Snapshots versus medical photographs: understanding the difference is your key to better dermatologic office photography.

A medical photograph in contradistinction to a snapshot accurately reproduces and maximizes clinically significant information while minimizing extraneous or irrelevant factors. Obtaining a top-notch medical photograph requires not only proper equipment but also rapid, sophisticated analysis of the clinical situation. Only then can major features including lesional size and distribution and more subtle details such as borders, color, and topography be selectively highlighted. First-rate medical photographs not only enhance the accuracy of diagnosis but also facilitate subsequent assessment of therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, instruction of students and residents and continuing medical education of practicing clinicians depend on our photographic acumen.