
How to Set Up A Plastic Surgery Medical
Photography Room
C
onsistent, high quality before and after photos are absolutely essential for a successful plastic surgery practice. Medical photography is the most detailed form of documentation and also serves as a way to increase client satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, high quality medical photography can be used to educate the public as well as attract new patients through marketing and social media. Plastic surgery practices must have impressive before and after galleries on their websites to entice new clientele. Gone are the days of a single photo room, complete with synchronized flashes and a pre-programmed DSLR. The latest iPhones and iPads have 12 megapixel cameras, which take excellent high-resolution photos consistently. Before smart phones, before and after photos would not always happen because there was only one medical photography room, and if it was occupied, time was wasted waiting. With RxPhoto in conjunction with iPhones or iPads, every clinic room can become a plastic surgery medical photography room. Every patient should, and can, have medical photography in their chart, complete with before and afters, without fail.
Equipment:
Lighting: The most important aspect of lighting is consistency. During medical photography, keep the natural light blocked out in all clinic rooms. For example, if a patient comes in the morning for their first appointment, and the after photos are taken a couple weeks later in the afternoon, the natural lighting will look different. The same goes for winter and summer appointments. To avoid variables, keep natural light blocked out. Also, if the room is well-lit, a camera flash is not necessary. Camera flashes often create harsh and uneven shadowing on facial portraits.
Setup:
Equipment:
- Full length mirror
- Curtain rod
- Blue sheet
- iPhone/iPad with RxPhoto app
- An employee with a pulse

Setup:
- Hang the full-length mirror, rod, and curtain
- If there are windows in the room, either install shutters or hang a curtain to block the natural light
- Download the RxPhoto app
- Have all employees practice taking photos on each other to perfect poses, angles, and get a steady hand.

Are you struggling to take high-quality and
consistent before and after photos? Check out our whitepaper on mastering clinical photography