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[Ragtime Mouth]

One of my closer friends is a photographer and has been to lots of different cemeteries for shots, he was once told by the authorities that he'll have to get permission to publish any of his photos. He says it depends on what cemetery, but I've told him to photoshop any names that were obviously visible, out of respect.

There is an old cemetery around here I love visiting and taking pictures when I can, but I don't worry about it, mainly because the graves are so old that the trees have grown around the gates.. and dead on top of some graves. The founder of the towns grave is even there, that's only grave I'd keep out of my photos. I don't think anyone has been buried there in over 100 years.

If I were to ever photograph in a cemetery I would put my camera in an angle that would not have any visible names. Or use a back of a grave. That or photoshop the name out.

Out of respect and slightly weird having a dead someone's name in your photos.

[Allisande]

I'm interested in genealogy as well as cosplay, so I visit cemeteries fairly frequently with a notebook and sometimes a camera if it is an older one to take down names and dates to reproduce a family tree for an area. The way I see it, the dead don't get too many visitors. Anyone at all is nice. For the genealogy studies, I've never had anyone complain, but for a photoshoot, depending on the costume, I'd probably make sure to have a lookout and an overcoat. Ask for permission from someone higher up if you want, but it's better if you don't have regular mourners coming up to you because you don't know if they'll get upset or not.

That aside: I love the historic cemetery in Atlanta! It's so pretty! That's also most likely a cemetery that they are used to people taking pictures in. I've also been to cemeteries as school trips. I guess my class was a little strange.

[cactusmomma]

I will personally avoid a cemetery unless I know it does not have any grieving living relatives. Some of the older places will have reflection and meditation areas, which are nice. You may even find out something new about the place you're at... or you'll come away with a haunting experience that'll leave you questioning things for years.
This location =

Remain vigilant for those left behind and respectful to those who've passed on.. make sure you say hello to those of the latter too, I'm sure they're a little intrigued as to what you're doing too.

[Lithium Flower]

I would not suggest crawling around on someones tomb stone.

But if your looking for pretty walkways and the background is appropriate then fine.

Just don't act like a douche.

[Seiten Taisei]

I live in southern Louisiana. We have a rather different sort of burials then most of the other generic cemeteries that will have a crypt or two then plaques and stone to show the dead. We have rows of crypts and closet sized storage for our dead. Some people who have not seen this would wonder what they are if they pass by them till they realize what they are. Most, exceptionally the older ones, have beautiful detail. I would love to do a photo shoot in one of the cemeteries. Though what I have in mind would have to be away from the "newer" generation of crypts and keeps. Well at least for one idea, the other was Lady Sylvanas from WoW

[CreativeGuy]

Yeah, if you want to have a shoot in a cemetery, don't crawl, climb or sit on headstones. It's tacky and disrespectful. Other than that I'm sure you can get some cool shots. Just be respectful.

[rawien8706]

Every time I do a shoot in a cemetery (hah, yeah, I do that and have on more than one occasion) I at least tend to NOT have names from the stones in the photo. It's not as identifiable that way. I do that when I just wander around cemeteries and take pictures of the statues and whatnot regardless of cosplaying (yeah, I'm a freak).

Also, I'm pretty sure you WON'T get arrested if you're not vandalizing anything. If someone asks you, explain you're not getting names in anything or whatever and they should be off your back. Could always pretend like you're mourning someone and just hope that when spotted that person doesn't come over and do the same...cause it'd be funny though it would confuse them.

[Blahsblah2001]

I'd do it in a rather deserted place. Obviously if there's a funeral going on, go home. My other advice would be to do it early in the morning. Mourners will not be around yet, funerals would not have started yet, and you'd still have sunlight. Definitely don't do it at night. Your photos will look bad and washed out from the flash. You can darken them in photoshop later and you'll get a better effect.

My other advice would be not to touch any of the graves or tombstones. Standing in front of a crypt would be one thing. But don't be lying on a grave or any nonsense like that.

The other good idea is to stay in the older sections. They look better and you're much less likely to offend someone. If possible, use the far-back corners of the oldest cemetery in the area.

[rawien8706]

Originally Posted by Blahsblah2001

My other advice would be not to touch any of the graves or tombstones. Standing in front of a crypt would be one thing. But don't be lying on a grave or any nonsense like that.

Whoops. Been there, done that.

[BlondieSundae]

Originally Posted by Allisande

I'm interested in genealogy as well as cosplay, so I visit cemeteries fairly frequently with a notebook and sometimes a camera if it is an older one to take down names and dates to reproduce a family tree for an area. The way I see it, the dead don't get too many visitors. Anyone at all is nice. For the genealogy studies, I've never had anyone complain, but for a photoshoot, depending on the costume, I'd probably make sure to have a lookout and an overcoat. Ask for permission from someone higher up if you want, but it's better if you don't have regular mourners coming up to you because you don't know if they'll get upset or not.

That aside: I love the historic cemetery in Atlanta! It's so pretty! That's also most likely a cemetery that they are used to people taking pictures in. I've also been to cemeteries as school trips. I guess my class was a little strange.

Is it bad I find this post amusing because Raine is right next to it? I hope not =P

On the topic... stay away from new cemeteries and if you go to old ones/historic ones, try to use the tombstones that look sufficiently weathered so you needn't worry about names. Also avoid being disrespectful, don't climb on anything obv and you should be fine.