A common concern that some people have when getting ready to attend the service of a loved one is whether or not they are allowed to take pictures. It is very common now for people to take pictures at many different events, but is it appropriate at a funeral or memorial service? Here are some things that directors of funeral homes in Santee, SC want you to remember. 

At the service itself, it is not a good idea to take pictures. You do not want to offend anyone who is grieving and dealing with the loss, and you really want to focus on the process of healing and not of taking pictures. People will be grieving and upset and will definitely not want their picture taken, so you want to be sure to respect that. If there is something in the location that you would like to take a picture of or if you would like to get a shot of something like a memorial display, you always want to ask for permission from the family of the deceased so that you do not bother them. If they do not want you to take any pictures, you need to respect these wishes. 

Usually, taking pictures at the reception after the service is fine. People are mingling and offering comfort to one another, which is important, so you do not want to interrupt conversations or make anyone move around so that you can take a particular picture. You also want to ask permission before taking pictures, since there may be people who do not feel comfortable with this. Be respectful and thoughtful as you do this. 

It is important to remember that just because you received permission to take the pictures does not mean that you have it to post the photos online. It is very common for people to want to share the images they took but this might not be appropriate and it may not be what the family of the deceased wants. You need to be certain that you ask permission to do this, as well, and that you wait at least a day or two after the service before posting them. 

Attending the service of a loved one who has died is something that can be very helpful to the process of healing. By knowing what is expected of you, you can focus on the getting closure and saying goodbye to the person. You want to be certain that you get permission before you take pictures and that you avoid doing so during the actual funeral or memorial service. If you have more questions about this or you want to learn more about attending a service, you can reach out to a Santee, SC funeral home like us at Avinger Funeral Home. We have a team of experts ready to help you with any questions you may have about services. You can give us a call right now or you can visit us today to speak with one of our experts about this.