Sentiment - Video and photo montage production

 It’s been a month since the National Funeral Exhibition 2011 but the ripples that Sentiment made at the show are still making themselves felt! It looks like our offering made a real impression on Rev George Callander, who saw us at the exhibition and has written an excellent article in this month’s Funeral Service Times:

“Among the many new services springing up is funeral photography and videography, which I believe to be splendid adjuncts in bereavement support. For some years I have offered to record funeral and memorial services for families. This allows them to either send the CD recording to family members or friends unable to attend in person, but who may wish to share in the service, or allows those present to listen again to the service at a time when they feel more emotionally able to do so. Increasingly, crematoria are offering recording as part of their customer service – and all credit to them for doing so”

It’s really interesting that the Reverend has also been offering to record his services; it goes to show that there is a real growing demand for a souvenir of the day, something that people can keep, look back on and treasure. (Ironically it sounds like I would have met the Reverend in person on the BBC Breakfast sofa back in November 2010.  If he’d been able to travel at short notice!)

Funeral videography is still relatively new and unusual and some people may have reservations about it. The Reverend makes the point well:

“For some, the concern about filming/photographing funerals is intrusion into what is a solemn occasion: a lessening, perhaps, of the dignity of the service. While this might be so in some poorly prepared cases, I believe if the photographer and camera person liaise with the family, funeral director, officiant and cemetery/crematorium staff regarding boundaries then this should not be a problem.” This is where we come into our own; at Sentiment we use highly professional photographers and camera operators who blend in unobtrusively and are extremely respectful of the mourners and their emotions.

“I realise it is not for everyone, but as part of a wider freedom of choice for the bereaved, the availability of these services should be more widely known. For some grieving people, having the opportunity to listen to the funeral, watch the service on video or simply reflect by browsing through high quality photographs, can offer just the cathartic experience they need.”

We’re really pleased that what we do here is starting to filter in to the wider consciousness and we’re confident that in time what we offer will be no more unusual than hiring a wedding photographer or videographer. Increasingly there are more and more ways to document and remember each significant stage in our lives, and the acceptance of death as something that can be embraced as the end of a remarkable journey can only have positive repercussions for those left behind.

NFE 2011 was an incredible year for Sentiment. Having exhibited  in 2009  we found that funeral directors thought  the Sentiment product range was too modern –  however this year things were very very very different…

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We’ve just finished a Commemoration Memory Book for a lovely chap who died a few weeks ago.

The Book is stunning and made with a black leather embossed front. All his friends and family who attended the funeral left message  and sent us photos. All the messages and photos have been incorporated into this book and it will be give to his wife next week.

The book ended with this poem – I do Love this Poem.

Farewell My Friend

It was beautiful as long as it lasted
The journey of my life.
I have no regrets whatsoever
save the pain I’ll leave behind.
Those dear hearts who love and care…
And the strings pulling at the heart and soul…
The strong arms that held me up
When my own strength let me down.
At every turning of my life I came across good friends,
Friends who stood by me,
Even when the time raced me by.
Farewell, farewell my friends
I smile and bid you goodbye.
No, shed no tears for I need them not
All I need is your smile.
If you feel sad do think of me
for that’s what I’ll like when you live in the hearts
of those you love, remember then
you never die.

Rabindranath Tagore

I have been chatting to a lady called Beverly Ogonowski who has been telling me all about her company Repose in Light and their “Heliostèle” – A solar-powered funeral accessory that shines all night to symbolise undying love.

 Beverly tells me that the “Heliostèle” is a powerful way to remember all those who have gone before us. Personalisable, innovative, autonomous, maintenance-free and ecological with a lifespan of 15 years.

It is Placed on a grave, or at home in a sunny corner, this durable memorial lights up at night to reveal a brilliant message celebrating the life of a loved one.

The Heliostèle is made from iron, glass and polished granite. It is a funeral accessory that combines traditional craftsmanship with the latest technology to offer a unique and lasting memorial.

It gives more than 15 hours of light at night, its weather resistance and can withstand temperatures from -30º to +70ºC. Its size is  33.5 cm x 20.5 cm. Weight: 6.2 kg (approx) as even thought its not yet available the Price for Heliostèle from “la Collection divine” 980€ (£826 today)

Thanks to BBC Wiltshire for asking me to come on the show and chat to Mark O’Donnell about Sentiment.

It seems the whole of the UK has gone funeral  photography mad, we’ve had lots of calls from the press asking us to talk about funeral photography,  but we’ve not gone ahead with many of the interviews because I like to explain to them  that we do so much more than photography and that we’re not prepared to ask our clients to talk live on air or go on TV!!!

 Talking to Mark O’Donnell was a pleasure  he was really open to everything we do and he has obviously been researching the big wide world of funerals because he’s really knows about the options out there -  they’ll been talking about funeral choices all week so listen in.  

…And as I type my funeral photographer is on air with BBC Berkshire with Ann Diamond!!!  go Rachel

Sentiment was set up on the idealistic of personalising the conveyer belt funeral, and giving the right options to the families who are having to go though the  traumatic  task of organising a loved one’s funeral. Our motivation for setting up such a unique business 4 and half years ago was hearing from families a very gracious ‘ thank you so much’ and knowing that we really have helped.

As mark O’Donnell said,  there are so many options out there that it can be overwhelming to choose from, but we really try to ensure that our families are not overwhelmed , we want Sentiment to be that time where the family come together, reflect,  the time where the photos come out and the good memory’s flow. We assist as much or as little in the preparations to make it as stressless as possible.

 If a family want to choose their funeral to be filmed or photographed, if they want to show a tribute video or  photo slideshow,  have a memory book made or even film their own video messages and life documentaries then we are here to ensure they get that, without feeling overwhelmed, without feeling exploited, and always in control.

Last thursday we were sent to hospital to be monitored because we’d not felt any fetal movementfor 12 hours. on the way to hospital i went into full swing labour – within hour of being monitored at the hospital i was whipped in to have emergency c-section – it was scary for harry my husband,  i was not so aware of what was going on – we lost her heart beat and she’s had a big poo inside and was very much in distress. The hospital staff were fantastic, harry was amazing and Arabella Leah Catherine Harris was born at 5.15pm 8.3lb beautiful head of black hair, and most important very very healthy! 

 we’re off to glastonbury festival tonight, just to show her how crazy this world really is

this song is dedicated to my daughters

lou rhodes – one good thing

her’s Constance and Arabella – my beautiful daughters – how lucky i am

Here is the last installment of  Sentiment Music For The Soul – Part 10

This is part 10 of 10 play lists complied by Sentiment staff, Sentiment clients, our social network (twitter and facebook) and  friends and family from all ages, generations and walks of life.

Perfect songs for everyone – be it funerals, bereavement, or just thinking about life.

Enjoy

If you would like to view the play lists 1- 10 please  view the links through the Sentiment blog

for those who don’t have spotify here is a copy of  the track listing

Here we go with this weeks installment of Music for the Soul Part 7

This is part 7 of 10 playlists compiled by Sentiment staff, Sentiment clients, our social network (twitter and facebook) and  friends and family from all ages, generations and walks of life.

Perfect songs for everyone – be it funerals, bereavement, or just thinking about life.  

Enjoy

If you would like to view the playlists 1- 7 please  view the links through the Sentiment blog

for those who don’t have spotify here is a copy the track listing