Paediatric Photography

 

These Guidelines, to be used when dealing with children, are intended for the clinical photography of general medical conditions. Paediatric photography includes children through the age range 0 to 18 years of age.

If you undertake a lot of Paediatric work, consider making the reception area as child friendly as possible – provide toys to play with, paper, crayons, and pencils for children to draw with whilst waiting. Low seating should be provided for children to sit on.

Standardisation of images is essential as some conditions will require photography over many years, even through to adulthood; additionally good record keeping is equally important. Standard ratios of reproduction can be based on the Westminster Scales or magnifications agreed locally with the consultants. However, in paediatrics, the Clinical Photographer must accept that this is not always going to be possible. This can be very difficult to accept when the photographer is accustomed to taking photographs of compliant adults. 

Remember the child’s attention span will not always permit the photographer to obtain perfect photographs. With experience, it is possible to determine the level of acceptability and to learn when the child’s attention span has reached its limit, is too upset and distressed to continue, or is too ill to undertake the full photographic request. In extreme cases, photography may need to be abandoned and rescheduled if the child is too distressed or unwell.