Learn about the value of preserving photographic memories of funeral services for Grief and bereavement.

About my guest:

Today’s guest is Nell Aburto, a portrait photographer based in Minneapolis MN who offers funeral and memorial photography, which is largely unheard of in this industry. She discusses why people might want to consider hiring a photographer for a funeral service, the benefits of having a photographic record of such a celebration, and what it’s like to work in this profession. Learn more at her website:

mnfuneralphotography.com

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

In this episode:

• How Nell was inspired to specialize in funeral photography
• Why it’s nearly impossible for Family members to take photographs of a funeral or memorial service
• How it is still considered taboo by some people to take photos at funerals
• The benefits she experiences from this work
• How photographs are an important part of family history
• How funeral photography can help us normalize death as part of life
• Why funerals can be a time of transformation and healing

Links mentioned in this episode:

Resources:

• Check out the beautiful gallery of photographs on Nell’s website here
• Continuing Bonds Theory of Grief

Related episodes:

• Still, Life: A Photographic Journey Through Grief with Sarah Treanor
• Through the Camera Lens: Right, before I die with Andrew George
• It’s Your Funeral: A “Fun” Guide to Planning for the End of Life with Kathy Benjamin

Other links:

• Hospice Wisdom with Barbara Karnes Resource Page
• 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying by Karen Wyatt MD
• Latest post on Substack:  We Need Another Word for Grief
• What Really Matters Podcast: Roses for Tracey and Grief with Wings
• Leave me a message by email: [email protected], Twitter, Facebook or Instagram
• Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Soul
• Join the team at Patreon.com/eolu 
• Buy me a coffee
• Donate on Paypal

Transcript:

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Karen Wyatt Karen Wyatt MD

Dr. Karen Wyatt is the bestselling author of the book 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying, which contains stories of patients she cared for as a hospice doctor and the spiritual lessons she learned from them at the end of their lives. Her other books include The Journey from Ego to Soul, Stories from the Dark Night, and The Tao of Death. Dr. Wyatt also hosts End-of-Life University Podcast, which features conversations with experts who work in all aspects of end-of-life care. She is widely regarded as a thought-leader in the effort to transform the way we care for our dying in the U.S. In addition, she is valued for her application of spiritual principles to illness and healthcare and teaches that in order to live life fully we must each overcome our fear of death and embrace the difficulties that life brings us.