May 19, 2024
97 Transforming Grief with Photography: A Conversation with Shannon McFarland
In this thought-provoking episode of 'Hospice Explained', host Marie Betcher, RN, welcomes guest Shannon McFarland, a photographer who specializes in capturing the essence of families during their most vulnerable times, including hospice care, terminal illness, and the end of life.
Shannon shares her personal journey into photography, which began with a complicated pregnancy and evolved into a mission to document the unseen moments of grief, love, and compassion. She discusses the significance of capturing not just the joyful times but also the nuanced, tender moments that families experience during loss, emphasizing the lasting value of these images for processing and memorializing life's pivotal events.
Shannon also explores the extension of her work into the realm of pet photography, highlighting the approachability of discussing death and grief through the lens of animal companionship. The episode advocates for the essential role of empathy and compassion in photographing life's more challenging periods and encourages both families and photographers to embrace the discomfort to create meaningful, everlasting memories.
00:00 Introduction to Hospice Explained
00:36 Meet Shannon: A Photographer with a Heart
01:55 Shannon's Personal Journey and the Power of Photography
03:26 The Role of Photography in Capturing Life's Uncomfortable Moments
10:36 Shannon's Approach to Family and End-of-Life Photography
23:41 Expanding the Conversation: Photography for Animals at End of Life
25:55 Advice for Aspiring Compassionate Photographers
27:08 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement
Join the Hospice Explained Patient/Family Community: https://zyq6figc2is8q1uuqh0y.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/hospice-explained-communityht/home?invite=667651d96077439a642c827c
Join the Hospice Explained Professional Community: https://zyq6figc2is8q1uuqh0y.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/hospice-explained-professional/home?invite=667652074606c53e54a865f1
Finding a Hospice Agency
1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency,
2. choose Find provider
3. Choose Hospice
4. then add your zip code
This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.
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www.HospiceExplained.com