This is an issue that has been debated over and over again in bereaved parents support groups and forums all over the world. Some parents find it repulsive, some parents accept a nice, serene shots as comforting.
When I was moderating a Yahoo support group based in Texas, a huge and stressful discussion exploded to the level of members calling each other names. It is not easy at all to deal with bereaved parents because their emotions are raw and sometimes, one cannot get through to them with reasonings.
So, there isn’t a yes or no answer to the above. Each parent is entitled to do what they wanted. They rightfully can post the photos on the internet of their children at the funeral wake, in the hospital etc. However, we have an understanding that parents who opted to post the photos ought to leave some form of warning before the appearances of the photos.
Other people whom are not bereaved parents have to find the grace to leave the bereaved parents with their choices. As for bereaved parents, though they do not agree with another parent, they should find the ability to accept their choice. Most parents had to take the photos because there is no other chance. For e.g. if a woman delivered a stillbirth, that’s all the photos she can get. Therefore, I would personally advise the parents to take all the pictures they wanted of their deceased child. Forget about taboo or what the society expects. It is their keepsakes.
When I was searching for an answer to my son’s sickness (when he was alive, that is), I did come across websites related to his illness. Unfortunately, I was thoroughly traumatised when I click on a site which has photos of the child in the coffin. I was looking for answers to my child’s illness but was greeted with the frightening prospect. This is one reason why parents who want to put up photos of their deceased child on the internet, they ought to have some thoughts for parents like me who are at their wits end to find a cure but instead given the stark ending.
Like I mentioned above, there is no answer to the above. It depends on the comfort level of the parents. I did not take any photos. As for placing the photos on the internet, it has to be done with some level of discreet.