It all boils down to intentions; if your intentions are good and respectful, then nothing to worry about. Also, most all of the graves you will want to make images of are going to be the old ones that are not visited by family and friends. It would be a bit odd if you were making an image of a new grave and someone came with flowers.
I do wet plate collodion and I was set up at an old historic cemetery in Jefferson Texas. I have been there several times and learned that it is very haunted, so says. Different areas have their own "appearances/wierd happenings". Anyway, I set up to do the last shot of the day, and for a lens shade I use a pretty thick piece of metal about 1 foot x 1 foot. I get the camera focused and ready, then just without really thinking, I say aloud, "Ok, just don't f*** with my camera." I lay that metal lenshade on a headstone right next to me and I go to the darkbox to prepare the plate, then come out with the plateholder to the camera. Not a breeze felt and my darkcloth is still draped over the camera, yet I cannot find the metal lenshade. I go back to the darkbox thinking I brought it there, nope. I go back to the camera looking for it and find it about 20 feet away on the ground. It had to pass by three headstones to get where it was and there was no one else in the cemetery. If a breeze came by strong enough to knock the piece of metal 20 feet, then it would also have surely moved or blown the darkcloth laid across the camera.
That my story and I'm swearing by it.
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