The Digital Pro LLC

Plastic Surgeons Photographic Equipment-System

Camera and Lighting System for Cosmetic Photography designed to take “Before and After” photos that have perfect registration, consistent lighting and publication quality.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has done a great  job in establishing standards for plastic surgeons taking before and after photos of patients. This includes a publication called “Photographic Standards in Plastic Surgery” and a PDF version is available for your viewing. After reviewing this publication it would seem that there would be compliance with the standards that have been set, but that is definitely not the case.

If  you review the publication it becomes very apparent that taking before and after photos as is it being done in most plastic surgeons offices is far from the professional standards that have been set. A whole list of problems that this has created could be listed including loss of revenue. What needs to be done is setting up an area in your office dedicated to taking patient photos with the right equipment and staff training. The small investment in equipment will start to show a return immediately. If you already have studio lights and a Digital SLR camera the Camera Track sells for as little as $2000. Camera Floor Stand sells for $450

The most way most efficient way to accomplish this is to contact Jim Canterbury at The Digital Pro LLC. What I will need is a list of the Camera, and Lighting  that your office is using, and the dimensions of the room that is being used including ceiling height. After receiving this information I will layout  the studio and recommend any additional equipment you will need.

The first item that is addressed is “Camera to Patient Distance”  this issue is resolved using the ceiling mounted Laser Camera Track all of your Before and After Photos will be taken from the same height and distance for each patient and those measurements will be recorded for future reference. If you are not able to use the ceiling mounted camera track in your office another option is now available with the calibrated floor stand with rotating camera bracket.

Camera Track	Floor Stand

 

In order to keep the exposure and color balance consistent the wall that is being used for the background will need to be painted 18% grey. (Using the paint mix code for Home Depot ).

Lighting needs to be “Locked Down” so the studio lights should be mounted on the side walls rather than using movable stands.

If you have been using a zoom lens on the camera this will need to be replaced with a fixed standard or Macro lens.

A target mat needs to be placed for the patient to stand on, and still with swivel base for them to sit on for facial photos.

Design a Patient Photo Form with information needed to repeat settings when taking photos in later sessions.

Train staff on how to use equipment and record settings.

Here is a break down of the photographic issues  Plastic Surgeons need to resolve:

Before and after photos that do not comply with professional plastic surgeon’s association standards for documentation. Lack of quality photos result in lost revenue from potential clients. Documentation of procedures are questionable because before and after photos are out of registration.

Problem #1

Before and after photos out of registration.

 

Cause:Photos taken with the camera hand held, or with a conventional tripod result in photos taken at different distances from the subject, and angles: having the camera tilted up and down or side to side to frame the subject.

 

 Fix: Ceiling Mounted CameraTrack  or Camera Floor Stand. The camera always remains level, and perpendicular to the subject. When changing from Vertical to Horizontal the lens remains centered. Camera elevation and distance from the subject is recorded using the calibrated rails.

 

  Problem #2

Poor lighting causing hot spots, shadows, light or dark exposures, inconsistent color rendition.

 

 Cause: Using available room light, on camera flash, or Studio Strobe lights (flash system)

 

  Fix: Use Daylight Balanced Fluorescent studio lights mounted in place. (No waiting for electronic flashes to recycle, color temperature same as daylight, soft even lighting.) 

 

 Problem #3

Taking photos becomes time consuming slowing down work flow.

 

 Cause: Too many variables when setting up to take photos, lack of procedure standards and staff training and standards

 

  Fix: Using the right equipment, and having an easy repetitive procedure for the office staff to follow when taking photos.

 

 

 The Camera Track was designed, but not limited to be used by Plastic Surgeons for patience’s before, and after medical photos.

 The design and construction of the CameraTrack was conceived by James Canterbury while working with Dr. Mark Jewell MD, PC and his staff in Eugene, Oregon. (http://www.markjewellmd.com)