Letting Go While Holding On: Postmortem Photography as an Aid in the Grieving Process

Hilliker, Laurel

doi:10.1177/105413730601400303

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Photographing the dead, especially children, was widely practiced from the advent of photography until the early 20 th century (Hilliker 2006 ; Burns 2002 ). As death became an increasingly institutionalized and socially taboo matter, postmortem photography disappeared from mainstream American culture, though it remained acceptable and even popular among some immigrant groups (Hilliker 2006 ; Burns 2002 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Best practice in bereavement photography after perinatal death: qualitative analysis with 104 parents

Blood

Cacciatore

2014

BMC Psychol

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BackgroundPostmortem memento photography has emerged in Western hospitals as part of compassionate bereavement care for parents facing perinatal death. Many parents endorse this psychosocial intervention, yet implementation varies greatly and little research on parents’ specific needs guides health care professionals. Parents are in crisis and vulnerable after the death of their child, thus best practice is crucial. This study contributes 104 parents’ experiences and opinions toward the understanding of best practice in perinatal bereavement photography.MethodsParents who experienced the perinatal death of their child were recruited from U.S.-based bereavement organizations and social media sites. Volunteers completed an anonymous internet survey with open- and closed-ended questions. Direct recommendations and pertinent statements regarding the process of postmortem photography were analyzed for thematic content in keeping with conventional content analysis. Recurrent themes and sub-themes were counted to identify response patterns.ResultsOf 93 parents with pictures, 92 endorsed them. Of 11 without pictures, nine wanted them. Parents made a variety of recommendations regarding appropriate psychosocial support, the consent process, obstacles to photography, logistics of photography, and material aspects of photographs themselves. Overall, parents wanted many pictures and much variety. Some wanted professional photography while others wanted support for taking their own pictures. Parents wanted guidance from staff who respected their particular needs. Many said decisions were difficult during their crisis. Parents who were initially resistant expressed current appreciation for pictures or expressed regret that they had not participated. Parents recommended that professionals strongly encourage parents to create memento photos despite parents’ initial reservations. Persistent cultural reasons against photography emerged in one case. Quotes by parents illuminate themes and enable respondents to speak directly to health care professionals.ConclusionsParents overwhelmingly support postmortem bereavement photography when conducted sensitively, even if imperfectly executed. Providers significantly influence parents during their crises; mindful, patient-centered care with appropriate respect for difference is necessary. Providers must understand the importance of postmortem photographs to parents who have limited opportunity to capture memories of their child. Hospitals should provide education and support for this important psychosocial intervention.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2050-7283-2-15) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Best practice in bereavement photography after perinatal death: qualitative analysis with 104 parents

Blood

Cacciatore

2014

BMC Psychol

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“…This practice was widely accepted in the United States during the 19th century for children of all ages who died, then became relatively obscure (Hilliker, 2006), and is now reappearing in perinatal death protocol (Harvey et al, 2008). It is no longer, however, a promoted practice in the case of older children who die.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Postmortem photography, also called memento mori photography, can be found across cultures both past and present as an aid to bereavement adjustment (Hilliker, 2006;Johnson, 1999;Mander & Marshall, 2003). This practice was widely accepted in the United States during the 19th century for children of all ages who died, then became relatively obscure (Hilliker, 2006), and is now reappearing in perinatal death protocol (Harvey et al, 2008).…”

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confidence: 99%

Parental Grief and Memento Mori Photography: Narrative, Meaning, Culture, and Context

Blood

Cacciatore

2013

Death Studies

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“…They construct a visual narrative that displays traces of the family life through significant events (Gibson 2004). In general, funerary photography may have this function (Ruby 1989(Ruby , 1995Hilliker 2006;Linkman 2011). For example, the value of having photographs of stillborn babies has been expressed by bereaved parents and family (Meredith 2000).…”

Section: Function and Meaning Of The Photographsmentioning

confidence: 99%

When Children Participate in the Death Ritual of a Parent: Funerary Photographs as Mnemonic Objects

Faro

2018

Religions

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When children lose a parent during childhood this offers emotional and life changing moments. It is important for them to be included in the death ritual and to be recognized as grievers alongside adults. Recent research has shown that children themselves consider it relevant to be part of the 'communitas' of grievers and do not like to be set aside because they are considered to be too young to participate. In this case study, I describe how a Dutch mother encouraged her three children, aged 12, 9 and 6, to participate in the death rituals of their father. She asked a funeral photographer to document the rituals. In that way, later on in their life, the children would have a visual report of the time of his death in addition to their childhood memories. The objective of my case study research was first, to explore in detail hów children are able to participate in death rituals in a carefully contemplated manner and in accordance with their age and wishes, and second, to examine the relevance of funeral photographs to them in later years. The funeral photographs will be presented as a visual essay of how and when the children took part in the rituals and which ritual objects, such as the coffin and the grave, but also letters, poems and drawings were important in creating an ongoing bond with their deceased father. The conclusion of this case study presentation is that funeral photographs of death rituals may function as mnemonic objects later on in the life of children who lost a parent in their childhood. These photographs enable children, when necessary, to materialize how they participated in the death ritual of their father or mother. In this respect they can be seen as functional means of continuing bonds in funeral culture, linking the past with the present, in particular when young children are involved.

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Letting Go While Holding On: Postmortem Photography as an Aid in the Grieving Process

Cited by 14 publications

References 8 publications

Best practice in bereavement photography after perinatal death: qualitative analysis with 104 parents

Best practice in bereavement photography after perinatal death: qualitative analysis with 104 parents

Parental Grief and Memento Mori Photography: Narrative, Meaning, Culture, and Context

When Children Participate in the Death Ritual of a Parent: Funerary Photographs as Mnemonic Objects

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