Best Tips for Dental Photography

These dental photography tips will take your technique from average to professional in an instant. When faced with a DSLR camera, many feel daunted by the settings and different options, but really your success in photography comes down to how you manipulate the camera position.

Capturing an aesthetically pleasing photograph may not seem obvious until the difference between sub par and incredible is pointed out. But once you get to that elevated level, you’ll see the difference in how your patients respond to visual treatment plans. Plus, when you do amazing dentistry, you should be able to show it off!

Practice improving your skills with these tips and see your photography confidence soar:

4 Tips for Your Best Dental Photography

1. Face Composition

For a full face shot, use a horizontal orientation. The patient should be close enough that the top of their head and their chin correspond to the top and bottom of the image. Yet they shouldn’t be far enough away that their shoulders are visible.

2. Angle

Avoid a canted image that just seems ‘off’ by keeping the camera at a 90 degree angle. The straight on shot is the most visually pleasing for this type of photography.

3. Background

The biggest difference between an image of professional quality and one that could’ve come from an amateur is the background. A distracting background takes away from the main focal point of the image. Either capture photos against an unadorned wall or purchase a backdrop that can be used for full face shots.

4. Lip Retraction

To properly retract a patient’s lips, it’s a good idea to get a teammate involved. Make sure the patient is comfortable by coating their lips in vaseline and wet the retractors so they manipulate easily.

What is your favorite part of dental photography? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments!