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Become a BillionGraves Volunteer Photographer

You can become a BillionGraves volunteer! Just download the app, find a cemetery near you, and start taking pictures.

Get the app
Find a cemetery
Step 1:
Get the app
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Service Projects
Plan an Event
Nearby Photo Requests
Add Cemetery
Connect to FamilySearch
Upload Headstone Photos
Upload Batch
Upload Supporting Records
Help Translate Pages

Get Started

What is BillionGraves?

  • BillionGraves is a free website to look up headstone photos from around the world.
  • Volunteers use Smartphones to take GPS tagged photos of headstones.
  • Photos are uploaded to the BillionGraves website.
  • Photos are transcribed by volunteers.
  • Photos can be easily accessed for research online.

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How to Take Photos

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How to Transcribe Photos

  • Visit the BillionGraves Transcription page
  • Review the Transcription help.
  • Enter names, dates, and any other information on the headstone into the fields provided.
  • Headstones can have information for many individuals. Make sure to add information for each.
  • Photos will then be available from the search page.

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Transcribe from the app

  • Important: Most transcribing should be done on the BillionGraves website with a computer. Only transcribe on your phone app when the gravestone is so worn that you think a transcriber will not be able to read it from a photo.
  • Take a picture.
  • Tap the pencil icon.
  • Fill in the form.

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How to find a headstone in a cemetery using the BillionGraves App

  • Start the BillionGraves App on your iPhone or Android device when you get to the cemetery.
  • Tap the “Records” button.
  • Search for the persons name.
  • Tap on the persons name.
  • View on map.

Eagle Scout Project

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Additional Resources

Information Packet
Quick Reference Card
Eagle Scout Packet

How to Find a Cemetery To Photograph

Empty Cemetery

  • Go to the Cemetery Map page.
  • Select a cemetery with a blue pin to visit the cemetery details page.
  • Scroll down to the map of the cemetery.
  • Confirm that this is an actual cemetery by zooming in on the map.

Some Records Completed, But Not All

  • Go to the Cemetery Map page.
  • Select a cemetery with a pin that is not blue to visit the cemetery details page.
  • Scroll down to the map of the cemetery.
  • Look for empty sections of the cemetery that have no pins.
  • When you are in the cemetery, use the cemetery map in the mobile app to make sure you are taking pictures in the correct section.
  • Try to avoid taking duplicate pictures, but err on the side of more photos. Our tools can help merge duplicate pictures.

How to Work with the Cemetery to Take Photos

  • Please be courteous of all active burials.
  • Be sure to ask permission.
  • If you encounter any resistance, please refer them to info@billiongraves.com.

How to Update your Location to Find Nearby Cemeteries

  • Go to your Settings page.
  • Scroll down to the section titled `My Location.`
  • Type in and select your city, state, country in the search bar.
  • Move the yellow pin on the map to the correct location.

How to Find a Cemetery - Full Version

  • How to update your location.
  • How to find a cemetery to photograph.
  • How to find a cemetery to photograph that already contains some photos.
  • How to work with the cemetery to take photos.
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