Last year I was asked to photograph a birthday party. The celebration was for the 100th birthday of Miss Tuck. Miss Tuck had been a music teacher at an all girls’ school in Sydney. At the celebration the most enormous cake was served, with 100 candles on top which all fitted in with room to...
Category: funeral thoughts
Order of Service Portraits
After my previous blog about consciously having an order of service portrait, I photographed Tan Ho – a 90-year-old Vietnamese woman full of energy and warmth -at the request of her son, Harry. I photographed her in Harry’s home where she was relaxed as it’s a familiar space for her. Tan Ho lives in her own...
A funeral photographer’s suggestion
When I design Funeral Photo Books I suggest to families that they might want to provide me with a photo of the deceased in the prime of his or her life. Too often, there aren’t any good photos. I’ve only known of one person, Dr Viv Whittaker, who consciously arranged for a photo of himself for...
When I die, an amazing film by Adrian Steirn about Philip Gould living in the ‘death zone’ and why it gave him meaning
This inspiring video was shared by Bruce Wadd I showed it to my wife who reacted as I did. She cried and said it was beautiful and dignified. Her reactions just like mine. Thank you Bruce so much for sending this. “Wow” indeed! Yes, as I sat watching this, and listening to Philip talking so intelligently...
Funeral photography and why it matters
We live in a society where it is more important to look good than to be good. Universities in Sydney are spending millions on building acquisitions yet teacher salaries and conditions are falling. Most of the news we are presented with reports on people failing to treat each other with respect. It is almost as...