A funeral passes in a blur. Families tell me afterwards that they can barely remember what happened on the day, the readings or that they missed half of the eulogy because they were holding someone's hand, or that they never saw the flowers properly at all. My work is to make sure none of that is lost. I'm Shaun, and over more than ten years I've covered over 2,500 funerals nationwide, with London at the heart of much of what I do. This is my approach to funeral filming, and what you can expect from the first conversation to the moment your film arrives.
It Starts With a Conversation
Every day I film is different, so I never begin with a fixed plan. I begin by listening from when a family gets in touch. I ask about the person who has died, the shape of the day and what matters most to them. Some want the whole story, from the family home in the morning to the last conversations at the wake. Others want the service and nothing more. Whatever the shape of the day, I plan everything around your instructions.
What you'd like covered, and what you wouldn't
We talk through the venues, the order of events and anything you'd especially like kept: a particular reading, a tradition, a grandchild's poem, the moment the bearers lift the coffin. We also agree what should be left out. If you'd rather I didn't film close-ups of family, an open coffin, the committal or private prayers, you only need to tell me beforehand. Once I know what you need, I bring my own style and experience to it, and that combination is what makes each film feel like it belongs to your family.
Why the length of a film varies so much
People often ask how long their film will be, and the honest answer is that it depends on the day. A faith-based funeral such as a Caribbean homegoing has far more to cover: the family home, the church, the burial and the wake, with gospel singing, tributes and traditions at every stage. A simple burial will naturally be shorter. The number of locations makes the biggest difference of all, and that's something we work out together before I send a quote.
On the Day: From Arrival to the Last Shot
I arrive early, often well before anyone else, so the cameras are set and tested before the first guests walk in. Arriving early also gives me time to film the venue quietly while it is still empty, and when the setting allows, to capture it from above with a drone. Sometimes I return to the cemetery after everyone has left, because a quiet graveside in late afternoon light can say more than any words.
Cameras, sound and discretion
I always use a minimum of two cameras, filming in 4K on Sony Alpha cinema cameras. One holds a wide shot of the whole service, and the other follows the speakers, the congregation's reactions and the quieter moments of reflection. Dedicated microphones mean that every reading, tribute and piece of music is heard clearly, rather than lost in the echo of a church. Because the cameras are in place before the service starts, I'm not moving around during it. I work from the edge of the room as much as possible and stay out of the way of the family, the funeral director and the celebrant.
Following the day beyond the service
I film the arrivals, the flowers and the setting, and where you'd like it, I follow the day to the family home, the graveside or the reception. For larger funerals across several locations, I may bring in members of my extended team so that nothing is missed, but the approach stays the same, and I run and direct my team throughout the day myself.
How I Edit Footage Into a Tribute
Filming is only half the work. Funeral videography isn't live like funeral streaming: I film on the day and then edit every film carefully in my office afterwards, and that is where the story really takes shape.
Finding the detail
I go through every angle, looking for the moments that make the day unmistakably yours: the details, a hug, a hand resting on the coffin, a smile during a funny story in the eulogy, the way the light falls through a window during a hymn. Each shot is colour graded so the film looks consistent and warm, and I add music, which you can choose, to bring it together.
Your own photos and videos
If you'd like, I can weave in as many of your own photographs and video clips as you wish, so that the person's life sits alongside the day itself. This is quoted as an extra, based on what you ask for.
A first draft, then the finished film
Before anything is final, you receive a first draft to watch. You can suggest any changes you'd like, and I make them. Your finished funeral film is then delivered in 4K as a download link, which stays live for three months so you can download the file, keep it, and share it or host it however you like. There are no charges for your family to watch or download it.
Typical Timelines
The filming itself happens on the day, from setting up to the last shot. The editing is what takes the time, and from start to finish your finished film takes around three weeks. I'd rather take that time and get it right than rush something you'll watch for years to come.
Long-Form or Short-Form?
There are two kinds of film I make, and if you're not sure which suits your family, I'm happy to help you decide.
The long-form film
A long-form film is a full record of the day with all of the original audio from the service, so every reading, tribute and piece of music is heard as it was. I wrap it with cinematic extras such as the setting, the arrivals, the flowers and the quieter moments, so it feels like a film rather than a plain recording. These usually run between one and a half and four hours. A single church service is typically one to one and a half hours, while a Caribbean funeral covering four locations can run to around four hours. You can see how that works in practice in my write-up of a Jamaican funeral at The Rock Church in Walthamstow, where I filmed the family home and the arrival of a horse-drawn carriage before the church service, and wove those private moments into the final film.
The short-form cinematic film
A short-form film is a cinematic highlights film of the day, about four to five minutes long, set to a song of your choice. I edit it to the beat of the music so every moment lands with the soundtrack, and it's easy to keep on your phone and share. This package also includes the full service with original audio as a separate film. Short films work particularly well for natural burials and celebrations of life, and you can watch one in my piece on cinematic funeral videography at Henley Natural Burial Ground. For something much quieter and gentler, I also made a funeral film for a baby born sleeping at Islington and Camden Cemetery.
How Much Does Funeral Filming Cost?
My funeral filming starts from £750 for a single location. That includes me at the funeral in person from setting up to the last shot, a minimum of two cameras filming in 4K, dedicated microphones, drone shots when possible, careful editing and colour grading with licensed music, a first draft with changes, and your finished film in 4K as a download.
Extra locations, such as the family home, a graveside or the reception, are quoted individually, as are your own photos and videos woven into the edit. Live streaming and photography are always extra, because I bring in more of my team for them. Tell me the date, the venues and what you'd like covered, and I'll send you a clear quote.
How Filming Differs From Live Streaming
The two are often confused, but they do very different jobs. Funeral live streaming, from £650 for one location, is for the people who can't be there. They watch as the service happens, through a private link, in Full HD. It's immediate, and it's a lifeline for relatives overseas.
Filming is for the family afterwards. It isn't live, so it can be shaped, edited and graded into something considered: a funeral film you keep, clearer and closer to the tone of the day than any live broadcast could be. Many families book both, with the stream for those far away and the edited film as a lasting record. I can stream and film the same funeral, and for larger days I bring in my team so both are given the attention they deserve.
Capturing the Story, Not Just the Service
What I care about most is the story. Not just who spoke and in what order, but the feeling in the room, the details that someone chose with real love, and the moments a family might otherwise never see. Years from now, when children who were too young to attend are old enough to watch, that's what I want them to find.
If you're planning a funeral and would like it kept as a proper film, have a look at my funeral filming prices and what's included, then call or text me on 07772 509101 with the date and venue. I'm available seven days a week, 9am to 10pm, and I'll talk you through it and send a clear quote for your film.