Firstly, I'm very pleased to announce that we'll be at the London Funeral Exhibition at Epping Woodland Burial Park on 9th and 10th of July. The new revised price for funeography as from May 2011 is £700.00.... Still a reasonable and affordable sum when compared to the cost of weddings. This information will be on our website soon.
The cross over between photography and the funeral industry is far apart but at the same time they fit so nicely together. I read an article recently written by Kate Day (The Telegraph) and I was astonished at what Christian Payne had to say about Funeral photography. That's the last time anyone is going to hear me say that. I feel the word Funeography is more fitting. He had some really interesting and valid points to raise, until he got to the part where he said that all funerals should be free, including photography. I wonder if he has other means of making money with his photography? I have chosen to specialize with Funeography only and I have for one have no feelings of guilt in earning a living from it. Christian also said he is waiting for the world to get used to the idea of photography. Why wait? If Funeography isn't shown to the world people won't have the opportunity to get used to again. I'm not denying that it will take time. It's taken well established and successful funeral directors many years to earn the trust and confidence of their communities and to perfect their craft.
I have been asked a few times now if I have permission from families to display some of the images in our archives for promotional purposes. The answer to that is: the terms and conditions clients sign when they book us states the promotional side of things, we also explain this to our clients. More importantly though; As a Funeography company how are we supposed to show the kind of work that we do and allow clients to see what they're paying for unless we display some of it? Our work ethic is always to respect the client. On looking at our website the natural documentary method of our work shows the innovative way we approach Funeography.
Another question we are asked is packages. What kind of packages do we have? Based on my past experiences with organizing funerals and also what I've seen when clients are booking us, is mass indecision.
Understandably there are different options to choose when dealing with the funeral directors, and these can sometimes be too much to deal with. Once this part is done and clients decide they want Funeography for the occasion, Do they really need packages? I find that packages when offered can sometimes sound reasonable and once it's explained in detail the cost can creep up. I find that grief is confusing and difficult enough to try and handle without the added stress of which package to chose where images are concerned, especially if clients have never had the service before. We do offer a eulogy reading and writing service though.
To suggest that this service should be free is a disservice to all Funeographers out there, aspiring or established. I think it also detracts from the importance of documenting this type of occasion.
I dedicate this blog to the first person whose funeral I covered, the wonderful and warm Lena Lloyd.
