Funeral Videography
Personal filmmaking for London and the South East
The last journey of a loved one is worth capturing. We are funeral videography experts producing beautiful and timeless funeral films for families in London and the South East (including Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire and Buckinghamshire). We work creatively, yet completely unobtrusively. Please have a look at our recent funeral videography work on this page and feel free to get in touch.
Funeral Videography
plus Ceremony Live Stream
plus Ceremony Live Stream
The family hired us to film and edit a timeless funeral video for the children to watch as they grow up.
We started filming the church before the hearse arrived. We followed the procession with a gimbal steady-cam.
In addition to the video recording we also live streamed the church service and burial for the family in Canada and Malaysia.
Kind words from our clients
The Art of Funeral Videography
Why Funeral Videography?
The answer is simple: in order to remember. Like many important family milestones, funerals are deeply emotional ceremonies, which might fly by too quickly. A recording of the ceremony, the hymns, the eulogies, the tributes, the burial, the wake and so much more can become a priceless keepsake for the whole family. Especially children who might have been too young to attend might immensely appreciate a beautiful video recording as they grow up. A funeral video might help you to say goodbye and it might help you to remember your loved one forever.
Unobtrusive Funeral Filming
We have filmed hundreds of events (funerals, weddings etc) over the years and there is one aspect which pops up frequently in the reviews that we get: our clients appreciate how unobtrusively or even ‘invisibly’ we work. Respect is our highest value and the last thing we ever want is to cause any nuisance whatsoever. We arrive ahead of time to set up, we move slowly and quietly, our cameras are completely silent, we use long lenses so we can film from a distance, we don’t film faces of mourners (unless you ask us to) and we dress well in order to blend in.
Short Video plus Photography
The aim was to produce an emotional memory of her last journey that would stand the test of time over the coming decades. We filmed the service with two cameras and the burial and wake with one camera on a small steady-cam rig.
In addition, we shot photography, which can be available on request.
Creative and Technical Aspects of Funeral Videography
Audio and music recording
We use the latest generation digital wireless microphone technology. These clip-on microphones are extremely small and capture exceptional sound quality. We ask the priest or celebrant to wear one (which has never been a problem) and we clip them to lecterns, pulpits, or attach them somewhere close to musicians. All microphones are recorded in sync so that in the editing process we can mix all sound sources into the edited video.
We have a commercial license to a top-end production music library. We are allowed to use these music tracks in our clients’ funeral video productions without limitations. Our clients can share our productions freely online, without any worries of being penalised by the platforms (like YouTube or Facebook) they share them on.
Funeral videos with a ‘movie’ look
We often hear from our clients that our work looks and feels like a big-budget production. Making a film look ‘cinematic’ comes down to a few simple principles. We frame our shots in a way that tells the whole story, including surroundings, context and movement. We use top-end cameras and (most importantly) top-of-the-range lenses which are indeed capable of creating the look of big-budget productions. They produce a look which is balanced and has natural colours, especially the skin tones. We use special lens filters to achieve even exposures to avoid the common ‘video look’ such as overexposed (blown-out) skies and highlights. We do not use cheesy zoom effects but instead gently and slowly move the camera on handheld steady-cam rigs. All of these methods combined increase the look and feel of our productions.
Long Funeral Video
The family commissioned us to produce a funeral video of the entire day of the funeral, starting at the family home, the church funeral service, the burial and the wake afterwards. We started with a one-camera setup on a small steady-cam rig to film the funeral directors arriving at the family home. The church service was filmed with two cameras from the back of the church. The burial and wake were filmed on a steady cam. The edit took about one week to complete.
The Process of Producing a Funeral Video
Booking a funeral videographer
If you are considering hiring a videographer to film your loved one’s funeral, please get in touch. The process is very straightforward. We’ll discuss (over the phone or via Zoom) what you would like the final product to be and how we can achieve it technically and logistically. We will send you a detailed proposal and quote, which you can discuss with your family if needed. Once you are ready to go ahead, we will send you a link to our booking system. We will send you a receipt of your deposit and contract.
What happens on the day?
We will make sure that everything is arranged beforehand (incl. parking permits etc). We will arrive with ample time to set up our gear and introduce ourselves to all relevant people (the priest, funeral directors, musicians etc). Our aim is to give you and your family all the space you need, while quietly working around you filming all the shots required. Once the first edit is ready, we will send it to you. If you have any requests or comments we will tweak the edit until you are 100% happy.
War Veteran Funeral Video
A BBC camerawoman approached us to produce an emotive memory of her father’s last journey – at the graceful age of 99! The event started with the hearse arriving at the cemetery chapel, followed by a short funeral service before the congregation proceeded to the grave outside. As the deceased gentleman was a decorated veteran, the family had displayed impressive memorabilia about his journey during WW2. The family also engaged a singer in the chapel and a bugle player outside at the grave. The editing process took about a week.