A powerful photo can enhance every aspect of dentistry. High-quality visuals are the most effective tools for clear, impactful communication. Photography can help attract new patients, boost treatment acceptance, encourage compliance, and improve education. A great image doesn’t just tell a story; it builds trust, deepens patient understanding and drives engagement.
Whether showcasing a smile transformation or guiding a patient through their treatment journey, the right photo can make a significant difference.
Detailed images also aids in diagnostics, supports the discussion of treatment options, and even offers a visual preview of potential outcomes. Such visual transparency empowers patients to understand their oral health status to make informed decisions, strengthening the consent process and supporting ethical dentistry. Many clinicians also use high-quality images to promote their services on social media platforms and practice websites, making visual content an essential part of their marketing strategies. Beyond promotion, photography inevitably plays a crucial role in legal and clinical documentation.
Strong photography skills can be a game-changer, and their impact on a business can be truly transformative.
Minesh Patel’s philosophy has redefined his approach to dental delivery, which has in turn enhanced his professional growth. A cosmetic dentist based in Epsom, Surrey, he merges clinical precision with an artistic flair – and much of this is due to his ability to harness the power of the camera lens.
Through his initiative, F:ocus Bounce, he goes beyond teaching the fundamentals. Here, he shares his equipment, technique, and presentation expertise to pass on some of the fundamentals of his dental photography masterclass.
Photography equipment must-haves
Mirrorless camera body with a 1:1 macro lens
Ergonomically balanced lens-to-body weight ratio
Using a crop sensor camera body with a smaller lens (60mm)
Using a full-frame camera body with a longer lens (100mm)
Lightweight as possible using a wireless twin flash
A separate pro lighting system if studio portraits are required.
How does high quality photography impact a dental practice’s brand and patient trust?
Hugely! My photography journey started during foundation training when I used a simple intraoral camera to photograph, document and explain common problems to my patients.
Dental decay, cracks, and gum disease are often not accompanied by pain, so these photos became invaluable. Especially since patients usually hesitate to invest in treatments for issues they cannot feel or see.
This is particularly true when meeting a new dentist for the first time. Seeing the photos sparks an instant ‘a-ha’ moment for patients. Often surprised by the images, they quickly grasp the reality of their dental health, making them more open to treatments. This is paramount when building trust – and documenting the medicolegal consultation process.
What elements of dental photography make it compelling?
I soon saw the merits of having a camera. I began documenting procedures, taking the opportunity to take quick snaps of all my tooth preparations and fillings (good and bad) and I used these to find areas of improvement with my trainer, and the process proved pivotal. Photography became my teacher, and I quickly excelled to new heights through observation, intuition and reflection.
The by-product of photography was improved technical skills. But, just as importantly, it brought self-accountability, joy, and motivation, and I was able to build a portfolio of which I was proud. This allowed me to better handle the lows in dentistry by capturing the little wins – where and when I could.
This entire philosophy formed the cornerstone of what is now F:ocus, and why I feel the industry has embraced the photography courses so well.
How important is it for a dental practice to invest in professional-level photography equipment and training?
Professional photography is a powerful tool for elevating your career. It fosters pride, joy, enthusiasm and a renewed perspective on your work.
Financially, the return on this investment often comes through meaningful conversations with your patients – those with advanced tooth wear, crowding, or silently failing restorations.
Your high-quality images can be the turning point for patients, helping them see their conditions clearly and motivating them to take action rather than putting off treatment for years.
I don’t believe in ‘selling dentistry’. Instead, many of my full mouth rehabilitation and complex interdisciplinary cases have come from patients truly understanding their condition through visual evidence. And it has been the photographs that have provided them with the self-awareness they need to make that decision – as well as my good looks and killer charm!
What are the essential first steps for newcomers to photography to make it an effective tool for clinical documentation and business growth?
Anyone who values their brand should avoid using stock imagery. Building a portfolio of before and after photos using your different procedures is a great start. The images should be authentic and used to help explain routine procedures to patients confidently.
Aim to take pictures at the same distance, position and angulation to build consistency. The result will be a collection that looks polished and presentable.
What are the key factors you consider when selecting equipment for dental photography?
For me, it has always been about ergonomics. I always aim to implement ‘low friction’ systems – in dentistry and life in general. This means investing in utility that reduces the time and effort needed to perform something positive like dental photography. My wife is still angry that I bought another coffee machine for the bedroom to encourage me to get up earlier!
I provide an up-to-date free camera buying guide on www.focusbounce.com/cameraguide. My advice is based on years of experience and trying out every set-up with my dentist hat on. All the set-ups I advise feel balanced in the hand, are as light as possible, have deep, comfortable grips and are the easiest and most fun. And, if your direct composite veneers are shockingly bad, maybe some baby oil to rub over those rough margins!
When showcasing the beauty of photography, how essential are lighting, framing and presentation?
Lighting is the most critical determinant of how any photo will look. The larger the light source (flash), the more pleasing to the eye the image becomes. This is why photos taken on our phones look fantastic outdoors on a nice day, as we have a significant light source in the sky. We can use diffusers over our flashes in dentistry to create a more professional and textured 3D feel to the image.
We provide a solution as part of our all-inclusive F:ocus course kit options. Without proper framing, even the well-lit photos can look suboptimal. Once you have the correct lighting and can position yourself and your patient for the optimal frame, your work will look ready to be published in a magazine.
Are there any common mistakes dentists make when using images in their marketing?
Poorly framed photos and inconsistent exposure are a problem. Lack of framing means that these photos are ‘taken’ but not ‘composed’, which translates to wonky angles, out-of-focus teeth and images that may be of different sizes before and after.
Inconsistent exposure occurs from poor flash control, leading to images that may be too bright and too dark. This can be misleading when marketing cosmetic procedures such as whitening and veneers.
My golden rule for accurate photos is quickly drying the teeth and gums before shooting. This simple step helps reduce glare from saliva, allowing light to reflect off the actual surface of the teeth. This enhances the visibility of natural anatomy and any imperfections, giving a more honest view of your work and enabling you to better showcase results.
‘Turn your work into a game, and you will never have to work a day in your life’ – how does this ideology shape your approach?
This idea has guided the gamification of my work. People often ask about the strategies behind my large following on @mineshpatel_dentistry and @focus.bounce. To build this presence, I needed a plan.
Social media became my accountability partner, pushing me to deliver top-level technical performance in the lab and practice consistently. Each post on my page is thoughtfully composed and framed to resonate with viewers, especially other dentists. Social media became my digital portfolio, and the ‘game’ was to incorporate art and precision into every detail of my work.
Completing one case led to discussions with my lab, finding ways to improve the next, experimenting with new techniques and sharing that growth with the world.
Now, after 15 years, I approach even routine tasks, like a class II composite, with an artist’s eye – capturing a perfectly aligned lateral matrix shot to showcase the precision and beauty that our profession allows.
Looking back through my posts, I can see my journey unfold, each image a reminder of how I’ve levelled up in my game of growth.
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