Crime Scene Photography Training in Houston
Professional crime scene photography training in Houston for law enforcement personnel who need practical, courtroom-defensible documentation methods.
21 practical exercises • 40 IAI credits • May be eligible for TCOLE credit hours when reported in accordance with current TCOLE requirements
What this crime scene photography training course covers
This 40-hour crime scene photography training course in Houston is designed for law enforcement personnel who investigate and document crime scenes. It focuses on practical methods for recording scenes, evidence, injuries, and other forensic details through accurate, defensible photography.
Houston-area agencies and organizations can host this course locally for personnel who need practical scene-documentation training that can be applied immediately in the field. This course is also well suited for departments serving the broader Houston metro area and Southeast Texas region.
Attendees learn the sequence and purpose of crime scene photographs while building a digital photographic notebook throughout the course.
Topics include nighttime and low-light photography, infrared and ultraviolet photography, bloodstain pattern analysis documentation, bullet trajectory photography using rods and lasers, and officer-involved shooting documentation.
Attendees also complete 21 practical exercises and associated subtests while learning to control camera settings in challenging conditions.
Instructor background
The instructor, John Calvin Gaziano, has 32 years of law enforcement experience, including 24 years in crime scene investigation.
He is a retired sergeant from the Fremont Police Department, where he supervised and taught members of the crime scene unit.
He holds two Master’s degrees, including one in Forensic Science.
While with the Fremont Police Department, he was an IAI-certified bloodstain pattern analyst and a senior crime scene analyst.
He is an expert witness in bloodstain pattern analysis and crime scene investigation.
Credits and reporting
Forty (40) credits toward the International Association for Identification’s (IAI) Initial Forensic Photography & Imaging (FP&I) Certification
Forty (40) credits toward the International Association for Identification’s (IAI) Crime Scene Certification and Recertification
May be eligible for TCOLE credit hours when reported in accordance with current TCOLE requirements
Pinnacle Forensics delivers on-site crime scene photography training for law enforcement agencies in and around Houston, taught at your location for your personnel.
Topics included in the crime scene photography course
- Photography Basics
- Camera Structure
- Reciprocity
- Photographing a Crime Scene
- Exposure Variables - Shutter Speed, Aperture, Light, ISO
- Electronic Flash
- Focus, Lenses, and Filters
- Depth of Field
- Infrared, Ultraviolet, and Fluorescence Photography
- Chemiluminescence Photography - Lumiscene and Luminol
- Injury Photography
- Photographing the Deceased
- Painting with Light and Low Light Photography
- Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Documentation
- Bullet Trajectory Photography - Rods and Lasers
- Officer Involved Shooting Photography
- Vehicle Documentation
- Evidence - e.g., Dust Impressions, Tire Marks
- Twenty-one (21) Practical Exercises and Associated Subsets
Reveal detail hidden by reflections
Reflections on glass and other shiny surfaces can hide important evidence. In crime scene photography training, students learn practical techniques to reduce reflections and document details more clearly in the camera.
Click photo to enlarge
Course information
- Course duration: 40 hours
- Prerequisites: None
- Tuition: $650
- Instructor: John Calvin Gaziano, Retired Police Sergeant, MFS, MS
Equipment to bring
Attendees should bring the following items to class:
- Camera (DSLR or mirrorless)
- Dedicated flash (preferably TTL)
- Flash cord
- Shutter release cable
- Tripod
- Close-up lens
- Flashlight with clean white light
- Laptop (optional)
- Card reader (optional)
Control what stays in focus
Students learn how depth of field affects what appears sharp in a photograph and how to control focus based on the evidence being documented.
Click photo to enlarge
Host a Crime Scene Training Course
Pinnacle Forensics delivers on-site crime scene investigator training for Houston-area law enforcement agencies, including departments, sheriff’s offices, academies, and regional training groups.
Hosting lets you train multiple personnel at once while reducing travel costs and minimizing time away from duty.
Benefits of Hosting a Course
Train multiple personnel at the same time
Instruction delivered at your agency or a preferred location
Reduced travel and lodging expenses
Applicable to patrol officers, investigators, and supervisors
Hosting agency tuition may be waived when minimum enrollment requirements are met
Get hosting details including scheduling options, course formats, and minimum enrollment requirements.
Crime scene photography training locations
Looking for crime scene photography training in Houston or in another major Texas city? Explore the training location pages below.