Journal · 2 min read
Dental Photography: How to Start When It Feels Intimidating
Everyone scrolls past a beautiful case photo and wonders how to even begin. Begin smaller than you think.
Most dentists come to dental photography the same way. You scroll past a beautiful case and ask, "How do I even begin taking a picture like that?"
In my 2020 paper in the Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry, "photography is not part of core dental education, and learning it is within reach if you have the will to learn".
Here is how to start.
Learn one camera, properly
Before settings, before accessories, learn the camera you have. Read the manual. Watch tutorials. Take a course.
Dr. Robin Hildebrand described doing exactly this at Art of Ceramic: she slowed down a photography video, sat with a notepad and her camera, and rewound until she understood her setup. Then she practiced on a family member until the photos looked the way she wanted.
Practice a full set until it is quick
The goal at the start is not one perfect photo. It is a full set of dental photos taken quickly and efficiently, the same way every time. Keep a cheat sheet of your settings until you no longer need it.
(When you are ready for the numbers, my dental photography settings are here.)
Photograph every case, before you touch it
Your first reason to shoot is your lab. One of the most important reasons we take dental photographs is to communicate shade to the ceramist. A photo before any treatment is information you can never get back once you start.
Walk before you run
Becoming a dental photographer is a lifelong journey. Start with one camera, one routine and one patient at a time.
Questions, answered.
How do I start dental photography?
Learn one camera thoroughly, practice taking a full set of photos quickly and the same way every time, and photograph every case before treatment.
What is the hardest part of starting dental photography?
Usually confidence. Dr. Andi-Jean Miro calls it a lifelong journey and recommends walking before you run.
Do I need an expensive camera to start dental photography?
No. A good lens and light matter more than the body, and an affordable body is a sensible place to start.
Why do dentists take photos before treatment?
To document the case and to communicate shade and detail to the lab before anything changes.