Celebrant Pam Vetter


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Funeral Celebrant Los Angeles

New Trend Growing in Funeral Service as Families Request Photographs and Videos to Document Final Chapter

Pam Vetter
September 29, 2008

American Chronicle Article

As the funeral service belongs to the family of the deceased, more family members are bringing cameras to farewells. They want to capture the honor guard or the flag draped casket. Sometimes they want a picture of the flowers around the casket, a dove release or a final photo of the decedent. It is a family's choice to take photos.

In the midst of grieving, immediate family members often miss details in the funeral service. Since there are few photographers that offer this specific photographic option, families are bringing their own digital cameras and video cameras to capture meaningful funeral service. When a family doesn't bring a camera or video equipment, at the last minute families will use cell phones to take photos for those lasting impressions.

Photographing, videotaping or recording the funeral service is especially important when family members are unable to travel to attend a farewell. In order to document history, even the closing of a life, more families are taking the task seriously by asking for the services of professional photographers.

In Los Angeles, Jennifer Jones is one of the first photographers to offer this unique service to families because she believes photographing the funeral is important.

"The life cycle is beautiful in all its emotional depth, from beginning to end. At the birth of a new baby, family and friends gather to welcome the new miracle to the world, but at one's funeral, they have formed relationships and impacted the lives of those they met along their own unique journey," Jennifer explained. "There are oftentimes no other time that all these people gather in one common place other than to say goodbye to their beloved friend. Capturing the funeral and reception in still photography provides the family with beautiful artistic photographs that display the sensitivity of the moment and emotional content of the loved ones gathered there. To capture this in video gives the immediate family a way to help them grieve and heal, and remember the friends and family gathered there and hear, again, how their loved one made a difference in the world around them."

Compassionate in her work, Jennifer offers both dignity and respect during the funeral service.

"We are all family in the grand scheme of life. I feel for the family and get emotional, myself, while shooting. I am honored when I am trusted to document a service and aim to go relatively unnoticed. I shoot when I see a beautiful shot that I know the family will love. I have the experience to shoot one or two shots to get what I am seeing," Jennifer said. "I shoot as quietly and respectfully as possible, while taking my time to ensure beautiful professional quality photographs that will last forever."

Jennifer reminds families that it is acceptable for families to have photos taken of the funeral.

"In today's world, everyone has a camera, but family members are often uncomfortable photographing their loved ones, even though they wish to. As a photographer, I am trained to take my time and photograph what I see and what you want. The more people see photo documentation of such an important event as a funeral, the more acceptable it will become." Jennifer added, "You have every right to capture this most important final farewell, but leave it to a professional so you can be in the moment, rather than living it through the lens of your camera."

Capturing the moment through funeral photography is a growing trend.

"With compact digital cameras and cell photo cameras, we are accustomed to photographing everything as we go through our day in a casual way. Funeral services, even if they are celebrations, have a formal feeling to them and may not be an appropriate place for cell phone photography. As a professional, I preserve the dignity of your service while capturing the delicate emotions and mood of the attendees."

For Jennifer, there is nothing off limits as she honors family requests for photographs of the decedent, casket, flowers or graveside dove releases.

"I am happy to photograph anything the family wishes to document, and do so in the most beautiful and dignified manner. I am happy to fulfill requests for certain photos," Jennifer noted. "Memories are forever and photographs and video keep them alive. Reliving those emotions can make us feel closer to our loved one. In this hectic world, where we sometimes get too busy for emotions, it is invaluable to sit and allow ourselves time to feel, grieve, give thanks, share, heal, and remember."

Having a videotape or recording of a meaningful, honorable funeral service can help the family in many ways.

"The ability to relive this important life event is meaningful at all stages of grieving, healing and remembering. Our memories can fade and change, but the video never will. There will be something new each time you watch it, just like the last chapter in your favorite book," Jennifer explained. "Family is the most honorable and worthy activity and commitment. From the beauty of an expectant mother's belly, to a baby's first breath and the parent's first glimpse and first caresses, to first birthdays and holidays, anniversaries, to the final funeral service; each moment is important in the story of a life."

For more information about Jennifer Jones visit www.jenniferjonesfamilyphotography.com.

Photo by Jennifer Jones Family Photography.

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