DEATH, Immortalised

Memorial photography may seem like a new coping strategy for grief, but through the ages we've always documented death

- Jessica Lone Summers

DEATH COMES TO us all. This, we know, is certain. And yet, despite being a generation of snap-happy photographers in every aspect of our lives, when it comes to memorialising our loved ones after they pass, we look the other way. And, though the subject might seem like a contemporary take on our approach to death, it’s actually an old—and beautiful—practice.

In recent months, model Chrissy Teigen made headlines with the news that her much publicised pregnancy had come to a dreadful end. Her son, Jack, had to be induced early and subsequently died. While one might expect onlookers to offer heartfelt condolences and well-wishes at the news, the situation soon materialised into one of the most controversial social media moments of 2020.

While people in the public eye often opt for privacy in moments of grief, Teigen made the decision to share a number of intimate black and white photos that led up to her delivery, and included a portrait of her and husband, singer John Legend, with their stillborn son. The photographs, though tastefully captured and presented, caused a stir among people who believed Teigen should have grieved more privately, and those who were shocked to see a bereaved mother and her deceased baby. Despite the equally strong reaction of support from those who saw the photographs as brave and helpful for the cause of baby loss awareness, the negative retorts from so many highlighted the public’s deep rooted dislike for baring our most painful moments after a loved one passes.