Funeral Streaming, Videography and Photography Blog
Guides and real funerals I have streamed, filmed and photographed across the UK. How the services work, what they cost, and what the days actually look like.
Funeral Live Streaming · Funeral Videography · Funeral Photography
Cinematic Funeral Videography at Henley Natural Burial Ground
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of filming a funeral at the beautiful Henley Natural Burial Ground in Henley-on-Thames.
It was another hot summer’s day. A small group of close family and friends gathered in the open countryside for a very personal ceremony, led with care by the celebrant. The setting itself — peaceful, green, and surrounded by fields and trees — already carried a quiet sense of calm.
A Different Kind of Funeral Film
The brief for this funeral was a little different from funeral streaming or a traditional long-form recording.
The family didn’t want a complete, unedited record of the service with the original audio. Instead, they asked me to create a short-form cinematic funeral film — a carefully edited collection of moments from the day, set to one music track and shaped through visual storytelling.
This style of funeral videography is less about documenting every minute and more about capturing the feeling and atmosphere of the farewell.
What I Focused On
For a cinematic funeral film, I concentrate on the details that tell the story without words:
The surroundings before everyone arrives, the trees, the woodlands, the meadows
Flowers and personal touches
People gathering and quiet interactions between family and friends
Moments from the ceremony itself
The landscape surrounding the burial which I achieved with some stunning Drone Shots
The finished film is relatively short and can be viewed above. That was very much the intention. It is designed to be watched and rewatched — a lasting, atmospheric record of the day rather than a full-length document. Easy to share!
Why Natural Burial Grounds Suit Cinematic Filming
Natural burial grounds lend themselves particularly well to this kind of visual storytelling. There is something especially peaceful about a farewell that takes place outdoors, surrounded by trees, open fields and countryside.
The light, the space, and the natural setting all help create a film that feels calm, respectful and true to the day.
Every Family Wants Something Different
One of the things I value most about being a funeral videographer is that no two families want exactly the same thing. Some prefer a full recording of the service. Others want a shorter, more cinematic piece that captures the mood and the important moments.
That is why I always take time to listen carefully to what the family actually wants their finished film to be.
It was a privilege to be trusted with this one at Henley Natural Burial Ground.
Memorial Photography and Videography at Pitzhanger Manor, Ealing
This memorial was held in Soane’s Garden Room at Pitzhanger Manor in Ealing — a restored Regency villa with garden light coming into a small, formal room. It was a celebration of a young woman’s life, led by celebrant Ruth Graham, with speeches from people who knew her, live piano, and a tribute film played during the afternoon.
Me and my team photographed and filmed the day. The tribute film, made from photographs of her life and music the family chose, ran on a screen in the room.
Soane’s Garden Room
Pitzhanger is a great venue. It feels welcoming: large windows, natural light, and a garden beyond them. The tables, tea, cake, flowers and a family friend playing the piano in the background made the room inviting.
I photographed from the edges as the family greeted their guests. That is what funeral photography is for — the moments that pass quickly. An embrace at the door. Someone pausing over the cake. And the quieter points where the loss is recognised and shows on people’s faces.
The tribute film
Part way through the afternoon the tribute film I had put together for the family was shown. Photographs of her life, set to music the family had chosen. People laughed and went quiet in the same few minutes.
The speeches told the room who she was. The film put her face back in front of them. I make those films so they can be played during the memorial and kept afterwards.
Photographing the memorial
I started before guests arrived — the flowers, the layout, the light — then photographed people coming in, the speeches, and the conversations after.
Some pictures cover the main parts such as the celebrant, the speakers, the film, the piano. Others are much more intimate, and often the ones missed or not remembered by the family on the da: a look between friends, the location, the details, the garden through the window. Both are part of the whole story.
Funeral photography starts from £750: Funeral Photography
Filming it for her daughter
The videography kept the voices. Speeches, piano, the tribute film playing in the room, the feeling of the afternoon. Her daughter will not remember the running order. One day she want to hear the people who stood up and how they talked about her mother.
That is why families book a film as well as photographs as both approach the same event in very different ways.
Funeral videography starts from £750: Funeral Videography
Memorials and celebrations of life
I cover memorials like this across London — manor rooms, clubs, gardens, churches and private houses. Photography, videography, tribute films, live streaming and AV can be booked together or on their own.
Call or text 07772 509101, or use the contact page.
“My dear friend George Richmond, the Director of Photography for the Marvel movie Deadpool, took on the responsibility of selecting a videographer for my husband's funeral. He chose you out of everyone he looked at, and I am immensely grateful for that decision.
Your work is truly remarkable - from the beautiful opening shots to the impeccable sound quality and the finer details throughout. The way you captured the vibrant blue sky was touching, especially since my husband had such an affection for blue skies. My heartfelt thanks for everything you've done.”
— Lady M ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️