A Look at Photographing Those Who Have Died
While many people do not think of photographing loved ones after they have died, the practice of memorial postmortem photography or photographing a loved one after their death was common practice in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Memorial Photography or Postmortem Photography was an integral part of the mourning and memorializing process during a time when death played a more visible role in a person's day-to-day life.
This old practice is being revised, particularly with baby and child's death, to help create a lasting photographic memory for the parents.Photo Source: Joël Dietlé. Old Camera. Royalty Free Use.
This lens and many of the recommended links
are *not* recommended
for the newly bereaved.
Special Note from the Lensmaster
Not for the Newly Bereaved
Those interested in seeing postmortem or memorial photographs photos should visit the various resources included on this lens. You may also want to carefully search through Youtube for Videos clips on Postmortem Photography. Be advised that these images you may find can be disturbing to some people.
This lens and the websites that the lens links to are not recommended for the newly bereaved or those who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one.
Postmortem Photography
Postmortem photography, photographing a deceased person, was a common practice in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.Photographing a loved one after their death was common practice in the 19th and 20th centuries, an integral part of the mourning and memorializing process, when death was more a part of people's daily lives.
In the United States Postmortem portraits from after the 1940's are quite rare due to changes in American funerary practices and attitudes about death changed. Postmortem photography did not remain a part of the accepted memorial and mourning process. Many people feel that material evidence of a loved one's death would prolong grieving and postmortem photography was not considered a normal practice in mainstream American culture.
In recent years, however, some have begun to argue that taking photographs, particularly in the case of neonatal and infant death, can have a therapeutic effect for a grieving family.
Source: Gone But Not Forgotten. PBS Special, A Family Undertaking.
Photo Source: Janusz Gawron. Very Old Camera. Royalty Free Use.
Gone But Not Forgotten - Memorial Photographs
A Special P.O.V. Program from PBS
Note: This feature contains graphic images of death that may not be appropriate for all viewers. Discretion is advised.
- P.O.V. - A Family Undertaking . Gone But Not Forgotten | PBS
- Photographing a loved one after their death was common practice in the 19th and 20th centuries, an integral part of the mourning and memorializing process. These images recall a time when death played a more visible role in day-to-day life.
Post Morteum Photography on Wikipedia
Post-mortem photography (also known as memorial portraiture or memento mori) is the practice of photographing the recently deceased.History and popularity
The invention of the daguerreotype in 1839 made portraiture much more commonplace, as many of those who were unable to afford the commission of a painted portrait could afford to sit for a photography session.
This cheaper and quicker method also provided the middle class with a means for memorializing dead loved ones, and this was also an effective way of getting a person to "sit still" long enough for the extended exposure times of early photographs.
These photographs served less as a reminder of mortality than as a keepsake to remember the deceased. This was especially common with infants and young children; Victorian era childhood mortality rates were extremely high, and a post-mortem photograph might be the only image of the child the family ever had. The later invention of the carte de visite, which allowed multiple prints to be made from a single negative, meant that copies of the image could be mailed to relatives.
Image Source: Harpreet Singh. Anquique Camera. Royalty Free Use.
Forget Me Not: Photography and Remembrance on Amazon
Forget Me Not: Photography and Remembrance
Amazon Price: $16.20 (as of 12/18/2009)
The book, which accompanies an exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, features 80 color illustrations of a range of photography-art objects, including lockets, photo "jewelry" and even photo-furniture.
Forget Me Not: Photography and Remembrance Exhibit
- Forget Me Not - International Center Of Photography
- Forget Me Not: Photography and Remembrance is based on an exhibition originally commissioned by the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam now featured at the International Center of Photography.
Postmortum Photography - A Keepsake of a Loved One
The type post-mortum photography chronicled in Sleeping Beauty was very expensive and nearly always a great sacrifice on the part of the family.If, as an example, you were a farmer in 1850 making a few dollars each month, one photograph could easily cost you several months pay. It is virtually impossible for us today to understand the pre-photographic mind. Until the invention of photography the average family had no way to hold a keepsake of their loved one.
This one image was so precious an object that they were worn as jewelry and in later years even sent to relatives as post cards.
Debra McFadden. Review of Sleeping Beauty.
Photo Source: Karen Barefoot. Picturing the Past. Royalty Free Use.
Sleeping Beauty: Memorial Photography in America on Amazon
Sleeping Beauty: Memorial Photography in America
Sleeping Beauty: Memorial Photography in America is now considered to be a collectible.
One of the most important aspects of "Sleeping Beauty" is Dr. Burns' historical chronology which describes each image, tells the story behind the image and gives the reader a real sense of the social and cultural influences of the time.
You may want to check your local library for a copy.
Death in America
A Chronological History of Death and Illness
Death in America is a two-hour documentary investigating how Americans dealt with illness and death from colonial times to the present.
The program looks at changes in popular culture, outbreaks of disease, medical and technological advances as well as religious teachings and legislative changes.
- Death In America
- Death in America, the original PBS program.
- Death in America Secure Buy
- How to buy Death in America and related products.
Historic Vintage Photographs - Burns Archives
Specializing in PostMortum Photography
The Burns Archive, which houses the collected images, is the single largest privately held collection of photographs in the world. With more than 500,000 images, the collection specializes in post-mortum and medical photography.
Deadly Intent: Crime & Punishment in the Amazon Spotlight
Deadly Intent: Crime & Punishment: Photographs from the Burns Archive
Amazon Price: $32.97 (as of 12/18/2009)
Deadly Intent: Crime & Punishment Photographs from the Burns Archive book looks at the history of photographing death and crime.
The book is divided into four sections: crime scenes, police action, punishment, and executions.
One Amazon reviewer cautions that there are plenty of pictures of dead bodies, including some dead mutilated bodies.
Death and Dying in Early Photography
It contains one of the largest archives of early images of death and dying and is particularly note worthy for its daguerreotypes.
Numerous exhibitions and the 1990 "Best Photo Book of the Year", Sleeping Beauty: Memorial Photography in America was prepared from the collection.
- The Burns Archive of Historical Photographs
- The Death & Dying Collection at the Burns Archive of Historical Photographs.
The making of a postmortem photograph is, like embalming,
a preservation of the body
for the gaze of the observer.
Dan Meinwald
Memento Mori: Death and Photography in Ninetheenth Century America
The online essay includes original postmortem and funerary photographs.
Note: This feature contains graphic images of death that may not be appropriate for all viewers. Discretion is advised.
- Memento Mori: Death and Photography in Ninetheenth Century America
- Dan Meinwald - MEMENTO MORI: DEATH AND PHOTOGRAPHY IN NINETEENTH CENTURY AMERICA. A memento mori is a form of image that urged a European person of the late Middle Ages to "remember thy death."
Memento Mori: Churches and Churches of England in the Amazon Spotlight
Memento Mori: Churches and Churches of England
Amazon Price: $50.00 (as of 12/17/2009)
Simple stone gravestones, richly carved table tombs and glowing stained glass memorial windows all mark the irrevocable certainty of death and seem to proclaim 'Memento Mori' - 'Remember you are mortal'.
The quintessence of the English churchyard and its memorials has been beautifully captured by Simon Marsden who presents the results of his recent tour of the country in this new book.
Memento mori
Remember you will die.
Memorial Photography Available on Amazon
Forget Me Not: Photography and Remembrance
Amazon Price: $16.20 (as of 12/18/2009)
Sleeping Beauty: Memorial Photography in America
Amazon Price: (as of 12/18/2009)
Memento Mori: Churches and Churches of England
Amazon Price: $50.00 (as of 12/18/2009)
Noch mal leben vor dem Tod.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/18/2009)
Secure the Shadow: Death and Photography in America
Amazon Price: (as of 12/18/2009)
Emmeline Grangerford's Scrapbook - An American Studies Project
- Emmeline Grangerford's Scrapbook
- An American Studies Project by Meagan Hess from the University of Virginia.
Life Before Death noch mal leben: Life Before Death
Note: This exhibit contains images of people after they have died and may not be appropriate for all viewers. Discretion is advised.
The majority of the subjects portrayed spent their last days in hospices. All those who come to such places realize that their lives are drawing to a close.
- lens culture: Walter Schels and Beate Lakotta
- The main site for Life Before Death: noch mal leben.
Noch mal leben vor dem Tod in the Amazon Spotlight
Noch mal leben vor dem Tod.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/18/2009)
A beautifully printed book including many more photographs from this series is available at the moment only with a German-language text.
Thanatos.net Image Galleries
The Thantos Archive currently houses and conserves an extensive collection of vintage postmortem and mourning photographs, many of which date back to the mid-1800's.
Note that their community forum is open to all, but the Memento Mori, Death Masks, and Medical Images galleries are accessible by members only.
- Thanatos.net / The Thanatos Archive / Post Mortem Mourning Photography
- Our image archive offers its members approximately 700 vintage postmortem images (Memento Mori) and three bonus galleries - Death Masks, Medical Images, and Mourning/Memorial Images (coming soon).
Blog Posts on PostMortem Photography
Fetching RSS feed... please stand bySmall Deaths: Photographs in the Amazon Spotlight
Small Deaths: Photographs (Wittliff Gallery Series)
Amazon Price: $65.00 (as of 12/18/2009)
Photographer-artist Kate Breakey has been photographing found animal remains since the mid-1990s capturing the small often unnoticed deaths of birds, plants and other small creatures.
The book includes 75 color images from Breakey's ongoing "Small Deaths" series. These birds, flowers, lizards, and insects vividly express her desire to preserve each lost creature.
Blog Posts on Memorial Photography
- Robert Holley Photography » Angela and Marvin at the Lincoln ...
- Robert Holley Photography. The life and times of Rob Holley. Robert Holley Photography · home · About · Website ... No Comments on "Angela and Marvin at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.". Hi Stranger, leave a comment: ...
- Leeds Daily Photo - Leeds in Yorkshire Photography: Angel of Peace ...
- (Unless otherwise credited). I am becoming more adventurous with my photography, as can be seen by this image. When I cropped this prior to posting here I liked the 2 people looking up at me. Angel of Peace Leeds War Memorial ...
- World War II Memorial [HDR] on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
- HDR from a single RAW shot Taken in Washington DC, US.
- Memorial on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
- St. Paul's Church is located next to "ground zero" and was both spiritual and regular support center for professional and volunteer helpers after the horrible terror attack. The place tells a lot of personal memories and showcases some ...
A Featured Lens on Bereavement Photography
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Bereavement Photography for Dying Babies
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There are several organizations that help to ease the grief of NICU Parents and other parents by taking professional photographs of dying newborns. Photographs create a tangible reminder of the brief moments shared between parent and child. Offering...
Blog Posts on Bereavement Photography
- Dawn Gregg Photography: Alayna Camille
- Jordan Crossing is a bereavement photography ministry born in my heart in 2007. After spending intimate last moments with family members over the years and walking through the loss of a grand-daughter w/a friend, I've realized the ...
- Bereavement Photography May Help Healing
- Photos of a dying or dead baby or child are one way to help loved ones cope with the loss and begin to heal.
- Beautiful Dreamers « The Bigger Picture
- ... directly with the organization, I contacted Sandy Puc', a professional photographer in Colorado and co-founder of NILMDTS, and asked her to write a piece for us about the ways photography helps people cope with loss and bereavement. ...
- Benj Photo: Why Photography Is Important
- I have recently done some bereavement photography and this sums up exactly how important it is to families and loved ones. Well said. September 3, 2008 8:11 AM · Shelby White said... Love that middle photo with the bird on the edge of ...
Some people are not sure if they
want pictures of their baby.
I would encourage you
to have pictures taken
even if you don't want to.
You may want them
in the future and
wish you had taken them.
Christina Moyer
A Featured Lens on Stillborn Loss
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Stillborn Loss - For Those Who Have Lost A Baby And Need A Comforting Friend
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Mia Jenifer Moyer was born March 4, 2002. Oh, I miss her. I think of her often. I wonder what she would be doing now or what she would look like. Thinking back, I wonder how I made it through. However, I know why and you will see by reading my lens....
Lenses on Grief and Loss
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Help a Child Cope with Loss and Grief
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Children and adolescents are not immune to facing loss, death, dying and grief; they encounter loss and will experience a grief response. Much as we, as parents and teacher, might want to protect and shelter children and try to create a world for the...
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How to Cope with Loss and Grief - Healthy Coping Strategies
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When faced with a loss, crisis or life-changing event, you are suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar world, one that can be frightening and unsettling. Knowing how to make it through the first few days or hours can help. This lens offers articles and re...
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Loss, Grief and Bereavement
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Loss is the disappearance of something cherished, often the death of a person, loss of a relationship, loss of a job or loss of health. Grief is the entire response--mind, body and spirit--to the loss. Bereavement is the often term used when the loss...
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Grief in the Workplace
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Much as we'd like it to be different, grief and the grieving heart do not take a break when you go to work. Someone grieving a loss still has to keep on going even when the world may be falling apart. People can experience personal and professional...
Reader Feedback on Memorial Photography
Your place for thoughts, comments, feedback and suggestions.
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Reply
- Jimmie Jimmie Jun 19, 2009 @ 11:08 pm
- So sensitive! You're officially blessed.
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Reply
- KimGiancaterino KimGiancaterino Jun 17, 2009 @ 12:32 pm
- I read an article about a couple whose baby died in utero at 8 months. They had to wait a day for their daughter to be delivered and were in complete shock. The hospital staff dressed the baby and a photographer offered to take a picture, but they were puzzled and declined. That decision haunted them for years, as they had nothing to remember her by. Thanks for handling the topic with your usual sensitivity. Squid Angel Blessed.
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Reply
- anthropos anthropos Jan 1, 2009 @ 1:06 am
- I realize that some people do not like the idea of taking pictures of the body after death. I took some of my dad in the casket last year when he died (at 92 years of age) and am very glad I did.
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Reply
- bbug bbug Aug 6, 2008 @ 8:23 pm
- Very well done lens about a very delicate and little known about subject. 5*
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Reply
- Janet21 Janet21 Aug 5, 2008 @ 1:22 am
- Thank you for submitting this wonderfully written lens to the Everything Photography group.
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About Comfortdoc
Lensmaster Comfortdoc has been a member since May 14 2007, has rated 346 lenses, favorited 344, and has created 292 lenses from scratch. Kirsti A. Dyer donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund and March of Dimes. This member's top-ranked page is "How to Write a Condolence Note or a Sympathy Note". See all my lenses
by Comfortdoc
Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT is a respected physician, an expert in life challenges, loss, grief and bereavement, professional health educator, professor...
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