How to Become a Criminal Photographer

Criminal photographers record evidence gathered at the crime scene.

Criminal or crime scene photographers use their photographic skills at the scene of a crime or for other law enforcement purposes. Crime scene investigators typically need to obtain extensive training in crime scene investigation after they have already become a police officer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average annual salary of criminal investigators and detectives was $65,860, as of May 2009. Crime scene photographers tend to be a cross between criminal investigators and forensic scientists.

Instructions

1. Complete your education by pursuing an associate degree in a field like forensic science, criminology, criminal justice or sociology. Most law enforcement agencies require a minimum of two years of undergraduate education or about 60 college credit hours. There is no universal degree requirement for the law enforcement field, so other degree options are available. A bachelor's degree is not necessarily needed unless you intend to become a forensic scientist and then transition to a career in crime scene photography.

2. Apply for employment with the police department for which you wish to work. If you decide to apply as a police officer rather than as a forensic scientist, you will need to complete police academy training after passing through a rigorous hiring process. Most police departments require a pre-employment test, medical examination, physical fitness exam and a full background check for employment. A formal interview is also required in most cases.

3. Gain experience both as a law enforcement official and as a photographer. Take classes in photography while gaining experience on the police force so that when you become eligible for promotion, you can seek a position as a criminal photographer. Most police departments require about three years of experience on the job as a patrol officer before they will promote you.

4. Apply for certification through the International Association for Identification (IAI) as a crime scene photographer once you have been promoted to your photography position and have gained three years of experience. The IAI requires that you have a minimum of three years of experience working in the photography or digital imaging field. You must also have completed at least 40 hours of work in photography, either through the police department or at the college level. You must also be working as a forensic photographer at the time of your application.

5. Pass the IAI's crime scene photography certification exam. The exam is three hours in length and consists of 100 multiple-choice question. A passing score of 75 percent is required. The IAI also requires a practical exam in which you will be required to submit a total of 10 different photographic assignments.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: 33-3021 Detectives and Criminal Investigators
• Criminal Justice School Info: How to Become a Crime Scene Photographer
• Legal Criminal Justice Schools: How to Become a Forensics Photographer
• International Association for Identification: Forensic Photography Certification Requirements