1 - Demonstrate the professional skills and attributes required to produce a photographic record that describes the function of a department, and is suitable for public display, in order to communicate the nature of the department to lay audiences, and to demonstrate evidence of research and pictorial development in a technical log.

2 - Produce clinically useful, ophthalmic, dental, clinical and surgical photographs, exercising judgement in the choice of particular photographic and lighting techniques and to evidence this in a technical log.

3 - Analyse the role of the clinical photographer and the issue of professional practice in the photography of patients on a variety of clinical environments, and to reflect critically on one’s own professional practice.

4 - Reflect critically on a range of approaches to the ethical issues involved in clinical photography, and the contribution that clinical photographers can make to the dignity, comfort and well-being of patients.

Assignments 1-5 consist of practical photographic work that must be undertaken in the workplace and require a technical log (of varying length) [Learning Outcomes 1-3]

The Reflective Report requires learners to consider their continuous professional development and provide a case study in relation to professional practice and patient care management [Learning Outcomes 3-4]

All elements of assessment must be passed in order to pass the module overall.

This module covers the specialist technical skills that a clinical photographer needs, along with a knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding the use of photography in healthcare locations, with patients and in the operating theatre. You will learn how to set up, organise and prepare for a photographic shoot in a healthcare location, how to deal with patient photography in the studio setting, how to use lighting techniques in order to illustrate particular anatomical or dermatological features and how to use the specialist equipment associated with ophthalmic, dental and surgical photography. You will learn about the legal and ethical issues associated with patient photography and the use of such photographs, and you will have the opportunity to reflect critically on the application of this knowledge in your own workplace, in supporting the welfare of patients.

This module covers the specialist technical skills that a clinical photographer needs, along with a knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding the use of photography in healthcare locations, with patients and in the operating theatre. You will learn how to set up, organise and prepare for a photographic shoot in a healthcare location, how to deal with patient photography in the studio setting, how to use lighting techniques in order to illustrate particular anatomical or dermatological features and how to use the specialist equipment associated with ophthalmic, dental and surgical photography. You will learn about the legal and ethical issues associated with patient photography and the use of such photographs, and you will have the opportunity to reflect critically on the application of this knowledge in your own workplace, in supporting the welfare of patients.

This module is delivered by distance learning, which means that you will engage in independent study, supported by your workplace supervisor.

You will carry out a series of practical assignments, each of which covers a specific area of professional practice. You will document the thoughts, decisions and analyses that inform this work, in an assignment technical log. The technical log will consider the use of photography in a variety of clinical environments, including the operating theatre, and reflect on the legal and ethical issues surrounding the photography of patients and the use of the resulting photographs. The overall reflective report will reflect critically on your professional practice and consider a variety of theoretical approaches to the general issues of patient care, in relation to photography and will refer to specific case studies, in discussing the ways in which you, as a clinical photographer, can best support the general well-being of patients.

IMI National Guidelines (2023).
The Shrewsbury Group. (2009) West Midlands Clinical Photographic Handbook. ISBN: 978-0-956776006
(Available via Course Co-ordinator)

Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine, e-journal published by Taylor & Francis.

Library and Information Services resources
Blackboard
Workplace-based resources

Learners must be employed as a Clinical Photographer n a UK-based Medical Illustration department.