Videotaping Funerals: Is it Ethical or an Invasion of Privacy?

Funerals are a time to say goodbye to the ones that you cared about. This is a trying time in your life and you probably aren't thinking clearly. Maybe you sat quietly in the audience or maybe you were one of the few who got up to speak. Maybe you even caused a huge disturbance by throwing yourself on the casket and crying hysterically. Whatever the case, the chances are pretty good that you weren't at your best. Would you care if you were being recorded?

Videotaping funerals is becoming a trend that has some people questioning if it is ethical. If you were attending a funeral, you may expect to be forewarned if the event is going to be recorded. But the odds are better that you'd have no expectations at all regarding cameras at a funeral. If you did have some warning, you may feel that it is ethical to record a funeral. But what if the funeral home is playing hidden camera?

A year ago, I spoke at a funeral since most of the family was too upset to speak. However, I never would have spoken if I had known that I was being recorded. Thankfully, I held my composure since I barely knew the deceased and didn't do anything embarrassing on camera. However, I can't really say that for everyone else who was there.

Wanting the funeral home to know that at least one person was upset by the secret recording, I spoke with the man who had taken care of the recording. He basically said that the family was aware that it had been recorded. Apparently, it was his opinion that it only mattered if the family knew. However, the truth is that only one member of the family knew about the recording. The rest didn't have a clue.

I've never had someone die that I was close with, so I won't pretend that I know what it is like. But I can understand wanting to have the nice things on tape that someone has to say about your dearly departed loved one. But let me offer you an alternative to videoing a funeral - you could make a video diary of everyone's memories. It could be done sometime after the funeral when everyone has had a chance to think of what they would like to say. That would be a nice tribute to your dearly departed that you could treasure for many years to come.