Biomedical Photographers

Biomedical photographers capture images to facilitate the recording and disseminating of medical and biological knowledge. The photographer makes visual records of biological and medical events, and may photograph physical changes in a patient, microscopic slides of tissue, or surgical procedures. This is highly skilled and supervisory photographic work consistently requiring the creative and innovative use of advanced photography equipment and film processing in a medical environment.
Employees use specialized photographic techniques in taking still and motion pictures in color and black and white for medical records, publications, exhibits, diagnostic and teaching purposes.

The biomedical photographer’s skills cover nearly every aspect of photography, and skills in areas unique to biological photography such as vital photomicrography and surgical motion pictures. The photographer must also have a basic understanding of biological sciences. Biomedical photographers sometimes work with biomedical illustrators.

Biomedical photographers duties:
-Photographs patients with varying medical conditions for diagnostic, instructional, and clinical research purposes.
-Photographs cells, tissues, organs, and organisms using micro and macro photographic techniques.
-Plans, takes, and edits motion pictures and slide programs in color and black and white to be used as instructional aids.
-Photographs operating room and medical research procedure which require innovative use of lighting and other auxiliary systems where subjects present only one photographic opportunity.

Biomedical photographers work in large hospitals, universities, health science schools (such as schools of medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine), pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, and medical publishers. Photographers may also work on a free-lance basis.

The growing field of scientific information ensures a continued need for medical photographers. Entry-level salary is around $30,000 per year. With experience biomedical photographers earn annual wages ranging from $35,000 to $45,000. Professionals with twenty to twenty-five years of experience and a graduate degree can earn more than $60,000 per year.
The Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York is the only school in the United States that grants a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Photographic Communications.