It is preferable not to talk about death, while it can help in coping with grief. That is why SIRE has launched a new campaign, in addition to the existing Dutch Funeral Awards. Yvette Vlaar from Benningbroek has been nominated in one of the categories and tries with her funeral photography to take death out of a taboo atmosphere. “When taking funeral photos, I always look at love and connection. It’s fantastic if I can give the relatives something beautiful.”
The 50-year-old Yvette Vlaar has been engaged in photography for years. Where she first made collages of all kinds of events, such as weddings and parties, in recent years she has increasingly focused on funeral photography. Nowadays she only photographs at funerals. Not only from people in West Friesland and North Holland, but also outside the province.
According to the Benningbroek photographer, funeral photography is about feeling. She discovered her passion when making her first farewell reportage, that of a young father. “The fact that I was allowed to use my photography to give the relatives such an important memory was the start for me to be able to do this more often,” explains Vlaar to WEFF/NH Nieuws.
“There are a lot of photographers who also do funerals,” she continues. “But that became too hard for me, also because you work hard all day. I like photographing a wedding, but capturing a funeral is ten times more valuable to me.”
Capture emotion
To give her photos even more dimension and to learn more about a funeral, Yvette followed the funeral director training. “It has helped me to perform my profession better,” says de Benningbroekse. “I now also know what goes on behind the scenes. We often work as a team to make the farewell as beautiful as possible for relatives.”
According to the farewell photographer, flowers and a coffin or urn are a matter of course, but Vlaar also wants to show what else is possible during a funeral. Her mission is also to show that; that there are alternatives and that saying goodbye can be made much more personal.
“Photography is more than just pushing a button,” says the farewell photographer. “A funeral is not just about sadness. Nowhere do you see so much love passing by as at a funeral. People allow you in when they are at their most vulnerable. That is very special.”
“I feel the pure emotion and always try to look for love and connection when taking my photos,” she continues. “I always try to get that one smile on the screen. That is hard work, but it is fantastic if I can give the relatives something so beautiful.”
Dutch Funeral Awards
This Saturday, July 2, Yvette will hear if she will win a prize at the Dutch Funeral Awards. She has been nominated in the Photography category at this prestigious professional award. “It is a great honor to be nominated”, Vlaar tells WEFF/NH Nieuws. “There are three nominees from the Netherlands per category, which is remarkably few. It is the first time that I have been nominated for this prize.”
According to the farewell photographer, this prize is not about a specific photo that was chosen for the prize, but it is also about the way of business. “There is so much more to a funeral,” she explains. “Funeral or mourning photography is also part of this. I am proud that I have been nominated and can thus help to remove death from a taboo atmosphere.”