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When you lose a loved one, you may be overwhelmed with all the items on your to-do list – including choosing photos for the funeral. While you may want to create a funeral slideshow, complete with images of the deceased with family and friends, you may also want to pick out a photograph of your loved one to be printed with the obituary. Here are some tips for choosing an obituary photo.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- What Does a Great Obituary Photo Look Like?
- Step 1: Decide Whether You Want to Use a Current or Past Photograph for the Obituary Photo
- Step 2: Consider the Quality of the Photo
- Step 3: Understand Where the Photograph May Be Used
- Step 4: Learn the Photo Submission Guidelines
- Step 5: Ask the Funeral Home Staff for More Information
A picture can be a good idea if the deceased has a common name. Also, many people remember faces better than names and will be able to identify your loved one based on an image instead of the accompanying text in the newspaper or social media post.
Here’s how to choose the right obituary photo.
Tip: Choosing the perfect obituary photo might be just one of the tasks you're facing for the first time after losing a loved one. For help prioritizing the rest, check out our post-loss checklist.
What Does a Great Obituary Photo Look Like?
An obituary photo should be a crisp image instead of one that’s grainy and out of focus. It should be cropped tightly, so the viewer can clearly see the deceased’s face. Finally, it should also meet publication guidelines for the newspaper or website.
Do not use any of the following:
- Group photos
- Grainy, out-of-focus photos
- Photos that are taken from too far away
- Unflattering photos
- Photos that may be in poor taste
As you go through the pictures, you may decide to put some aside for a memorial collage or a slideshow that you may want to create for the visitation or funeral service.
How to Choose an Obituary Photo
Here are some step-by-step guidelines to help you choose a photo for your loved one's obituary.
Step 1: Decide between a recent photo or older photo
Some people have strong opinions as to whether the photograph should be as current as possible or one from the past.
If you choose a more current photo, consider using the most recent picture of the person looking happy and healthy.
Other families may choose photos of the deceased from their earlier years. They may pick an attractive photo taken during the prime of their life, even if the image is 40 or 50 years old. Whether you choose an old or current photo is up to you and the other members of your family.
Step 2: Choose a photo that represents your loved one
Selecting a photo for your loved one's obituary is a deeply emotional task. Consider the emotional impact each photo carries and the memories it represents—aim for one that radiates warmth and joy, or encapsulates a cherished memory.
Consult with family and friends to gather diverse perspectives on which photo best represents the person. Their insights and shared memories can contribute to a more complete view of your loved one's life.
Step 2: Consider the quality of the photo
Probably the most critical consideration when choosing an obituary photo is its quality. While you don't need to select a photo taken by a professional photographer, it should be a crisp image. Photographs can be slightly lightened or darkened during the editing process, but there’s no fix for a blurry picture.
The image should also be large enough for use without having to enlarge it. Shrinking a photo to a smaller size doesn’t cause issues, but enlarging an image results in a lower-quality image. Generally, websites need a photo with 72-88 DPI, and print newspapers require 100-150 DPI. Here's a helpful explanation of how to find the DPI of an image.
Step 3: Understand where the photograph may be used
The obituary photo may be used in several different places. Make sure you understand whether your photo meets the necessary guidelines for each publication.
First, many funeral homes list obituaries on their websites. A photograph often accompanies a person's obituary on these sites.
Second, you may choose to have your loved one's obituary published in one or several local papers. Some newspapers charge for publishing a photo alongside the obituary, so make sure you understand the pricing before you submit it. The price may vary depending on how large the image is printed in the paper.
Finally, some people choose to print a photo and obituary in a funeral program that is distributed at the services.
Step 4: Learn the photo submission guidelines.
The staff at the funeral home may help you submit your photograph for all your desired publications. In fact, most newspapers will not print obituaries unless a funeral home staff member verifies the death, so you may not be able to work directly with the newspaper staff to get an obituary published anyway.
Some funeral homes may ask you to submit a digital photo of your loved one for the various publications. If the photo was taken from a digital camera or phone, this would not be a problem. Simply email the picture to the funeral home with the .jpg image attached to the email.
If you choose a printed photograph to be used for the obituary photo, you will need to have the image scanned into a digital format before it can be used. Ask the funeral home staff if they can digitize photos. You can also take a photograph to a copy or office supply store and pay to have the photo scanned so it can be used. You may need to give the person scanning the photograph special instructions if you wish for it to be cropped.
Step 5: Ask the funeral home staff for more information
When you make arrangements for your loved one's funeral services, the funeral home staff will probably walk you through the process of submitting information and photographs for the obituary. Someone available on staff may be happy to write an obituary.
Since each funeral home and newspaper may have unique policies for obituary submission, make sure you understand your responsibilities. They will also help you with obituary etiquette if you are unsure of what type of information to disclose.
Finding the Right Obituary Photo
Don't worry if you have never had any experience planning a funeral. Professionals who work in the death industry are trained to walk grieving family members through the process of honoring their loved ones.
They will help you in every part of the process, from giving you advice on what clothes to provide for your loved one to writing the obituary. The funeral home director is also knowledgeable about the legal steps that must be taken after someone dies. You are paying for their services. Let them assist you.
If you're looking for more on obituaries, read our step-by-step guide on how to submit an obituary to a newspaper.
Sources:
- Parhiala, Christie. “What Size Photos Should I Provide My PR Agency, Media Outlets, Printers, and Other Vendors?” Axia Public Relations, December 14, 2020. https://www.axiapr.com/blog/what-size-photos-should-i-provide-my-pr-agency-media-outlets-printers-and-other-vendors.
