Forensic Photography 2.10.2026 MI

Course Length: 1 Day (8 Hours)
This intensive 8-hour, hands-on program provides public and private sector professionals with the practical skills needed to accurately capture, document, and preserve visual evidence under real-world field conditions. Designed for individuals with moderate experience and limited equipment resources, the course focuses on field-expedient photographic techniques that produce reliable, defensible images suitable for investigative, administrative, insurance, and litigation applications.


Participants will receive applied instruction in the foundational principles of forensic photography - including exposure, aperture, shutter speed, depth of field, and lighting - and will practice these concepts through guided classroom discussions, demonstrations, and scenario-based field exercises. Emphasis is placed on producing clear, accurate, and contextual images that support origin and cause determinations, failure analysis, damage assessments, and evidentiary documentation.


Students will use their own DSLR cameras to photograph under varying environmental and lighting conditions, including low-light scenarios commonly encountered in fire, explosion, and structural investigations. Instruction includes the use of alternative lighting techniques to reveal latent or subtle forms of evidence, such as trace materials, patterns, or scene indicators that may otherwise go unnoticed.


The program also covers best practices for documenting impression evidence -such as tool marks, bite marks, footwear and tire impressions - as well as methods for photographing fire scenes, structural damage, mechanical failures, and collision-related evidence. Special focus is placed on evidentiary integrity, chain of custody, digital media management, metadata considerations, and standards relevant to investigative, insurance, and legal proceedings.


By the end of the course, attendees will be equipped to produce high-quality, accurate, and defensible photographic documentation that meets professional, investigative, and courtroom standards across a variety of public and private sector applications.

Pre-Requisite: Students must have completed the CFITrainer.net module “Digital Photography” and should have a good working knowledge of their DSLR camera.

All IAAI courses are subject to cancellation or postponement at any time due to unforeseen circumstances. Registered participants will be notified as soon as possible

Hotels (within 3 miles of training venue): 
Four Points by Sheraton
Homes2Suites Hilton
Hampton Inn
Holiday Inn Express
Townplace Suites Marriott

Closest Airports:
MBS International Airport Freeland MI (10 miles / 15 mins)
Bishop International Airport Flint MI (43 miles / 40 mins)
Detroit Metropolitan Airport Detroit MI (115 miles / 1 hrs 40 mins)

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Cancellations received 31 days or more prior to the course start date are eligible for a full refund of the registration fee.

Cancellations received within 30 days of the course start date are non-refundable.

Registrants who are unable to attend may, at the discretion of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), substitute another eligible individual from the same organization, provided written notice is received prior to the course start date.

Failure to attend a course without prior written cancellation (no-shows) will not be eligible for a refund.

Any questions; IAAI-training@firearson.com

IAAI offerings are subject to cancellation or changes.