Why Photographing a Funeral Feels So Different to Me
But should it be?
Every job is like a coin: two sides; two very different experiences. And I’ve experienced that in my photography a few times.
I’m not exactly a niche photographer. I know, I know. I’m still working on it. Here in my country, things are less clear-cut than simply niching down and rising to the top 1% of your niche.
Yes, some people do it — and enviously excel — but that’s a discussion for another day.
Even if I’m more generalist than niche, when the occasional requests to shoot a funeral came through, I found ways to say no. That hasn’t prevented me from landing the occasional funeral gig.
And with those I’ve done, it sure felt different.
Raw emotions on display
And not exactly my favorite emotions
With some funeral services, especially for older people who’ve lived out their lives, things are less emotional. At least the emotions lean more towards joy and contentment than weeping and wailing.
But on the other hand, when middle-aged people pass away, things are a little less uplifting.
And as an overly emotional person, I can’t say some of the emotions don’t get to me. They get in the…
