Digital Photography for Forensic Collision Investigators
& Forensic Vehicle Examiners

Your digital camera is one of the most important pieces of equipment available to you as a collision investigator or vehicle examiner. It can record marks, damage, defects, the scene and a myriad of other aspects. Sadly, it is also one where training is often neglected and never refreshed, despite the constant update of the technology, associated uses and the continued and emerging requirements of regulatory bodies, such as the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR).

It is likely, that many received little of no training and what training was provided was either cascaded, generic or provided by someone with little or no FCI or FVE experience.

We provide photographic training that is based around many years of both photographic and FCI/FVE experience. Our courses have been developed and constantly reviewed to ensure they keep pace with the requirements of the discipline and photographic technology. They contain both the

theory and practical elements required to ensure you have the knowledge and tools to undertake the photographic tasks you will encounter.

We offer initial, standard/advanced and refresher training, together with software training. Training is provided face to face, and supported by a comprehensive suite of resources and both email and telephone support for up to 12 months.

Thanks to support from Nikon UK, we are able to supply a range of photographic equipment to students who are unable to attend with their own equipment. The courses are also recognised by the Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators (ITAI) and the Forensic Collision Investigation Network (FCIN).

*All courses are subject to assessments, examination and in the case of Standard and Advanced Level Certificates, marked assignments. *(Not software training courses)

Initial Level Certificate - £395.00pp

Three days of training, daily assessments, practical assessment and a final on-line examination (to be completed within 7 days from the end of the course). This is an ideal course for someone new to the discipline, who has no experience of using a DSLR/Mirrorless camera. The course covers the basics of using DSLR’s/Mirrorless cameras and the technology, day and night time scene photography, Macro and the use of flash. An extensive pre-read is provided ahead of the course, together with help guides to assist the student post course.

Standard Level Certificate - £720.00pp (ITAI members - all grades), £770.00pp (non-ITAI members)

One week of training (5 days), where students undertake daily assessments, practical assessment, on-line final examination (to be completed within 7 days from the end of the course) plus a end of the course. Graded - Pass or Merit (marks dependant). Refresher course within 3 years.

Pre-read, Supporting manual, videos and help guides, plus email and telephone support for up to 12 months. Loan equipment during the course is available if required.

Advanced Level Certificate - £720.00pp (ITAI members - all grades), £770.00pp (non-ITAI members)

One week of training (5 days), where students undertake daily assessments, practical assessment, on-line final examination (to be completed within 7 days from the end of the course) plus a photographic portfolio of images and written essays, based upon 6 assignments, submitted within 10 weeks from the end of the course. Graded - Pass or Merit and Distinction (marks dependant). Refresher course within 5 years.
Pre-read, Supporting manual, videos and help guides, plus email and telephone support for up to 12 months. Loan equipment during the course is available if required. 

Both the Standard and Advanced Level Certificates cover the same training, but the Advanced certificate requires students to undertake a greater number of assignments and, as well as providing a portfolio of images, they must also provide essays alongside the images as outlined within those assignments.

These courses cover everything from the various camera technologies (including components) and how they work, the differences and how they impact on the work of an FCI/FVE, through to lenses, settings, modes, image capture in different conditions and lighting scenarios, photographing day and night time scenes, vehicles, components and views. It also covers a number of different techniques to capture images and detail, even when it appears the camera can’t. Photographic principles, such as depth of field, focus, exposure, aperture, perspectives and menus are also

covered. We also cover Exif data, how to analyse images, basic image developing, dust deletion, lens and sensor cleaning and camera calibration.

In addition, it is important for FCI’s and FVE’s to understand how to back up data, maintain audit trails and otherwise conform to best practice and align with the requirements of the FSR, so this is also included, and more.

Refresher Course - £350.00pp (ITAI members - all grades), £395.00pp (non-ITAI members)

Three days of refresher training with updates, practical assessment and image assessment. This is aimed at established and trained FCI’s and FVE’s, who need to brush up on their skills, knowledge and learn new techniques. Supporting manual, videos and help guides, plus email and telephone support for up to 12 months. Loan equipment during the course is available if required.

Advanced Forensic Vehicle Examiners Digital Photography Course -£450.00pp (ITAI members - all grades), £495.00pp (non-ITAI members)

A 3 day practical based course for FVE’s concentrating on capturing images of vehicle damage, views, defects, components and failures, using macro and standard lenses with various lighting techniques. This course is based at a recovery agents premises and utilises damaged vehicles as the subjects, both in and outdoors.

This course is ideal for anyone who has undergone previous training and wishes to expand their knowledge and skill. Supporting manual, videos and help guides, plus email and telephone support for up to 12 months. Loan equipment during the course is available if required.

All students who successfully complete the above courses are awarded certificates outlining their grade, student number and refresher date.

Additional training

Adobe Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, Nikon NX-Studio and Canon DPP training - £350.00pp

We also provide training in the above software packages for FCI’s and FVE’s, to enable you to improve images, understand when images have been edited, compile images for HDR, focus stacking, panoramas, damage overlays, tethering and component reconstruction using photography and images. This is a two day course. Students require a laptop and software.

Where and when

Courses held at our premises in Midhurst, West Sussex are limited to a maximum of 6 students. The location is based within a recovery facility and we have unlimited access to vehicles of all types, both in and outdoor. Courses where night-time imagery is covered have one day where the course runs until late evening.

Refreshments and buffet lunches are provided throughout. We also provide students with notebooks.

Prices do not include accommodation, which students are required to arrange themselves. We can provide a list of accommodation in the area if required.

We can also come to you, but course size is limited to a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 10. In such cases refreshments and lunches are self supply.

We provide a minimum of 2 instructors for all courses.

Course dates

2024/25:

Standard/Advanced Level Certificate

• 2-6th Sept
• 30th Sept
• 4th Oct
• 7-11th Nov
• 18-22nd Nov
• 6-10th Jan 2025
• 20-24th Jan 2025
• 3-7th Feb 2025
• 10-14th March 2025

For Initial Level Certificate, Refresher Courses, Advanced FVE Digital Photography Courses and Software training courses - contact us for dates, as these are arranged to meet your needs.

If you wish to book a course or discuss your requirements, please contact via:

Email: training@360vsltd.uk or by phone on: 07403353877 or visit our website at: https://www.360virtualservicesltd.co.uk