Included in this guide are tips for cleaning debris off a gravestone, general tips for photographing gravestones, essential grave photos, and photo examples which help show the differences when photographing.
To learn more about what to bring to the cemetery, see suggested items from the Cemetery Kit Guide.
Tips for cleaning debris off a gravestone
• Clear the stone so that that the entire inscription is clear
• Use a sweeping brush to clear off debris
• If there is grass covering part of the stone, clip the grass back
• If needed, spray water and towel off the stone to help clean it (it may need to dry before being photographed)
If a headstone is not easily readable, we suggest considering the use of no harm methods recommended by Cemetery Conservators for United Standards to read the stone.
General tips for photographing gravestones
• Use a camera or cell phone with GPS enabled to add the grave’s location
(The GPS will automatically upload with the photo.)
• Make sure your lens is clean and avoid including your fingers, feet, shadow, or reflection on the stone
• Take multiple photos to show the marker and its context
• Use your zoom feature as needed
• Try a few angles to get the most readable one
• Take pictures of all sides of upright markers that have text
• An overcast day or morning or evening often lead to the most readable photos
• No grave marker? Photograph the area where the grave is located in relation to other grave markers
• Reflect or shine light on a marker that is in shadow
Essential Grave Photos
Grave photos should fully represent the grave or gravestone with a clear view of the inscription and additionally the grave in context with its surroundings. In this digital age, you can take multiple photographs and choose your favorites to upload.
•Main grave photos
Photograph the gravestone straight on so the entire inscription can easily be read. The gravestone should nearly fill the frame depending on the stone shape and the orientation of the photo.
•Close up
Zoom in or step closer to get a close up photo of the inscription.
•Any additional photos
Check the stone to see if there is text on any other side, top or base and photograph it.
•Gravestone with surroundings
Take a few steps back and photograph the gravestone or grave in context with its surroundings.
Gravestone Photo Examples
These examples below help display differences and how we can improve reading as well as documenting the stone on Find a Grave. (These are all smaller versions of these photos.)
A stone with debris versus a stone cleared of debris.
Avoid including your fingers, feet, or shadow.
Pictured is a stone with grass around the edges. When the grass was clipped back an important inscription was revealed.
Photo of a stone that is too far away to read versus one that is closer and taken at the same level as the stone.
Photo of stone at an angle versus photo of stone in full view, straight on.
(Depending on the light at the time and the shadows on the stone sometimes it is helpful to photograph the stone at different angles if the text is not readable in the full view photo.)
An example of photographing at an angle being important.
This stone has moved over time and no longer is straight. Photograph it and represent it as is, but you can also photograph it again and adjust the angle of your camera or phone so it appears more straight.
Photograph the entire stone and the close ups of the inscriptions.
Add an additional photo of the stone in its surroundings.
Don’t forget to check the back or other sides of an upright stone.
Examples of before and after adding a flash that lights up the headstone at the moment the photo is taken. In the photos here, the flash is mounted on a telescoping monopod. Some other methods of casting light on a headstone are using a mirror, foil, bright LED flashlight or choosing the right time of day according to the angle of the sun. This no-harm method casts shadows on the stone and allows a difficult inscription to be read.
What if there isn’t a gravestone to photograph?
If there isn’t a gravestone to photograph, then photograph the area where the grave is located. As with photographing any grave, please include GPS whenever possible. It’s also helpful to include a neighboring headstone and an overview shot around the burial so it can easily be located. Another suggestion is to mark the grave with silk flowers and then photograph the grave and surrounding area.