The search for ancestors will likely take you to a graveyard more than once. To get the best pictures of a grave site, keep the following tombstone photography guidelines in mind.
Remember Respect
A graveyard is a special place. Be sure to be courteous and respectful at all times. Do not leave litter, or park your car in inconvenient locations. Replace any flowers or tokens you remove when photographing a tombstone, and never take photographs in a graveyard when a service is occurring.
Photographing Headstone Inscriptions
Getting a clear picture of a headstone’s inscription is most important. Time your visit when the lighting will best to highlight the headstone you are photographing. Most often, tombstones face east, meaning that morning lighting is best. However, some gravestones, like those in New England, face west, meaning that the middle of the day will create the best lighting. For tombstones facing North or South, use afternoon light. At all costs, avoid shooting when the sun is behind the tombstone, as this will cast the entire inscription in shadow, making it difficult to read. Additionally, remember that light shining directly on a tombstone will wash it out, also making it difficult to read. On average, aim for lighting that is at an angle of about 30 degrees to the stone. This will cast a shadow within the inscription, making it easier to read.
Photographing Different Types of Headstones
There are many different types of headstones, from the old and rough, to the overgrown, to the glossy. Some types of headstones might require creativity when photographing. For example, the glossy headstone below is best taken at an angle so that the photographer’s own reflection does not obscure the words.
Can’t Read a Headstone?
Have an overgrown or dirty headstone that makes it difficult to read the inscription? Only use water to clean headstones. Shaving creams and other cleaners can leave behind acid that will stain or deteriorate the headstone.
Still can’t read it? Try using tinfoil.
Photographing Graveyard Details
The headstone isn’t the only part of a graveyard that can tell about your ancestors. Keep an eye on the statues, types of flowers, and tokens decorating the grave that may reveal something more about the person buried there. Photographing these details will tell the story of your ancestors’ lives.
Before Leaving the Headstone
After each headstone you photograph, be sure to pause and review the pictures you’ve taken. Can you clearly read the inscriptions, or did the photograph blur? Check now, and retake any photos that didn’t turn out.
Photographing Graveyard Landmarks
Lastly, before you leave the graveyard, be sure to snap a few pictures of the graveyard itself, including signs and other identifying markers. These landmarks can make it possible to locate the stone faster again in the future, or help those who follow in your footsteps.
Looking for more useful photography tips, or ways to preserve your family’s legacy? Explore MyCanvas.com’s Pinterest boards.
I love this program.
I wish family members would get their facts right as what they write is less than accurate for example, date of birth which my Aunt shared with me of her son, correct spelling of names as they don’t know the real names which I do, and get permission to post pictures of the deceased from family members from those whom are directly related to them, that would be just basic manners. I have no way to correct what they put on their sites. I know what is posted is less than accurate. I am grateful that they are doing this, however…being an scientist, I am a perfectionist, and I can’t write down data that isn’t accurate in my log book, as that would be falsifying what I found.
Also an artist whom has copyright privileges and is registered, it would be considered an infringement.
Thank you for all of the examples, these are really helpful. Respect is definitely important in a cemetery regardless of what you are doing. What would be awesome is to capture this respect and love in a photo, I feel like your last photo has this effect. This was very helpful to me, thanks again!
I really like that you talked about how a graveyard is a special place where you should be respectful all the time. I imagine that everyone should try to find the right headstone engraver. I bet that there are a lot of choices, and you should pick something that has meaning to you.
Thank for the great advice here on how to take better photos of graves. One thing that I had not considered beforehand was that you should always make sure to show your respect by being courteous and respectful to those that are mourning there. My grandmother recently passed away, and I want to go and take some pictures to document her grave; however, I wanted to make sure that I was not doing anything offensive by doing that. Thank again for the help!
A good tombstone photography guidelines