Cemeteries are often considered as public spaces. However these very same sites can also be very personal and private areas where people come to pay respects to their loved ones. There is a complex web of laws and societal norms that differ place to place and also govern the activity within these boundaries. I will discuss the general things you can do and the things you can’t do as a photographer in a cemetery. International laws often defer to the local traditions and regulations.

Before you go to hold a photoshoot in the cemetery there are a couple things to think about first. Have you researched the cemetery at all? Some cemeteries will clearly state on their website if they allow photography and some even charge a fee. Do you know when they open and close, in case they have a gate? You will also want to think about what equipment would be reasonable to take. You do not want to take too much. Similarly you don’t want to have too many people, assistants or models. The more people you have, the more of an obtrusion you and your team will be to the mourners at the graves.