More recent recommendations have redefined standards for digital photography on a hand-held camera, broadening their application. However, up to 89% of plastic surgeons and 100% of medical trainees are using smartphones for clinical photography. Advances in technology have allowed for wide availability of high quality cameras on smartphones. Smartphone applications that provide safe encryption, storage, and transmission of photographs have allowed physicians to use smartphones for clinical photography while maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality.

Clinical photographs taken with a smartphone should also be subject to standardized guidelines to preserve the ability to use the images for accurate comparisons over time, medical education, and publication. The following 10 recommendations are suggested for standardization of clinical photographs using smartphones.