dental practice July 2009
www.dental-practice.org
Dental photography: equipment
and technique – part 2
CPD
This month, Philip Wander BDS MGDS RCS tackles portrait photography
E
VERY face tells a story, and by a professional wedding requirement for the accreditation
good “before and after” photographer, Gary Fong. Light from examination. More typically, use the
photographs will clearly the flash is redirected in all directions. vertical format (portrait format) to give
enhance your patient’s understanding The result is smooth, even lighting a more cropped and concise image
of the cosmetic techniques available, without harsh reflections or deep • Frame the picture so that you see the
and will also help to market and shadows and “warmer “skin tones. The top of the patient’s hair and some of
demonstrate your skills to other use of a silver or white “reflector” will the area below their chin
patients. Good portrait photography act as a further source of soft lighting • The patient should not be in an
helps to add value to your practice. to further enhance a portrait. obviously dental environment (ie not
Natural lighting can be used, sat in the dental chair) and their head
Lighting provided there is sufficient illumination should be upright and level
The “ring flash” set-up, utilised for in your surgery, but this is too variable • The camera should be at the patient’s
close-up photographs, has the flash to be reliably consistent. You can tell eye level, and should focus on the eyes
very close to the lens, allowing the the lighting used in a portrait by • If the flash causes the patient to
Portrait poses using diffused flash lighting
illumination of everything visible in the looking at the specular reflections in blink, ask the subject to close their eyes
view-finder. It is ideal for detailed the eyes. Space is limited in a dental until you say “open!”; then take the photograph is taken, or by removing
images and documentation, and is the surgery, and the lens can therefore be photograph immediately the flash and “bouncing” the flash off
standard equipment recommended for changed for a shorter focal length to be • The subject should not be too close the wall or ceiling. Some cameras have
accreditation (BACD and AACD closer to the subject. to the background to avoid shadows a red eye reduction mode – but be
examinations), but for portraits it Don’t get too close, or you will get a • Exposure compensation may be aware that there is a strobe effect prior
produces a flatter and possibly less distorted image and a “fish eye” look! necessary for patients with darker skin to the main flash being fired
appealing quality, often leaving a single tones • Make your mark! For consistency,
reflection in the centre of the subject’s Backgrounds • For a profile view for orthodontic mark your position on your surgery
pupil, which gives a “beady eye”. In Non-distracting backgrounds are and surgical purposes, the patient’s floor, where you take your portraits.
addition, when there is insufficient favoured, and colours most often whole body should be at 90 degrees, as This will be about six feet from the
illumination in a room, “red eye” may selected are black, grey, blue and white. well as their head subject in most cases, and this will give
also occur in the pupil. Sometimes the skin can take on a • Remember for portraits that shorter you a baseline for future cases
For portraits and profiles, a yellowish tone with a blue background, or medium focal length lenses can be • Posing tips for portrait photographs
magnification ratio of 1:15 can be set and therefore grey or black can be used (55mm-0mm) on an SLR camera – it is often easier to take an attractive
initially on the lens. As these camera more neutral. These can be purchased to get a shorter working distance (3- portrait of a seated subject as people
systems have a 105mm macro lens, the as different colours and sizes of card 4ft), resulting in less light being tend to be more relaxed when sitting
patient is between five to seven feet (although some people prefer to use required, smaller apertures and • Have your subject turn their face 45
away from the camera, so that the material such as felt). They should be a facilitating easier focusing degrees to the camera, then turn their
entire head can be photographed. This matt material. head back towards the camera
challenges the weaker flash to produce • The lens can be set on “auto focus” Essential things to • A portrait will appear more relaxed if
sufficient light on the subject, and • Experiment with different poses – remember the subject has a place to rest their
therefore a wider aperture of f-stop 5.6 don’t just ask the patient to stare into • Subjects should be out of the dental hands
to f11 is necessary, depending on the the camera. They could look over their chair • Converse with your patient while you
flash system and ambient lighting. shoulder, turn their head and tilt their • The patient should be positioned in are setting up and shooting. A joke or a
However, reasonable portrait results head up or down instead front of a plain, non-reflecting fun conversation will relax them and
are achievable. Better portrait lighting • Ask the patient to moisten their lips background produce a more natural result
is achieved by removing the macro and say either “Mississippi”, “Emma”, • Don’t forget to include the ears! NB. It is good practice to respect
flash and holding it nearer to the “eee” or “smile forever”. These words • Spectacles should be removed to the patient’s rights, so make a habit of
subject or to one side, or by using will allow photographs of the lip/teeth avoid reflection and distraction getting a “model release form” signed
special equipment studio lighting or a relationships • The nose should be in the centre of by each subject, which is especially
diffused flash system. A portrait flash • The patient’s nose should be in the the photograph important if a portrait photograph has
diffuser in the shape of an “inverted centre of the photograph • The “red eye” effect is the reflection been taken.
dome” is • Try to have a little extra light coming of the blood vessels of the retina Your patient may well be impressed
placed on a from each side of the face, for example straight into the camera lens. It can be and pleased with your dentistry but
flashgun, using angle-poise lamps or “slave avoided by asking the subject to stare may not wish to share the photography
and the flashes” (extra flash guns synchronised at a bright light just before the with others!
light with the main flash unit) to avoid the
bounced harshness of the main direct flash of
Dr Philip Wander has over 40 years’ experience in
off the wall the “on camera” flash gun
both NHS and private practices in Manchester. He co-
or ceiling. • The better the portrait, the more
authored with Dr Peter Gordon the BDJ textbook Dental
The likely it is that the patient will relate to
Photography, and has written numerous articles and lectured
custom the image and be keen to proceed with
extensively on the topic. He is currently giving a series
flash the treatment
of hands-on courses on “Shoot your patients to build
diffuser • Portrait photographs can be taken
your practice”. For further information, contact Philip at
was with the camera positioned horizontally
info@dentalphotos.co.uk.
Light background; note shadows designed (landscape format) and this is a

DP July 09 8, 10, 12-20, 22.indd8 8 24/6/09 13:04:19
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40