5 tips for a better funeral live stream
In this blog post, you’ll learn our 5 simple tips for creating professional funeral live streams that will set you apart from your competitors.
You’re a funeral director, not a videographer.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t create great live streams for your funeral ceremonies. Here are 5 simple tips to level up your live streams and wow your families.
1. Audio is king
Which would you personally be more likely to tolerate: a pixelated video with clear audio or a super high definition video with audio you can barely understand?
Most people would choose the video with clear audio! It’s the most important part of your live stream.
That’s why we strongly recommend using external microphones for your funeral live streams. They capture crisp, clear audio and you can place them at a podium or on the person speaking so viewers can always hear what’s going on.
You can use your phone’s onboard microphone but be warned: that microphone is going to prioritize sounds that are closer vs those that are far away. For example, if you set up your phone at the back of the room, everyone who coughs, every baby that cries, will be far louder than the person speaking at the podium…not the best experience for your virtual guests.
Our recommendations for external microphones:
Hollyland Lark C1 or Lark M2
Comica Vimo-S
These wireless lavalier mics offer a lot of versatility! You can place them directly on the person speaking, attach them to a podium, and even place them next to any musicians you want to record. Setting them up takes about 30 seconds and each microphone and receiver charges right in the case – just make sure your case is charged and you’re all set!
Using your phone’s onboard mic can also be risky if you’re outside during a windy day. Wind noise can disrupt audio and, in some cases, make your funeral live stream impossible to hear.
Have a listen below to hear the actual difference between using the onboard phone microphone and an external lavalier microphone:
Onboard phone microphone sample
External microphone sample
2. Camera position
While not really necessary, a nicely framed video can make your funeral live stream appear more professional. The best part? It’s really easy to do. Just follow the “Rule of thirds”. It’s a very common rule that photographers and videographers use to create pleasing image. In fact, it’s so common, you may find yourself following the rule even though you didn’t know it existed!
Here’s how it works:
- Imagine your screen is divided into a 3×3 grid
- Try to place the subject along one of the lines or intersections – ideally in the top third
Note: make sure you leave “room” on the side of the frame the speaker is facing.
3. Turn on “Do not disturb” mode
Live streaming requires a lot of processing power from your phone. To make sure that 100% of its resources are dedicated to your live stream, turn on “Do not disturb” mode.
Notifications, calls, text messages – they can all disrupt the funeral live stream. There is also a danger of your phone not being able to continue the live stream if there are too many notifications.
This is another reason we recommend funeral homes have a dedicated device for live streaming. That way, it will not get any calls or messages. It’s still best practice to turn on “Do not disturb” just in case though!
Automate Do Not Disturb
Did you know iPhones can automatically turn on Do not disturb when certain apps are launched?
Here’s how:
- Open your Settings app
- Tap on “Focus”
- Tap on “Do Not Disturb”
- Scroll down and tap “Add Schedule”
- Tap on “App”
- Tap on the app that will trigger turning on Do Not Disturb
Now open that app and watch the magic!
4. Practice and test
Do a quick test with your equipment to make sure it’s working correctly and your audio is clear.
Testing will also help lower any anxieties you might be feeling about your live stream and help you feel more confident.
5. Bring a backup device
We always recommend funeral homes purchase a phone to be used exclusively for live streaming. However, if that device fails, you need to be ready to swap in another phone.
Often you can use your personal phone as a backup. Just make sure it’s also charged and has your live streaming app installed (if you’re a Forget Me Not Ceremonies client, make sure you install the FMNC Anywhere app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store).
Conclusion
We hope these 5 tips will help you feel more confident when live streaming your funeral ceremonies. With great audio, nicely-framed video, and device notifications turned off, you will already be far ahead of your fellow funeral directors!
At Forget Me Not Ceremonies, we’re here to make live streaming stress-free. From easy setup to dedicated support, we handle the technical details so you can focus on supporting your families.
Forget Me Not Ceremonies was built from the ground up for funeral directors:
- Scheduling a live stream takes less than 5 minutes
- We offer real human support 7 days a week
- You can even generate pre-need leads without lifting a finger!
Learn more about Forget Me Not Ceremonies or book a demo today.
