Smartphone Photography Tools

Below, I'm going to list many of the tools I use for photography in my office. I have made the conscious choice to move my office toward using Smartphones for patient photography as much as is possible. This may not be the right direction for everyone, but it fits the bill for me: efficient photo upload, easy chart integration, immediate ability to utilize Smartphone Smile Design techniques, easy patient communication and case presentation, and overall ease of use for those taking the photos. Consider these options if you'd like.

As of writing this page (3/27/22), I own these specific products. However, certain items may be discontinued over time and I will try to update the page to reflect the latest and greatest, even if I have not yet upgraded, myself.

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Extraoral Photo Station Setup

Photo Station Starter Kit:

This kit is a one click setup to Amazon for all the items I use. You just need to select the 1 or 2 pack of boom arms. You could skip those entirely and just use the tripods that come with the lights, but I think the setup is cleaner and more consistent with wall mounted lights.


LED Light Panels with Boxes:

The lights are ‘constant-on’. There are some drawbacks to this, but the WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) approach makes photography very predictable and repeatable.

Backdrop:

Nothing fancy, here. Just a simple backdrop that can be used in any office.


Battery Packs:

These lights are meant to be turned on and left on for a long time. These batteries should last a VERY long time on a single charge. And no cords to hide.

Dual Boom Arms:

One Boom arm for each light. This is what I used at my previous office because I mounted them on the ceiling.


Single Boom Arm:

If you can manage to mount both lights on one arm, go for it. That’s what I’ve done in my current office, as I was able to mount it on the wall, perpendicular to the patient seating area.

Light Clamp:

If you plan to mount both lights from the same boom arm, get one of these for the second light. I printed my own, but was unaware of these.

Simply Swivel Stool:

This is a fairly small stool, not great for longterm seating. But, I think it works great for photography because it’s hard to slouch on and keeps people in a predictable, repeatable position.


Intraoral Photo Setup


Black Retractors:

These do I solid job of retracting the lips while providing contrast.

Glass Mirrors

I prefer glass mirrors over metal. Metal tend to scratch much more easily.


Contrastors: 

These are nice if you're trying to capture one or both arches without any soft tissue or even the tongue in the way.


Available Training


Intruduction to Smartphone Photo Editing

Introduction to Smartphone Smile Design