Some Hints on Photographing Tombstones

Summer is the perfect time for visits to cemeteries, and this summer in particular, after being cooped up indoors for months, many of us have wanderlust. Cemeteries are peaceful, outdoors and away from crowds, and potentially, the source of much-needed information on our ancestors. Before you visit a cemetery, you will want to plan ahead and think about how you can get the very best photos.

What to plan ahead:

• Be sure you can gain access to the cemetery without difficulty. You don't want to be trespassing on private property or sharing a farm field with an enraged animal.
  
• If the cemetery has an office, you may want to determine when it is open so you can stop there first.
• It's also a good idea to call ahead and ask for help in locating graves and what the cemetery's policies are about entering the property and/or taking photographs and rubbings.
• Know before you go!
  
• Give yourself a good going-over with insect repellent, especially around your feet and ankles where chiggers can hop on. Even city cemeteries harbor little chewing insects!
  
• Wear a hat to protect against sun and ticks that can fall from trees.
  
• Make sure you know how to identify poison ivy! (Remember the old quote, "Leaves of three; let them be." If you are in a location with poison oak or poison sumac, learn how to recognize those, too.
• Stay on pathways, if they are present. If you are on soft ground, watch your step. Moles, voles, and other burrowing animals can dig holes and tunnels that make the ground soft and potentially collapsible under your feet.
  
• Carry a small notepad and pen/pencil to jot down anything you want to remember.
• Consider taking a smartphone or any GPS-enabled device to help locate and/or save the locations of graves.
• If you are using a smartphone, look for apps like FindaGrave or BillionGraves that you can download ahead of time to make locating and recording information easier.
  
• If you are thinking of doing a rubbing, check to see what is permitted. Some places do not allow them, no matter how conscientious you plan on being.
• If it is acceptable, bring rice paper, rubbing wax, and tape with you. You can buy supplies in any store that sells art materials or many places online.
  
• Be careful not to get anything on the stone that won't come off, and rub as gently as you can.
  
• If the stones are old, a spray bottle of plain water and a sponge or soft bristle brush may help to make them easier to read.
  
• Do NOT plan to use any chemicals on any tombstone, no matter what you have read or been told.
• NO shaving cream, NO chalk, NO soapsuds, and NO wire brushes!

How can you ensure your tombstone photos are the very best quality?

• 
  Get as close to the stones as you can so the lettering on them is large and clear in your photos.
• If possible, kneel down to get the stone from eye level instead of from above.
• Standing straight in front of a stone is fine if the carving is still legible. If it is not, however, try standing off to the side a bit to see if that helps.
• Watch for shadows falling on the stone; again, move around to get the best shot. Sometimes it is best to visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon when the sun is at a lower angle.
  
• Don't use a flash! The light may cause reflections on the stone, even on a cloudy day.
• Some people like using mirrors and/or aluminum foil to enhance readability on difficult stones. See the articles below for specific suggestions.
• You may want to carry a heavy-duty scissors or small hand pruner so you can trim away grass or weeds from around the stone (but watch for poison ivy, oak, or sumac). Also, remove any debris on the ground in front of the stone.
• Check the back of the stone, too. Many times, you will find inscriptions on more than one side.
• Leave fallen stones alone. Soft stones may crumble and break, causing more damage. Snakes, insects, and other critters that like dark, moist places may be lurking underneath.

Some additional online resources:

"Tips for Photographing Gravestones: Documenting Without Damage," by Maureen Taylor, Genealogy.com, https://www.genealogy.com/articles/research/64_gravestones.html

"Safe Solutions for Hard to Read Tombstones," Natasha Miles, New Hanover County North Carolina GenWeb, http://www.ncgenweb.us/newhanover/cem1.html

"How to Photograph Headstones and Cemeteries," Rootsweb.com, https://sites.rootsweb.com/~sckersha/records/how_to_photograph_headstones.htm

"How to Clean a Gravestone—Cemetery Preservation," by Carolyn L. Barkley,  Genealogical.com, https://genealogical.com/2018/02/21/clean-gravestone-cemetery-preservation/

"How to Do a Tombstone Rubbing," by Kimberly Powell, ThoughtCo., https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-do-a-tombstone-rubbing-1420482

YouTube: Search the site to find many videos on best practices for photographing and cleaning tombstones.