How to hire a medical photographer

How to hire a medical photographer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step medical photographer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a medical photographer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new medical photographer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your medical photographer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a medical photographer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A medical photographer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, medical photographers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of medical photographer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Medical Photographer	Description	Hourly rate
   Medical Photographer	Photographers use their technical expertise, creativity, and composition skills to produce and preserve images that tell a story or record an event.	$8-183
   Photography Internship	Photography internship is an advantage to interns who assist photographers while studying since it can develop creativity, strong networking, technical, and practical skills as they learn both lighting and photography business in a real photography studio. These interns are tasked to perform research, update social media platforms, and create images for social media posts... Show more	$9-110
   Photographer, Editor	A Photographer, Editor selects, edits, and positions photos in print and web publications. They work for newspapers, magazines, websites, or other publications.	$17-34

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Medical Photography
   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Surgical Procedures
   • Digital Photography
   • Portrait Photography
   • Microsoft Powerpoint
   • Nikon
   • Photography Services

   Responsibilities:

   • Coordinate and manage providing and dressing the customers with old western costumes in preparation of taking their photos.
   • Schedule and photograph patients; create patient/doctor composite photos.
   • Provide high-end digital images of patients for total body cutaneous photography as well as surgical and autopsy documentation.
   • Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.
   • Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your medical photographer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A medical photographer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, medical photographers' average salary in hawaii is 69% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level medical photographers 96% less than senior-level medical photographers.
   • Certifications. A medical photographer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a medical photographer's salary.

   Average medical photographer salary

   $81,114yearly

   $39.00 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level medical photographer salary

   $17,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a medical photographer job description

   A medical photographer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a medical photographer job description:

   Medical photographer job description example

   Ophthalmic Medical Photographer I, Longwood
   
   Full Time with benefits, 8-4:30pm or 8:30-5pm M-F
   
   Under general direction of the supervisor of ophthalmic photography, performs ophthalmic photography, medical photography, projection, and videography.
   
   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1. Performs ophthalmic photography duties to produce fundus, full face, wide angle and anterior segment photographic studies for patient records/teaching files. 2. Reviews MD orders in EPIC prior to performing photography. 3. Takes a series of color photographs and assures accuracy in identifying photographs to patient by means of labeling at time of photography. 4. Using a still camera, makes proper settings and take time lapse black and white film or digital images showing progress of illuminant at fundus for diagnostic purposes. 5. Produces wide angle photographs with a contact 180 degree lens while providing for patient safety and comfort. 6. Performs general medical photography. 7. Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served in the department. Provides for care and/or extends services as described in department policies and procedures manual. 8. Explains procedures to patient and provides instruction regarding photography, fluorescein angiography and indocynine green (ICG) angiography. 9. In the event of an adverse reaction, notifies the fluorescein lab nursing staff and provides for patient safety/comfort. 10. Prepare film rolls to be sent to outside laboratory for processing. 11. Upon return of films from processing, matches color photographs in stereo pairs with angiograms. 12. Prepares the patient record for analysis and dictation by physician. 13. Pulls representative photographs and negatives for filing by the secretary. 14. Identifies pertinent cases for incorporation into the teaching file. 15. Marks, mounts and copies slides or other original materials as needed. 16. Performs a broad range of computer and audio visual services as needed. 17. Maintains daily production log to ensure accurate patient identification and volume statistics. 18. Repairs equipment within capability, or obtain timely maintenance and repair services as required. 19. Maintains current knowledge of developments in ophthalmic photography field through journals, seminars and workshops. 20. Maintains membership in professional photographer's organizations. 21. Documents competently in the EHR known as EPIC 22. Adheres to MEE Standards of Behavior
   
   We are offering a $1,000 sign on bonus for new hires who accept an offer by 6/30/22. The bonus will be paid out in two $500 installments, after 90 days of successful employment from the start date, and after 12 months of successful employment, from the start date
   
   Qualifications
   Qualifications
   Bachelor's degree in photography or related science preferred. Two years experience in ophthalmic or medical photography. Broad knowledge of anatomy of eye required.
   
   EEO Statement
   Massachusetts Eye and Ear is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment or discrimination. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, sex, pregnancy or conditions related to pregnancy, national origin/ancestry, citizenship, disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law. These protections extend to all management practices and decisions, including recruitment and hiring practices, appraisal systems, promotions, training, and career development programs. Partner's Healthcare is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right medical photographer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your medical photographer job on Zippia to find and recruit medical photographer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with medical photographer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new medical photographer

   Once you've decided on a perfect medical photographer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new medical photographer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a medical photographer?