FaceBook & Announcing A Death

                                               Zuckerberg, M (2004) Facebook.


When someone close to me dies; say a family member or an old friend I would prefer to recieve a phone call or a personal text to my phone. For the first time ever I got an inbox message to my facebook account via my phone.
I read about an old friend suddenly dying. The only response I had was to scream. I kept saying 'No, no, no!'. I cried with shoulders shaking. My 12 year old Kross came in the kitchen, he ran to hold me.
The message was passed on because it was seen by another old friend who read it on facebook. It seems that despite everyone owning a mobile phone we continue to pass on such news through  messages with no voice at the other end of the phone.

As a Funeographer and Funeography Journalist I've been able to promote my company (Funeography) and myself well and to keep in touch with other death industry colleagues.
To be able to let everyone know funeral details using facebook is very, very useful, there is no denying that. For families grieving it means not having to call so many people. When you're grieving talking too much can be just as difficult as not talking.
I think it's important to think about respecting the family before posting too much information on what has happened or even how you're feeling. I think the family should have the privilege of giving out the details and expressing their emotions. Perhaps the time to read longer opinions and expressions of grief for the person who has died should come after the funeral.
The best part about facebook is that the family can thank everyone at the same time for their support and kind wishes. It is always comforting for families who are grieving.

Since my mums death 16 years ago, I only have some of the cards from her flowers and sympathy cards. They are equally as precious. I think I love having them just as much because they were physically bought and chosen and it's wonderful to have something to hold, something tangible, solid, like the Funeography Books.

                                                ©Priscilla Etienne Funeography

This is the cover of the Funeography Book I did for a dear friend  over a year ago who would have recently celebrated her 50th birthday. I miss you lots and think of you often.

This blog is dedicated to Laurie Coom.

Remember Your Roots

I'm always thinking forward, about my next commission, how best to reflect the life of the person who has died.

I feel very strongly about my local area and the community spirit I have grown up with all of my life. If a family is in mourning we support them, if families are separated for what ever reason we try to hold the rest together. It's an important way of life for us.
We've all spoken to our children about the way we used to live, and what our local area looked like.
It soon became a reality for our children when a friend of mine Sarah Cain decided to create a Facebook page called Memories of Canning Town. It has grown enormously and now has nearly 4000 members.
Sarah then came up with a sister page called Caning Town Today and then followed with a memorial page called We'll Meet Again. This page is for those who want to remember their friends and family who are no longer here.

                                                                     We'll Meet Again

Some people need to be able to express how they feel about death and the impact it has had on them. This kind of memorial place is a good platform for this. I express how I feel about death through my work, through building Funeography.  I get great satisfaction from the wonderful and very real images I  have produced over the years.

I had a fairly large blog in the draft but decided to cut it down. I sometimes feel that great things need less words.

The only words I have left are thank you to all our clients who commissioned us from the launch of the company to date, without you there is no important work.

I'm looking forward to the expansion of Funeography with the licensing and hope that many more families experience the comfort that Funeography brings.

Have a very merry christmas and wonderful new year.

I fittingly dedicate this blog to Sarah Cain's brother Smarty Cain.

Opening Doors

  I have had some excellent support from people within the funeral/death industry, for this I am so grateful.
I'd like to name some of them.

Colin Liddell
Fran Hall
Stuart Poulton
Jeane Trend-Hill
Paul Sinclair
Patrick Macnalley
Louise Carron-Harris
Paul Hensby
Charles Cowling

Thank you all so much. You know how important it is for us all to support each other and encourage each other in this sometimes difficult industry.

 I have so many requests from all over the world as to how Funeography can be shared with other photographers. Well.... here it is. Funeography licensing will be available from December 2012

The Cost is £1,100 single payment and includes a Funeographer's manual and contract.
To obtain a licence and more information contact: paisley.funeography@gmail.com or mail via the website. www.funeography.com

 It's time to let other the many incredible talents out there shine in this industry.   

I dedicate this blog to one of my greatest influences. Steve Jobs

Everybody Loves You When You're Six Feet In The Ground.

Some brilliant words by John Lennon, brilliant and true.

I recently took my son to see the 1968 olympics documentary 'Salute, The Movie'.  It chronicles what happened to the third Olympic athlete (Peter Norman) on the podium, after he became part of the famous black gloved salute by two American athletes (Tommy Smith and John Carlos). 

Peter Norman supported the civil rights movement but he did not take part in the salute. The salute had   a big impact on all three athletes. For Peter, being a white Australian with strong beliefs during a time when race relations in Australia were bad for black australians, would prove to be harmful for him personally and for his career.

Sadly, Peter Norman did not get to see the finished film as he died before it's release. When the film reached the part of Peters' funeral, my son commented on the amount of people paying their respects to him. Among the mourners were some of the olympic committee members and Australian sports people who helped to destroy Peters' brilliant career. My son was quick to ask; "Why didn't they show their appreciation for what Peter did for Australia when he was alive?

He was right, it's often after the person has died that they are honoured and respected for the person they were and what they achieved.

We don't have to wait until after to show how much we care about each other, or how much we admire a person and their beliefs. After all, we often have no problem expressing our disappointment on a regular basis. 

I dedicate this blog to a remarkable woman whom I often think about. she was awarded her Doctorate when she died. It was announced at her funeral some years ago. 

Doreen Parkinson.

Fame Without Flowers

I wanted to begin by briefly mentioning how saddened I was to hear of the untimely death of cricketer Tom Maynard, my sincere sympathies are with his family at this time.

It is always paramount to consider the feelings of every family when they are faced with a bereavement.

I understand this very well, particularly as I have experienced great loss within my own family and with many dear friends.

On Wednesday 20 June I travelled to Wembley Park station with the hope of taking Funeographs of some beautiful floral tributes for Tom. I'm not a reporter with the aim of putting a heart wrenching story out there in the form of a blog. Funeography is not carried out in the way paparazzi coverage is so often, with little thought for the families.

I took some images of the front of the train station but I chose not to add it to this blog.

I have a real love and passion for Funeography and really want it to be understood. Me and some of my like minded colleagues who also appreciate and understand the value of this kind really need the public, society to look at it. There is still much confusion and some fear around Funeography and so..... the time has come for me to expand even further on the Funeography archives and also to clarify the booking process, how we work etc. As from July 2012 Funeography will be on offer for half price for a period of 6 months... New Price £350.00 This will also mean that I will be using some of the carefully selected Funeographs for artistic, promotional purposes. 

Take advantage of this and give your family or friends the chance to have a precious memory and legacy for generations to come. Use your money with the choices that you really like rather than the ones you have to adhere to. It's your money, your loved ones, your choice. 

I dedicate this blog to Tom Maynard.

Crazy Coffins At The London Death Festival 2012

I recently attended the London Death Festival at the South Bank. I arrived to see the Crazy Coffins exhibition on a Wednesday. I was so looking forward to it as I've been an admirer of these coffins for a few years now. I always hope that Funeography will be commissioned to work on a funeral featuring them. I took my son with me and a friend, they both thoroughly enjoyed it. The variety of what you can have is astonishing. I didn't take my digital cameras. I used my I phone to take some pictures. My favourites were the guitar, the ballet shoes and the wine cork.
I was thinking about what words I'd have printed on the my headstone. "Here ferments the creator of Funeography, we think she liked her wine too much".

Priscilla Etienne Funeography©

I returned on the Saturday via invite from the owner of Crazy Coffins David Crampton. A champagne reception no less. It was a real pleasure to meet him and we had a chance to discuss what sort of coffin I would like. I told him that perhaps I should have a camera, shouldn't I?
But then I started to think of the point of crazy coffins. To personalise the experience and choose something that really reflects who you are, perhaps what people may associate with you the most.

Funeography is what I do, but not necessarily who I am. I suggested a long red fingernail, made of 100 percent biodegradable material of course, as my nails over many years have become a statement, perhaps a small representation of me. I'm very often complemented on my work which is a wonderful thing and then it's usually followed up with; "How do you work with those nails"?  David said they hadn't had a fingernail request as of yet.

Priscilla Etienne Funeography©

Priscilla Etienne Funeography©

Priscilla Etienne Funeography©

Priscilla Etienne Funeography©

The team at Crazy Coffins are crafts people of extreme talent and vision and there is a market for their wonderful creations. I also know their coffins will appeal to our countries music stars, as well as stage and screen.

Priscilla Etienne Funeography©

I dedicate this blog to another talented and wonderful craftsmen who truly loved his craft. Bill Huckfield.

Memento Mori "Remember You Will Die"

Priscilla Etienne Funeography©

As the title says Remember You will die. An absolute certainty so why not have what you want, why not have Funeography?


Attitudes to death are changing, although change needs to come so much more and so much sooner in Britain. When funeral directors began to establish themselves in the 1800's they were responsible for putting fear into death. In time we have seen a private club emerge. That's exactly what it feels like, a private club. There's nothing wrong with providing the excellent service that so many funeral directors provide but why can't they do that and still move with the times and allow the public to have as much choice as possible. Even with a percentage incentive offered they still tend to dig their heels; stating that people don't really want change. I would go as far as to say that people don't and can't always have that expensive coffin or those two extra cars that's suggested but funeral directors tend to talk people round. In reality we all know our budgets, we also know the people we are burying. Yet we continue to allow funeral directors to make their suggestions and talk us out of things we really want and into things we don't need.

I can see the reason for this, the grieving process is really tough and we would just like to be left alone to come to terms with what has happened. It's still seems slightly frustrating to me that this pattern continues.
We all know that flowers are an important part of a funeral, and in our grief we manage to order flowers as one of the first things we do. I want the public to realise the value of Funeography. It is just as important as ordering flowers and thinking about food and drinks for people. I often say what is the point of the beautiful horses and the colourful coffins and the gospel choirs if there is no record of it. It is a lot of money to spend with no recorded memory. We are living in really difficult financial times and there are many deaths that we are not prepared for. The money we spend on funerals is substantial and the cost can be brought down if funeral directors were to give as many choices and information to the public as is possible. Without the general public there would be no funeral directors. They rely on our money to keep them wealthy, well fed and allow them to have three holidays a year.

This is the reason why we work independently from funeral directors. There are one or two who approach us and are happy to inform the public of us, but that is just not enough.
Grieving families are not property to be bought. They are families who are facing one of the most difficult events in their lives. They deserve to be given choices and information and it is unfair to keep useful and important information from them. This needs to stop. The bereavement industry is large and I know that if funeral directors are unwilling to open their minds and establishments they will lose. They need to wake up and accept that change has come and if they don't embrace it... They will be left behind.

Don't be afraid, take control of your loved ones send of. Hire us and and do something valuable and look into all of your choices. THINK OF US, SOON AFTER YOU THINK OF FLOWERS.

I dedicate this blog to a man who was absolutely fearless, right to the end.   Charlie Stone.