Our Monthly Tip: Pose for a Heartfelt Memorial Photo at a Celebration of Life

People gather for a memorial photo.
Photo Credit: Page Hodel

Our Tip of the Month: Arrange for a Stunning Memorial Photo of Guests at a Celebration of Life

Make your celebration of life truly memorable by planning a unique group photo to mark the occasion. Along with capturing candid shots of your guests, consider going above and beyond — literally — with an overhead aerial photo. With just a bit of extra planning, you’ll end up with a frame-worthy keepsake that beautifully captures the spirit of the day. The group photo can be shared digitally as a thoughtful parting gift, and it might even spark a new annual tradition. Plus, gathering everyone for the photo is a meaningful way to wrap up the celebration on a high note.

How-To Suggestions:

Find a Photographer

No matter how you choose to create your memorial photo of guests, you will need someone to be behind the lens. If you choose to hire a professional photographer to do the honors, they will be able to use their experience and expertise in capturing your special event, as well as ensure everyone is included in the picture. If a professional photographer isn’t in the budget, you could ask a guest to volunteer to take on the task, ahead of time.

Choose the Right Location

To capture each and every one of your guests in the photo, consider a location that will allow you to take a photo from above. You could position a photographer somewhere elevated, like a balcony or porch, on a dune overlooking the beach, or from a bridge or overpass. Other ideas include gathering your guests in building atria or courtyards, or even open spaces like fields or beaches where you could set up a ladder for elevation. Many professional photographers today have camera drones, which opens up even more possibilities for aerial group photos.

Arrange the Group

You could opt for a casual arrangement of your guests, or you can arrange them into a shape that would be more meaningful, like a heart, a star or the name of the person whom you are celebrating.

For a more uniform look, ask guests to dress in similar colors, so that the focus is on the group and not any one individual. Or you could provide commemorative shirts for people to wear. 

Consider the Lighting

Especially if you are taking the photograph outdoors, you’ll want to plan carefully in regards to timing. Aim for early morning or late afternoon — times often referred to as “golden hours” — because the sun’s position will offer soft, warm light that won’t interfere with your composition. Avoid harsh lighting from directly overhead, as this will cause the group to squint, look away, or have unflattering shadows.

Photo credit: Unsplash

Add Some Sparkle

For a more abstract memorial photo of guests, you could instead hand out sparklers, flashlights, glowsticks or lighters and have the photo taken in dim lighting. Depending on how you manipulate the camera’s aperture and shutter speed, you could create a variety of photographs. For example, a faster shutter speed (typically 1/1000–1/8000 of a second) will freeze motion with less blurring, which is better for capturing faces in low light. Slower shutter speeds allow more light to enter over a longer period of time, which will capture light trails, creating a photo that is visually captivating.