Medical photographers take medical photos of patients, organs and procedures for research and medical books. If you want to enter this field, you will need to pursue medical photography education and training that encompasses both medical knowledge and a knowledge of photographic techniques. You will also want to pursue certification from a biocommunications association.

When pursuing medical photography education and training, it is important to keep in mind that there are very few medical photography schools or even specific programs in the country. Most professionals seek out medical photography jobs by pursuing a science degree and training in photography. When seeking your own training, consider the following:

1. Earn a biology degree or a specialized medical photo degree.
2. Seek certification to learn more about medical photography supplies and techniques.
3. Pursue coursework in the specialized field of dental photography.
   

Action Steps
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Attend a medical photography school or seek a biology degree

One of the main requirements in becoming a medical photographer is to understand anatomy, biology and physiology enough to take accurate pictures. Many professionals achieve this understanding by earning biology or science degrees and pursuing photography classes as additional coursework.

I recommend: Rochester Institute of Technology is the only school in the country that offers a bachelor's degree in biomedical photographic communications, which prepares you for a career in photos for medicine by teaching both science and photography. Georgetown College offers a biology undergraduate degree that can help lay the groundwork for a career in medical pictures.

Get a certification and join professional organizations to learn more about medical photography

Certification or membership in a professional organization shows that you are serious about continuing education in your career. Staying current with professional organizations for medical and science photographers gives you access to conferences and other learning opportunities that help you stay abreast of the latest medical photography info.

I recommend: The BioCommunications Association offers Body Mapping Certification for professionals who will be performing photographic documentation on patients. The Health and Science Communications Association offers photography for medicine resources and educational opportunities.

Attend dental photography schools or classes to get trained in this emerging field

The field of dental photography is growing in popularity as digital cameras enable more sophisticated dental imagery solutions. Most dental photography classes teach students to take dental photographs, edit images and utilize digital photography to improve patient care.

I recommend: Continuum for Complete Care offers digital dental photography courses designed for hands-on learning in a small group environment. The Pankey Institute provides classes in digital dental photography for dentists, assistants and lab technicians.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When seeking medical photography jobs, it will be useful to have a portfolio of medical or science photos to share with potential employers. As you pursue degrees, keep taking pictures and preserve your best medical or science photos in a format that can easily be shared with potential employers.

Digital photography for medicine incorporates images ranging from micro images taken from slides, to bruises, to full-body images. The work of professional medical photographers is prevalent in medical text books, reports and health care magazines. There are numerous images available for download for personal and business use.

Finding royalty-free medical images or free medical stock photos will be easy. The vast amount of photos available may become overwhelming, so knowing exactly what you require is a place to start.

1. Resolution of images varies, so know the size and contrast requirements of the medical pictures you require.

2. You can narrow your search time if you have a health care focus for the images you need.

3. Consider whether you need black and white or color images, as well as the magnification required if the images you need are microscopic.

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Stick with the best medical photo libraries

If your business or website needs to have access to a broad range of photos for medicine, register with a stock photo agency that has a large library of photos. You'll be able to access images for a fee that is contingent on the type of licensing you require.

I recommend: Custom Medical Stock Photo has a constantly expanding library of images for health communications. BrightQube has a unique mosaic style image display that puts up to 8,000 images on the screen at one time.

Learn to take your own medical picture

If you want the hands-on experience of taking your own medical images, consider researching medical photography schools to see if you have what it takes to learn the techniques of medical photography. You may find yourself with a new career.

I recommend: You can start your search by zip code with the comprehensive directory of photography schools at All Art Schools. Photography.com talks about how to seek out a medical photography school or workshop near you and they list their top six picks.

Consider medical photography as a job

The specialized field of medical photography is growing. Medical photography jobs can be found at medical schools, hospitals, and health care magazines where there is always a need for images to record research, events, and other medical-related activities. It's a competitive field, so be prepared to jump on opportunities as soon as you find them. Make sure you have years of photography experience, especially if medical photography is a field you are trying to break in to.

I recommend: MedHunters.com is a searchable healthcare job board containing hospital jobs and jobs with other medical-related employers. Medical Jobs contains international medical and healthcare positions, including open photographer positions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A medical practitioner may use a medical photography system with ultraviolet technology to identify dermatological conditions.

Medical photography and imagery have been around for a long time, but with advances in technology it is more about the quality of the image (and ease in diagnosis) than it is about the method of production of a picture. There are many specialty offshoots of medical photography. It is used by cardiologists, radiologists, surgeons and others to aid in the diagnosis, management and treatment of medical conditions. It not only gives you a tool with which to make a diagnosis, it also gives you a permanent record of disease.

Action Steps
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MRI

An MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, uses magnetic field, radio frequency pulses and computer technology to give detailed images of organs, soft tissues, bones and other internal structures. The images can be seen on a computer and printed or saved to disk for future use.

I recommend: Learn about MRI technology from the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

CT, CAT scan

A CT or CAT scan, also known as computerized axial tomography, allows doctors to combine X-ray images by way of computer to give cross-sectional views as well as 3-D images of internal organs and body structures.

I recommend: Find out more about CT scans from MedicineNet.

X-ray angiography

X-ray angiography is used to produce images that help diagnose diseases of the blood vessels. This technology helps in the diagnosis of problems in the brain and heart.

I recommend: Discover more about X-ray angiography from Imaginis.

UV

UV fluorescence photography is used in the field of dentistry to record the presence of artificial teeth. It is also useful to record such dermatological conditions as psoriasis or fungal infections of the skin, e.g. ringworm.

I recommend: Find out more about UV light used in medical photography from Profect.

IR

IR (infrared) photography is used to determine and record peripheral vascular patterns. It is helpful when working with such conditions as venous thrombosis, varicose veins and varicose ulcers.

I recommend: Find out more about digital infrared thermal imaging and deep vein thrombosis from Meditherm. Rochester Institute of Technology provides detailed information about infrared photography.

Axial anatomical images

Axial anatomical images are cross-section images that are taken through the entire axial dimension of the body. The slices have been likened to pages of a book. The Visible Human Project has made use of 18,000 digitized sections to create complete, anatomically detailed, 3-D representations of healthy male and female human bodies.

I recommend: Discover more about The Visible Human Project from the National Library of Medicine. See axial anatomical images of the brain, chest, abdomen and pelvis from Wayne State University.