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Help someone find their past
Photograph a headstone on your next cemetery visit and add it to EveryStone. Families who live far away can then find the grave.
All you need is a phone, a little time and a nearby cemetery you can visit.
Is it legal to photograph headstones and publish them?
In most countries, yes. Here is why, and where the limits are.
Cemeteries are open to the public
Photographing what any visitor can see is generally allowed. Some private and religious cemeteries set their own rules, so check at the gate.
The names belong to people who have died
Data protection laws such as GDPR cover living people, not the deceased. However, families can always ask us to correct or remove a record.
Living people stay out
Leave mourners and other visitors out of the frame. If a stone names someone who is still alive, families can ask us to remove that record at any time.
Your photo is your own work
Names and dates are facts, which copyright does not protect. You keep the copyright in your photo and give EveryStone a licence to show it in the archive.
How to contribute
You don't have to document a whole cemetery. One clear photo is a useful start.
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Step 1: Choose a cemetery
Pick a place you can visit. Check its rules and the records already there before you take new photos.
Browse cemeteries -
Step 2: Photograph the stone
Take a straight-on photo of the whole headstone, then a closer one if the inscription is hard to read.
Use the photo checklist -
Step 3: Upload it
Create an account, confirm your email and upload your photos. We use the location saved in each file.
Create your account
Families ask for photos of graves they can't get to. See photo requests
Already have headstone photos? Sign in and start contributing
How to take a good headstone photo
Hold your phone steady, keep the whole stone in the frame and check that you can read the names before you leave.
Respect comes first
Follow cemetery rules, ask permission where needed, and give visitors privacy. Never move, clean, rub or alter a headstone to get a photograph.
A quick check before you upload
0 / 4Tick the checklist as you prepare your photograph.
Good and bad photos
One photo to aim for and five common mistakes. Each one costs a family a name or a date.
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Good: Whole stone, sharp, straight on
Every name and date can be read.
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Avoid: Edges cut off
Step back until the whole stone fits.
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Avoid: Out of focus
Tap the inscription to focus and hold still.
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Avoid: Sun glare
Move to one side or wait for softer light.
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Avoid: Taken from the side
Stand square to the stone, at the height of the text.
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Avoid: Your shadow on the stone
Keep the sun behind the stone or to one side.
Contribute with the app
Our website works smoothly on both desktop and mobile devices. Prefer a native app? Check it out below.
- Capture clear headstone photos
- Save GPS grave locations automatically
- Transcribe inscriptions with our AI
- Suggest corrections to existing records
A few things you might wonder
Do I need genealogy or photography experience?
No. A clear photo of the right grave is enough. You don't need to research the family or read every word.
How much time do I need?
Start with one grave and go at your own pace. Come back for more whenever you like.
Can I photograph any cemetery?
Each cemetery has its own rules. Follow the signs at the gate and ask the office if you're unsure. Keep away from funerals and private areas.
What if a grave already has a photo?
A sharper photo or one of another side of the stone still helps. Add it to the same grave instead of creating a new one.
What happens after I upload?
AI checks that your photo shows a grave marker and reads the names and dates. Our team reviews anything unclear before the record goes public.
Can I add photos I took some time ago?
Yes, if they are yours to share and the file still has its location saved. Upload the original file.