Medical Photographer

Also known as:

Photographer, Medical

Introduction

Medical or clinical photographers are part of a team of medical illustrators who work in healthcare establishments. They photograph patients, specimens and operations for medical records. They also prepare visual aids such as slides and videos, which can be used for teaching and research purposes.

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Work Activities

Medical or clinical photographers are part of a team of medical illustrators who work in hospitals, medical schools and medical research institutions. They take photographs of patients' conditions and injuries, and also work in surgical photography, which requires them to record operations. The images are taken with the consent of patients and are then used to help doctors diagnose conditions early and to track conditions as treatment progresses. They are also used to help researchers and those involved in training medical staff.

Medical or clinical photographers make their own photographs and other diagrams, artwork and X-rays into slides for use in tutorials and lectures. It is often the responsibility of the photographer to check that copyright laws are followed when reproducing original work.

Photography is now almost completely digital. Medical or clinical photographers have the benefit of working with some of the newest and most sophisticated developments in photographic equipment. For example, photographers may have to set up the equipment for an endoscopy, which involves attaching a tube with a light source to a camera body. The doctor then feeds it inside the patient so that shots of internal organs and joints can be taken.

There are recent developments in the fields of 3D medical photography and animation. Specialised equipment is also used to produce ophthalmic, ultra-violet or infra-red images.

Medical or clinical photographers should also understand video, cine photography and closed-circuit television techniques. As well as surgical and clinical work, they may take photographs for medical journals and books. They may also have other photographic duties, including location photography, medical legal photography, public relations photography and creative studio work.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

An interest in science and medicine is as important as an interest in photography. You must be able to work in distressing situations. For example, you may have to photograph a post-mortem or someone who has been disfigured.

You must be able to communicate effectively with medical, nursing and research staff and other professionals working within the field of medicine. In your own team, you will also work alongside other medical illustrators - medical graphic designers, medical artists and medical videographers.

As a medical or clinical photographer, your work will require a high degree of concentration, and you must be able to pay meticulous attention to detail. You will have to follow the same health and safety rules as other medical professionals when working in the operating theatre. You will often deal with people who feel embarrassed or upset, so a tactful, friendly and supportive manner is vital.

You need good IT skills including Photoshop and a knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy.

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Pay and Opportunities

Pay rates for medical or clinical photographers vary depending on whether they are employed or self-employed, and on the type of employer.

National Health Service (NHS) employees are paid on a rising scale within defined pay bands, according to their skills and responsibilities. The pay rates given below are approximate.

Medical photographers in the NHS earn in the range of £18,000 - £21,000 a year, rising to around £33,500 a year and higher rates are possible depending on responsibilities.

Working hours can vary. Some photographers work regular office hours, usually over a standard 37.5-hour week, Monday to Friday. Those who work in hospitals may be required to work shifts, which may include early starts, late finishes, and work at weekends and on public holidays.

Photographers can be based in departments of medical illustration in hospitals, in medical schools, in private medicine and in research establishments. They can work in any department of a hospital including operating theatres.

There is a lot of competition for posts.

Vacancies in hospitals are advertised in the British Journal of Photography and on the website of the Institute of Medical Illustrators: www.imi.org.uk

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Entry to this occupation is very competitive. However, there are opportunities to train as a medical or clinical photographer if you have a suitable photographic qualification or relevant skills. A portfolio of photographic work is usually required.

Photography can be studied on a full- or part-time basis, or it can develop from a hobby. It is useful to update your skills by taking short courses in photographic techniques and methods such as those offered by City and Guilds.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (eg, Access to Art and Design) could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually required, but you should check individual course details.

They can lead to relevant degree/HND courses.

Relevant courses in photography, at various levels, are offered by a large number of centres, by distance learning.

Universities and colleges of higher education (HE) will usually consider applications from candidates who do not meet their usual entry requirements, especially those with relevant experience. You should check the admissions policy of individual universities and HE colleges.

• 15% of people in occupations such as medical photographer work part-time.
• 13% have flexible hours.

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