A man in a suit operating a professional video camera set on a tripod outdoors, with a historic building and a crowd in the background.

Professional skills to honour your loved ones

My name is Richard M Torres, and I am a skilled camera operator and filmmaker with a wealth of experience, spanning more than 25 years in both Aotearoa/New Zealand and the United States. Throughout my career, I have worked with television networks such as TVNZ, TV3, and Māori Television, showcasing exceptional talent and dedication to my craft. In addition to my work in the television industry, I akso bring my expertise to the funeral industry as an Independent Livestream Funeral Specialist.

A selfie of a man and woman in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, with clear blue sky and some green trees on the side.

Why I Livestream Funerals

I started professionally livestreaming in 2015. I was fascinated with the whole phenomenon and wanted to understand its mechanics: how it worked, how it could be improved, and most importantly – how to fix it when problems arose. Coupled with my PROFESSIONAL BROADCASTING background, I can confidently say that I have a good idea how things should look and sound when presented to an audience

When my wife passed away in 2018, I made the decision to livestream her funeral (yes, I am too young to be a widower!). Lisa had friends and family all over the world who weren’t able to attend. At first, the idea of livestreaming her service came across as a bit unnecessary for some members of her family. But the feedback we received afterwards was unanimously positive – especially from those who loved and adored Lisa, but were unable to travel to Aotearoa/New Zealand for her service. The livestream of Lisa’s funeral has remained as the starting point for the quality & professionalism I demand upon myself.

“Every funeral I livestream has to be as good as hers … if not better.”

x5 Camera Setup at
A control room setup with various monitors displaying an empty church interior with wooden pews and large windows. There is also equipment for audio and video control, including a laptop, a mixer, and a camera on a tripod.
Close-up of black storage cases with text in teal and gold, including contact information and business details, with some metallic hardware visible.
A professional video camera set up inside a church, with wooden pews and a brick wall background.
Inside a church, there are cameras on tripods set up facing the stage area, which has wooden tables labeled 'OFFERING'. The church has blue chairs arranged in rows, a large projection screen, and a stained glass window near the ceiling. There is a small wooden podium at the front, and a cross on the wall. The overall setting suggests preparations for a service or event.
Indoor setting with a TV screen, a black speaker, chairs, plants, and a stage area with a microphone and flowers. A video projector is visible on a wooden table in the foreground. The space features brick walls, large windows, and a mix of carpeted and artificial grass flooring.

Professionally Filmed & Edited Funerals on Professional Gear

There is no replacing a Professional Broadcaster with high-end cameras, cables, and sound equipment.

I have invested heavily in professional 4k and 6K cameras, lenses, gimbals, microphones, livestream units, and video mixers. This is to get the optimal quality when I am filming and livestreaming.

My modems are incredibly robust and industry recognised. They are particularly important for tricky places where there is no internet connection and/or poor cellular coverage.

Most churches I livestream at either don’t have a internet connection or are on regular broadband - which isn’t good enough when it comes to broadcasting a funeral service.

YouTube logo with a red play button icon and the word 'YouTube' in black text
Red background with white text reading "RTMP LIVE" in a simple design.
Green speech bubble icon on black background
Neon sign displaying the letters RMT in blue color on a black background.

Livestream to YouTube via Facebook or to a Funeral Home’s Livestream Channel

Most of the funerals Livestreamed are broadcasted on YouTube, a widely recognised platform that a vast majority of individuals are familiar with. Following coordination with the family or funeral director, the livestream event is scheduled on Facebook and YouTube, with a shareable link provided to facilitate viewing by family and friends who are unable to attend in person.

Should login credentials be furnished, the Livestream can be directed to a family member's Facebook profile or the funeral home's page.

Alternatively, upon request, it can be streamed to a private YouTube Channel - or both platforms, recognising that not all viewers may have a Facebook account but could access the service via YouTube. Given adequate bandwidth at the venue, simultaneous Livestreaming to both platforms is also a viable option.