Ideas for Displaying Photographs at a Funeral

Photographs bring a service to life in a way words alone can't, giving guests a visual connection to the person being remembered. Here are a few straightforward ways families choose to include them.

A Photo Board at the Entrance

A large poster board or foam board, propped on an easel near the entrance or reception area, is one of the simplest and most common approaches. Arrange photos chronologically or by theme, favourite hobbies, family gatherings, milestones, so guests can take a moment to look through them as they arrive.

A Collage in the Order of Service

Including a page of smaller photos inside the order of service itself means every guest takes a piece of it home. This works well alongside a single, larger portrait on the cover.

A Slideshow

A looping slideshow, either playing quietly before the service begins or shown during a specific moment such as the eulogy, allows for far more photos than a printed page or board could hold, often set to a favourite piece of music.

Choosing the Right Photos

Aim for a mix that reflects different sides of the person's life, family moments, hobbies, friendships, and achievements they were proud of, rather than only formal portraits. Clear, well-lit photos will print and display far better than blurry or heavily cropped ones, particularly for anything enlarged onto a poster.

Bringing It Together

Whichever approach you choose, it's worth deciding early on, since a photo board or slideshow takes a little time to put together well. If you'd like a ready-made template to build a photo display or collage around, Funeral Templates has a range of options for both printed poster displays and slideshows.