Forensic Photography
Written by Abin Alex and Anu Joseph.
Abstract
Forensic photography applies ordinary photographic skill to evidence under strict rules. This guide explains the three photograph types, establishing, mid-range and close-up, then covers scales used with and without, camera position square to the evidence, tripods, flash and oblique light, and alternate light sources with barrier filters. It outlines how scene type changes what is photographed and sets out records, original files and dignity. It follows the OSAC 2020 proposed standard where possible and marks lecture-note rules as teaching guides. It is educational, not legal advice or agency procedure.
Keywords: Forensic photography; evidence photography; scale; alternate light source; photo log
- What is forensic photography?
- What are establishing, mid-range and close-up photographs?
- How are scales used in evidence photographs?
- Why must the camera be perpendicular to the evidence?
- How do tripods, flash and oblique light help?
- What are alternate light sources and barrier filters?
- How does scene type change what is photographed?
- What records and ethics apply?
- Which camera settings suit forensic photography?
What is forensic photography?
Short answer. Forensic photography uses ordinary photographic principles to record evidence under strict rules.
- Forensic photography applies photographic principles to forensic situations. The camera skills are the same. The rules for records and handling are stricter.
- The aim is a complete, accurate record of the scene, made as though documenting it, with both wide views and close detail.
- The OSAC guide covers scenes of crime and also collisions, research and suspicious deaths (OSAC, 2020).
- Take scene photographs before anything is altered or added, so the first record shows the scene as found (OSAC, 2020).
- Keep every original image, including poor or unintended ones, and keep the photographs from every camera, including backups and phones, in the case file (OSAC, 2020).
- A series is framed by records: a cover sheet at the start, the photographs in order, a photo log, and an archive of the originals (Figure 1).
- The photographer has to recognise what may be evidence and then capture it in three types of photograph, described in the next chapter.
Practise on a staged mock scene made of everyday objects. Record it the way you would a real one, with the same order and the same records.
Film continuity records work in a similar way. A script supervisor logs each shot so that the set can be rebuilt exactly. Forensic logging has the same purpose.
Cham tipPhotograph first and touch later. Once an object is moved you cannot recover how it was found.
Cham taskSet up a mock scene with five household objects. Photograph it as found, then list what you would record in a log.
Check yourself: What should be photographed before anything is moved?
The scene as found.
What are establishing, mid-range and close-up photographs?
Short answer. Three types move from the whole scene to the detail: establishing, mid-range and close-up.
- Forensic work uses three principal types of photograph: establishing, mid-range and close-up (Figure 2). The OSAC guide calls the first type overall (OSAC, 2020).
- Establishing photographs show the location, the general layout and the position of evidence. Use a wide-angle lens and cover all rooms of interest and the links between them (OSAC, 2020).
- Mid-range photographs show how items relate to each other and to the scene. Frame the evidence with a known landmark, and keep any reference subject at the same distance from the camera as the evidence (OSAC, 2020).
- Close-up photographs capture detail. Fill the frame with the subject when its size allows, and photograph items in place before they are moved (OSAC, 2020).
- One mid-range view may not be enough. An item near a doorway may need views from several sides so that its position is fixed from every direction.
- Lecture notes give typical aperture ranges for each type (Table 1). These are teaching guides, not requirements of the OSAC guide.
| Photograph | Purpose | Aperture in lecture notes |
|---|---|---|
| Establishing | Overview of the scene and where evidence sits. No scale needed | f/11 to f/22 |
| Mid-range | How items relate to each other and the scene. With and without a scale where needed | f/8 to f/16 |
| Close-up | Detail of the evidence, with and without a scale | f/1.4 to f/4 |
Table 1. Photograph types and the aperture ranges in lecture notes. The OSAC guide asks for settings that control depth of field and distortion and does not set these figures.
Photograph your mock scene three times from the same side: wide, then closer with a landmark, then tight on one object. Check that each frame links to the next.
The three types match wide shot, medium shot and close-up. The difference is that every frame has to be traceable back to the scene.
Cham tipKeep a landmark in the mid-range frame. A frame with no landmark cannot be placed on the scene.
Cham taskPhotograph one object in all three types. Lay the three prints side by side and check you can find the object in each.
Check yourself: What is the purpose of a mid-range photograph?
To show how items relate to each other and to the scene.
How are scales used in evidence photographs?
Short answer. A scale records real size. Photograph first without it, then with it.
- A scale in the frame lets the image be measured and compared later.
- Take the photograph without the scale first, then with it, whenever the size of the item may matter (OSAC, 2020).
- Do not let the scale cover the subject. Put it on the same plane as the subject (Figure 3) (OSAC, 2020).
- Millimetre scales are recommended and should be traceable to a known standard. The OSAC guide names an ABFO No. 2 scale for bite marks and an FBI bureau (L) scale for footwear (OSAC, 2020).
- Match the scale to the evidence. A fingerprint needs a millimetre scale. A large item on the floor can be shown with a larger ruler.
- Establishing photographs need no scale, because they show layout and not size.
- Lecture notes add that scales should be present in all bloodstain pattern photographs, and that multiple patterns should be labelled in their own sequence, such as letters, apart from the numbers used for other evidence.
Photograph a small flat object such as a coin. Take one frame without a scale and one with a ruler on the same plane, then compare how well each can be measured.
Camera tests use the same idea: a chart in the frame gives a known reference. A scale is a chart for size.
Cham tipCheck that the scale lies flat and level with the subject. A raised scale reads larger or smaller than the evidence.
Cham taskPhotograph a leaf or a coin with and without a ruler. Measure it from the second image and check against the real size.
Check yourself: Which photograph is taken first, with or without the scale?
Without the scale.
Why must the camera be perpendicular to the evidence?
Short answer. A camera square to the evidence plane records true shape and size.
- For examination-quality photographs, place the lens perpendicular to the subject, fill the frame and choose focal length, aperture and distance to limit distortion (OSAC, 2020).
- The camera and tripod should be square to the plane the evidence lies on, so the sensor and the evidence are parallel (Figure 4).
- If the camera is tilted, a rectangle records as a trapezoid, so lengths and angles no longer match the real item (Figure 5).
- A steady support such as a tripod, copy stand or beanbag helps (OSAC, 2020).
- Standing back and using a longer lens limits perspective distortion more than standing close with a wide lens.
- For establishing shots, work for continuous, overlapping views that show how the scene is oriented.
Photograph a sheet of paper on a table from straight above, then from an angle. Compare the two images and see how the edges change.
A locked-off overhead shot in a film is the same position. It shows layout without perspective distortion.
Cham tipUse the grid or level on the camera. Check that the frame edges run parallel to the edges of the subject.
Cham taskPhotograph a book cover straight on, then at a tilt. Measure the cover width in both images.
Check yourself: What happens to a rectangle photographed with a tilted camera?
It records as a trapezoid.
How do tripods, flash and oblique light help?
Short answer. A tripod prevents blur, and low-angle light shows relief.
- Movement blurs or hides critical detail. Lecture notes say to use a tripod for close-ups, certain mid-range shots, low light and long exposures. The OSAC guide lists a tripod as recommended minimum equipment (OSAC, 2020).
- In low light avoid high ISO values and use a longer exposure on a tripod. The OSAC guide recommends the camera native ISO for examination-quality photographs (OSAC, 2020).
- Lecture notes say the pop-up flash on the camera should not be used except in specific circumstances. The OSAC guide lists off-camera flash with a sync cord or wireless trigger as recommended, and says oblique light and off-camera flash can help show detail (OSAC, 2020).
- Oblique light, set at a low angle to the surface, throws small shadows into any relief, so impressions show (Figure 6).
- Light from above or from the camera position can flatten relief and hide the very detail you need.
- For dark areas, lecture notes describe painting with light: a long exposure on a tripod while a light is moved over the scene, or several off-camera flashes placed around it.
Lay a coin or a key on paper. Photograph it with a lamp held low to one side, then with light from above. Compare the detail.
Raking light is a cinematographer tool too. A side light across a wall or a face shows texture that front light removes.
Cham tipMove the light, not the camera. Walk it around the subject and watch the shadows.
Cham taskPhotograph a footprint in sand or soil with raking light from two sides. Which side shows more detail?
Check yourself: What does low-angle light reveal?
Surface relief, by throwing small shadows into it.
What are alternate light sources and barrier filters?
Short answer. Narrow-band light makes some traces glow, and a barrier filter lets the glow through.
- An alternate light source, or ALS, gives selected wavelengths such as ultraviolet or infrared. Some materials absorb that light and give off light of another colour. This is fluorescence.
- Small items and traces that are invisible in white light can show up this way (Figure 7).
- The light reflected from the surface is much stronger than the glow and can mask it.
- A barrier filter blocks the reflected light and lets the fluorescence reach the eye or the sensor. The orange goggles seen in crime dramas are barrier filters.
- The filter colour has to suit the light used. Orange, red, yellow and clear filters are used for different wavelengths.
- Lecture notes advise photographing the body and scene with an ALS where biological traces or fibres are suspected, at the scene, so their position is recorded relative to the body or object.
- The OSAC guide lists an ALS and barrier filters as additional recommended equipment but gives no procedure for them (OSAC, 2020).
Try a simple version at home: a UV torch on a fluorescent highlighter mark in a dark room. Notice how room light hides the glow.
Black-light scenes in film use the same effect. The set is darkened so that the glow reads against it.
Cham tipDarken the room and shield the camera from stray light before you judge the result.
Cham taskPhotograph a highlighter mark under a UV torch with room lights on, then off. Describe the difference.
Check yourself: What does a barrier filter do?
Blocks reflected light so the fluorescence can be seen.
How does scene type change what is photographed?
Short answer. Each scene type adds its own photographs on top of the three basic types.
- Photography is one part of the investigation. It follows the plan of the lead investigator and must not interfere with processing.
- Photography generally begins where activity took place and where the team spends most of its time. If it is out of step, evidence can be missed or disturbed.
- The body is a scene in itself. Photographing it first is not always correct. The order depends on the investigation and on the medical examiner. The OSAC guide asks for the body to be documented before and after it is moved, and the area beneath it after removal (OSAC, 2020).
- Lecture notes give a sequence for a body and surroundings: an overhead establishing view, mid-range views taken clockwise around it, then close-ups of detail (Figure 8). Mark the position of key points rather than outlining the whole body.
- Outside, take establishing photographs from a distance, starting at the front and moving clockwise, and include approach routes and impression evidence. Also photograph looking away from the scene (Figure 9).
- Inside, photograph all rooms with activity and those without. No one knows in advance which may matter.
- In sexual assault cases the usual interior and exterior establishing photographs apply, including entry and exit points, because the location can support or test statements. Handle these images with strict privacy.
- For fires, lecture notes say to photograph the burning building from all sides if it is safe, use an external meter and shoot RAW. After the fire, photograph fire flow patterns, soot and char at establishing, mid-range and close-up scale (Table 2).
| Scene | Extra photographs | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Body and surroundings | Overhead view, clockwise mid-range, close-ups | Records position, surroundings and detail |
| Exterior | Establishing shots clockwise from a distance, and looking away | Shows boundaries and entry and exit routes |
| Interior | All rooms, including those with no visible activity | Evidence may be where no one expects it |
| Sexual assault | Usual establishing shots including entry and exit points | Location can support or test statements |
| Fire while burning | All sides if safe, external meter, RAW files | Records how the fire flows and spreads |
| Fire after | Exterior and interior establishing, mid-range and close-up of damage | Records fire patterns for later study |
Table 2. Extra photographs by scene type, from lecture notes. In practice the agency procedure decides.
Walk through your own home as a mock scene. Plan the order: outside first, then each room. Write the plan before you take a photograph.
Location scouting uses the same logic: exterior, interior, and then detail. The difference is that a crime scene cannot be set up again.
Cham tipPlan the order before you start. Fixing a missed photograph later is often impossible.
Cham taskPlan and shoot a mock scene in a room: overhead, clockwise mid-range, then three close-ups. Write the log.
Check yourself: Which direction do exterior establishing shots move?
Clockwise, starting at the front.
What records and ethics apply?
Short answer. Keep complete records, keep originals untouched and treat images with dignity.
- The first photograph in a series is an identifying image or cover sheet. The worksheet in lecture notes lists date, time, agency, case number and photographer, and carries colour stripes and a scale to check colour and size. The OSAC guide also opens with an identifying image (OSAC, 2020).
- A photo log lists each photograph with its camera settings, a description and its type. The OSAC guide does not require a log or a record of settings, but it gives a checklist of camera settings to confirm before shooting (OSAC, 2020). Agencies may still require a log.
- Photograph before and after any on-scene manipulation or enhancement attempt on evidence.
- Never delete originals. Make sure earlier photographs are archived before a card is formatted (OSAC, 2020).
- The OSAC guide addresses dignity in photographs of living and deceased people (OSAC, 2020). Keep these images private and use them only for the case. Never post them.
- Rules differ by country, agency and court. This guide is educational. It is not legal advice or agency procedure, so follow your own agency rules.
Make a one-page log for your mock scene: number, type, settings, description and the time. Keep it with the original files.
On a film set the camera report and sound report do this job. Forensic records are stricter and are used as proof.
Cham tipFill in the log as you shoot. A log written later from memory is less reliable.
Cham taskKeep a photo log for a 10-photograph mock scene. Ask a classmate to find each item from the log alone.
Check yourself: Should original images ever be deleted?
No. Keep every original.
Which camera settings suit forensic photography?
Short answer. Starting values for the ten settings, with links to the topic pages.
| Setting | Starting value |
|---|---|
| Camera | Any body, on a tripod |
| Lens | 50 mm or macro, with a scale |
| Aperture | f/8 to f/16 |
| Shutter speed | Any; the tripod holds the camera |
| ISO | Base ISO |
| Metering | Manual; bracket exposures |
| Focus mode | Single, or manual focus |
| Focus area | Single point |
| Focus points | On the evidence, with the scale in the same plane |
| AF-ON | Optional |
Table 3. Starting camera settings for forensic photography.
Write these ten settings on a card. Test them on one subject and record what you change.
For video, keep the same focus ideas and set the shutter speed from the frame rate.
Cham tipChange one setting at a time.
Cham taskWrite your ten settings for forensic photography.
Check yourself: Which focus mode suits a moving subject?
Continuous focus.
Questions beginners ask
What is forensic photography?
Forensic photography uses ordinary photographic skills to record evidence. It follows strict rules for coverage, scale, records and handling of images.
What are the three types of forensic photograph?
They are establishing (overall), mid-range and close-up. They move from the whole scene to the position of evidence to its detail.
Why is a scale placed in evidence photographs?
A scale records real size so the image can be measured and compared. Photographers take one photograph without the scale and one with it.
Why is the camera held perpendicular to the evidence?
A camera square to the evidence plane keeps true shape and size. A tilted camera changes lengths and angles.
What is an alternate light source?
It is a light that gives selected wavelengths, such as UV or infrared, to make some traces fluoresce. A barrier filter blocks reflected light so the glow can be seen.
Can I use this guide as official procedure?
No. It is educational. Follow your own agency rules and the law that applies where you work.
References
- OSAC (2020) Standard guide for crime scene photography, Version 1.0, June. OSAC Proposed Standard. Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science, Video/Imaging Technology and Analysis Subcommittee. Available at: https://www.nist.gov/document/standard-guide-crime-scene-photography (Accessed: 31 October 2026).
How to cite this guide. Alex, A., & Joseph, A. (2026). forensic photography: A guide for photographers and cinematographers. Creative Hut Academy. https://creativehut.org/library/forensic-photography/
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