DIY Dental Office Photo Guide

First impressions mean a lot when a patient is considering a new dental practice. And quality photography is one of the most important ways to make a great first impression. So, it’s worth investing time and effort to capture your clinic and people in their best light.

You don’t have to hire a professional photographer. Given that most of us now carry highquality, high-definition cameras in our pockets, it’s completely acceptable to shoot your own photography using your phone. Just be sure to follow our DIY photo tips below so you get the most impressive, well-framed, well-lit, and well-presented photos possible.

Plan your shoot

Make a list of all the photos you’d like to capture. A “shot list” will help you organize thepeople and props you might need for your shoot and serve as a checklist so you don’t forget any photos you’d like to get. Our photo guide for pros has some great shot list suggestions.

Stage your shots

You’ll present a much better image of your clinic if it’s clean, neat, and attractive. So before you shoot, take some time to tidy things up, organize counters and tables, and even place a few props and decorations to spruce things up.

Include patients and colleagues

Photos of empty rooms project a cold and impersonal feeling, but photos of rooms with people in them are naturally more warm, appealing, and welcoming. Ask friends or family to be patients, or ask patients ahead of their appointment to see if they're comfortable being in your marketing. Just be sure that anyone who volunteers to be in your photos signs a waiver.

Here's a Model Release template. Simply save a copy and fill in your practice and shoot information. 

Be active and smile

Rather than have dentists and patients pose artificially for the camera, capture more candid looking moments, with action, smiles, and movement. The dentist can point to a screen for the patient, or demonstrate something using a model. Avoid photos with tools in the patient’s mouth, and don’t wear masks even if you're with patients. We want people to see your smiling face!

Quality team photos or headshots

For team photos, or individual headshots, find a solid wall with good lighting (front lighting, not back lighting) and have the people or person stand a couple of feet out from the wall. Or, place your subjects with depth behind them, and use your phone’s Portrait Mode to automatically blur the background.

Technical considerations

• Clean your phone’s camera lens with a soft cloth before shooting.
• Shoot landscape orientation (horizontal) for all practice and staged photos. Individual team member headshots can be portrait orientation (vertical).
• Use the .5 zoom setting to make a space feel bigger. Take a few photos with .5 and 1 to cover your bases.
• The more natural light the better—but avoid shooting people with a backlight (a window behind them), as they will show up silhouetted in the photo.
• Consider the season for exterior shots—make sure the weather presents your clinic in the best possible light.

Questions? Send us a message through our contact form or reach out to your Optio Account Manager.