Medical Photography

What the job entails:

Most medical photographers will work within small medical illustration departments in either hospitals or medical schools. Their job is to record the work of healthcare professionals as well as record patients injuries and diseases to be used either to help with treatments or for education. They will photograph patients on the wards, the operating table and bodies in the post mortem room.

Career Routes:

Most medical photographers will have some sort of science related degree level qualification, a photographic education as well as a specific medical photography qualification. Once in the field the photographers then have the opportunity to specialise in different aspects of medical photography.

Training, skills and qualifications:

They need a thorough grasp of photographic techniques and of which equipment would be appropriate for various situations within the medical setting. They also need a basic knowledge of human anatomy and the origins of disease. They need an interest and knowledge of scientific terminology in order to communicate with medical staff. Medical photographers are required to have a HND level course in photography followed by a training post at a teaching hospital. They also need to complete a Post Experience Certificate in Medical Illustration or a Qualifying exam in Medical Photography. Or to complete a full time HND course in Medical Illustration.

Equipment:

They require a digital SLR or a 35mm equivalent. They also need more complex equipment for micro- and macrography, time-lapse cinematography, thermal imaging, endoscopy and photography outside the visible spectrum.

Typical salary:

There are different pay bands set for medical photographers within the NHS. A trainee can earn between £12,800 - £15,500; a more experienced photographer can earn £15,500 - £24,000; and a medical photographer in a managerial position can earn £24,000 - £35,000.

Job vacancies:

Jobs are advertised in numerous medical publications, the British journal of photography and NHS websites.


Examples of medical photography: