Should You Take Pictures at a Service?

One common concern that people have when attending the service of a loved one is whether or not you can take photos of the services. That is something that people have different views on, with some not even bothering to ask if it is appropriate or not. To be sure that you do not bother anyone and that you are respectful, there are some things that directors of funeral homes in Ocean Springs, MS want you to remember.

As a rule, it is not appropriate to take pictures of the service. People are at their most vulnerable when mourning and may be crying and showing other emotions. That is not something that anyone wants captured in pictures, so you want to be respectful and avoid taking pictures. Of course, you can always ask the family of the deceased if you can take some photos of the decorations or similar things, but unless they specifically tell you to take pictures of people, avoid doing so. It is also crucial to remember not to take pictures of the casket, not even in the background. This can be extremely disrespectful.

It is usually fine to take pictures outside the location and at the reception, but you still always want to be sure that you ask permission from the family of the deceased. Some people do want to have some photos of the event, so offer to send them the pictures, as well. If they do not want you to take any pictures, however, it is important that you respect their wishes.

Another concern that you may have is whether you can share the pictures you took online. Even if you received permission to take the pictures, you still want to ask again about sharing them online. It is important to remember that you want to do this a few days after the service itself and not immediately after or even during the service. You do not want to disrespect anyone. Most of the time, sharing the photos on social media is not appropriate, but you can send them directly to loved ones if you want to share some beautiful captures.

All of these things can help you navigate the service of a loved one. You do not want to do anything that can upset the people who are grieving even more than they already are. You want to ask permission if you want to take a picture of a specific thing in the service, and avoid photos of people who are grieving. If you want to know more about taking pictures at a service or if you want to know more about anything else related to funerary services, you can reach out to an Ocean Springs, MS funeral home like us at Riemann Family Funeral Homes. We are ready to help you with the exact options you need for a loved one who has died. You can give us a call right now or you can stop by to speak with an expert.