Live streaming funerals: The complete guide
Technology has always been integral to the modern human experience, changing how we connect with the world. Even funerals have adapted, with more than half of funeral homes offering live streaming services. This guide will walk you through how to live stream a funeral effectively and respectfully.
Why live stream a funeral?
There are many reasons why a family may want to live stream a funeral. Often, a family member lives far away and cannot attend due to travel constraints or finances. Others might be nearby but unable to attend due to illness or anxiety.
One of the lesser known benefits of live streaming is the recording. We often find that those who physically attend the service will watch the recording as part of their grief journey. Funerals are emotionally charged events. Often, the stories and memories shared are not always retained. A recording makes sure those moments are preserved for generations to come.
What equipment you will need
To live stream a funeral, you don’t need expensive equipment. Here’s what you’ll need:
Streaming device
We recommend using a phone. In our experience, phones gather a stronger cellular connection than tablet devices.
Tripod with attachment to hold phone
Get an affordable tripod that isn’t too heavy. Heavy tripods work well in very windy conditions but won’t be necessary for 99% of your funeral live streams.
You will need a holder for your phone that will attach to the tripod. As long as the holder has a ¼” female connector on the bottom, it should be fine.
External microphone
This isn’t required, but we strongly recommend this. Here’s why: your phone’s microphone is going to prioritize louder audio and treat lower audio as noise. It may even attempt to cut out the “noise” completely.
Why does this matter?
If your phone is set up at the back of the room, any chatter, babies crying, people coughing, it’s all going to be very loud while the person speaking at the podium will be very quiet. This ends up being a very poor experience for the viewer.
What should you get?
Don’t break the bank with this one. We have found that brands like Comica, Hollyland, and Neewer are more than up to the task for capturing audio at a funeral live stream.
Lavalier microphones are the most versatile as they often come in pairs. One microphone can be placed at the podium while the other is attached to the priest or perhaps close to a live band. Some will even come with a charging case that will charge the microphones and receiver when not in use!
Steps to live stream a funeral
1. Communicate with family and friends
It’s always important to respect the wishes of the deceased and their family. Ensure that they are comfortable with having the event live streamed and know how to access it.
2. Choose the right streaming platform
The streaming platform is “the location” of the live stream on the internet. It’s where guests will go to watch and participate in the webcast.
Several platforms can be used to live stream a funeral:
YouTube Live
Live streaming on YouTube is free but there are some limitations:
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- 50 subscribers to your YouTube account are required to live stream from a mobile device.
- You may be limited by the number of people who can watch the live stream.
- If any copyrighted music is played during the stream, you risk having the live stream muted or even removed.
- The funeral will also be broadcast alongside ads and other suggested videos.
Facebook Live
Facebook is another free platform for live streaming with its own limitations:
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- Guests must have a Facebook account to watch the live stream.
- Live streaming to a Facebook Page or personal profile will push the funeral into the Facebook Feed of friends and family who may not want to see the funeral.
- Again, if any copyrighted music is played during the stream, you risk having the live stream muted or removed.
- Facebook is not available in all countries – limiting who can attend remotely.
- Suggested videos and ads can appear alongside the funeral live stream.
Zoom
Yes, originally designed for work meetings, Zoom can be used to live stream events too. Just be aware that the free plan comes with some limitations:
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- Your live stream or “meeting” will be limited to 40 minutes. If the funeral is running over that time, you may have to set up another Zoom meeting.
- There is also a limit of 100 attendees. Often this is sufficient for funerals, but it may not be depending on how well-known the loved one is.
- Video quality will be limited to below 640×360. This is below standard definition but may be adequate for your needs.
- You must manually set Zoom to record the live stream.
- An on-demand recording for virtual guests to view after the live stream will not be available.
Funeral-specific streaming platforms
There are streaming platforms built specifically for funerals. Forget Me Not Ceremonies is one of those platforms. Although it is not free, it also does not have the limitations of the previous platforms.
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- Copyrighted music can be played during the service
- There is no limit on the number of virtual attendees
- There is virtually no limit on the length of the live stream
- Guests can join from anywhere in the world on any device
Some other perks include guests being able to:
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- View and download the service program
- Upload photos and share memories of the loved one
- View multiple live streams on the same page (ex. Chapel service, graveside service, and tribute video)
- Request information about pre-need
One downside is that Forget Me Not Ceremonies only partners with funeral homes. If you’re not a funeral director, you will have to use one of the other platform options.
3. Schedule
With a platform selected, you will need to schedule the live stream and share the details with the family. The process for this will vary quite a bit depending on the streaming platform you choose:
- Facebook instructions – Note: you can’t schedule a mobile live stream. Once scheduled, invite all family members on Facebook.
- YouTube instructions – Note: you can’t schedule a mobile live stream. Once scheduled, you will need to share the link with the family.
- Zoom instructions – Once scheduled, you will need to invite every single person that wishes to attend.
- Forget Me Not Ceremonies – It’s pretty easy with Forget Me Not Ceremonies. Just enter some basic information and, in less than 5 minutes, a live stream has been scheduled and the next of kin has been given the link. You can also easily copy the link and paste it into an obituary on the funeral home’s website.
4. Set up your equipment
Set up your tripod, phone, and microphones. Something to keep in mind: virtual guests often want to see who is speaking at the podium. That may be difficult if the phone’s camera is placed at the back of the room.
Test to make sure your microphones are turned on and capturing audio.
Turn on “Do Not Disturb” mode on your phone. Incoming phone calls and text messages risk interrupting your funeral live stream.
5. Go live
Start live streaming! If there is not a strong enough connection, you unfortunately may need to abandon the live stream altogether and record the service with the phone’s camera.
This is handled easily in the Forget Me Not Ceremonies app, FMNC Anywhere. If there is not a strong enough connection, simply tap a button and all of the registered guests will be immediately notified! This helps make sure there are no calls to your funeral home asking about the live stream.
6. Share the recording
You will find that many will expect to see the recording of the funeral service once it is over. At Forget Me Not Ceremonies, we have found that many of those who attended in person will actually go back to watch the live stream.
If you live streamed the funeral with Facebook or YouTube, the recording should be available to view at the same link (provided there was no copyrighted music played). If you live streamed with Zoom, you will have to upload the recording to a Google Drive folder and share with whomever requests it.
When you live stream with Forget Me Not Ceremonies, the recording of the funeral is available to rewatch for 120 days! Funeral homes can access the recording forever.
Conclusion
We hope this guide helps you successfully live stream funeral services. Live streaming and recording a funeral is a special gift for grieving families and friends, allowing them to participate and remember the service.
