages of pictures in a photo album. It just skeeves me out, but i guess if it made her feel better, then thats all that matters.
Reply:I think its kind of disrespectful.
Reply:they should ask permission...i wouldnt want them
Reply:I guess for the same reasons people take pictures of vacation,for the memories. Myself i never wanted pics of bad memories. I guess to each his own.....................
Reply:taking pictures of the body is pretty wierd, but the other stuff aint bad
Reply:That seems a bit rude to me. You take photographs to capture good memories. You go to a funeral to honor a life and show your respect for a families loss. I would be upset if someone took pictures at one of my relatives funerals.
Reply:I don't have a problem with it. It helps have closure.
Reply:photographic opportunity
Reply:Both...but I dont think its out of the ordinary...I dont think they will just pick them up to look but its probably just something nice to have
Reply:You sound like my brother because we have our fair share of post mortem panorama around this joint. Taking pictures of dead people just never goes out of fashion I imagine. We love to hold on.
Reply:I dont know.. but I have a picture of my aunt (dead) in a coffin a long time ago when I wasnt even born. So.. I dont think its a bad thing..
Reply:how awful, I can't imagine why anyone would do that. Me, I would want pictures of the deceased loved one alive and happy, enjoying life!
Reply:Im not sure what their logic is. I myself would much rather remember the person when they were alive!
Reply:Strange, but... whatever. People all grieve differently I hear.