I am a professional photographer full time and in my spare time like to quilt, knit, read, travel and photograph shelter dogs to help get them adopted. I am the proud granddaughter of a WWII veteran so I have a soft spot in my heart for our veterans. My mother is the family genealogist but after my dad passed away, I became more interested in genealogy which led me to become a volunteer for Find-A-Grave.

My photo tips: Take 3 photos of each monument - wide, medium, tight. One wide photo showing surrounding area (because not every cemetery has a map). One medium crop showing the entire monument but focusing only on that monument. One tight photo (more if needed) to show close ups of inscription or unique details of the monument. Sloppy and out of focus photos are disrespectful. I would not want someone to post sloppy photos to my loved one's memorial so I do everything I can to post photos that honor and respect the deceased.

Please, please, please do not stand on gravestones. When you take a picture of a grave and your feet are in the photo on top of the stone slab, you are documenting yourself standing on top of a grave. This is someone's loved one. Someone's wife. Someone's husband. Someone's brother, sister, aunt, uncle. No matter how long they have been gone, please show respect.

I don't understand grumpy Find a Grave volunteers. If you are signing up to volunteer, DO THE WORK. And be nice about it.

I volunteer a lot of my time photographing the family cemeteries in Atlanta and Monroe County - particularly African American cemeteries and ones in danger of disappearing. I am not doing this for the numbers but merely to preserve family history before it is lost to time and elements. The African American cemeteries seem to be sorely neglected so that's why I have focused my attention there. If I have made a mistake, please let me know and I will happily fix it. If you are a family member and wish to have a memorial transferred to you, please don't hesitate to reach out.

I am a professional photographer full time and in my spare time like to quilt, knit, read, travel and photograph shelter dogs to help get them adopted. I am the proud granddaughter of a WWII veteran so I have a soft spot in my heart for our veterans. My mother is the family genealogist but after my dad passed away, I became more interested in genealogy which led me to become a volunteer for Find-A-Grave.

My photo tips: Take 3 photos of each monument - wide, medium, tight. One wide photo showing surrounding area (because not every cemetery has a map). One medium crop showing the entire monument but focusing only on that monument. One tight photo (more if needed) to show close ups of inscription or unique details of the monument. Sloppy and out of focus photos are disrespectful. I would not want someone to post sloppy photos to my loved one's memorial so I do everything I can to post photos that honor and respect the deceased.

Please, please, please do not stand on gravestones. When you take a picture of a grave and your feet are in the photo on top of the stone slab, you are documenting yourself standing on top of a grave. This is someone's loved one. Someone's wife. Someone's husband. Someone's brother, sister, aunt, uncle. No matter how long they have been gone, please show respect.

I don't understand grumpy Find a Grave volunteers. If you are signing up to volunteer, DO THE WORK. And be nice about it.

I volunteer a lot of my time photographing the family cemeteries in Atlanta and Monroe County - particularly African American cemeteries and ones in danger of disappearing. I am not doing this for the numbers but merely to preserve family history before it is lost to time and elements. The African American cemeteries seem to be sorely neglected so that's why I have focused my attention there. If I have made a mistake, please let me know and I will happily fix it. If you are a family member and wish to have a memorial transferred to you, please don't hesitate to reach out.