When photographing a scene, keep in mind that you are trying to provide a permanent record of the scene and the evidence collected. This record will assist anyone who is not at the scene—from detectives and prosecutors to members of the jury, if the case goes to trial. As you create that record, remember that the photographs you take should be relevant to what you are trying to depict. In other words, you should only capture the scene and the surrounding areas that provide useful information, not the “extras.” Don’t take pictures that have nothing to do with the scene—such as the sky or a nice tree away from the scene. Also, avoid pictures that are purely emotional, such as someone crying at the scene. Finally, remember that all of the photos you take could end up in court, so make sure none of them misrepresent the scene in any way.

In order to create the most accurate record of the scene, you want to depict what was there at the time you arrived. Begin photographing the scene as soon as possible before anything is moved or changed. You can provide the most comprehensive sense of the scene by taking photographs from three different perspectives: long range or overall views, mid-range or medium views, and short range or closeup views. In the overall views, you want to show as much of the scene as possible. For example, if the crime took place in the bedroom, the overall views should include the front of the house, and then follow the progression to the actual crime scene, ending with shots of the entire bedroom. The medium or mid-range views should show the evidence in relationship to the other items in the room. In other words, if you have blood spatter on a wall, shoot that evidence first at mid-range so that it is clear that it is on a wall, not on the floor or ceiling. Then photograph the blood spatter from close-up to get as much detail as possible. Use close-up views for all of the evidence collected. By using these three different views, you’ll have a record that shows the entire scene and the relationship of the evidence to the scene. After the entire scene and its evidence are photographed, photograph the surrounding area to add perspective. These photographs may include the neighboring homes and streets or fields. In some cases, you may need aerial photos to complete the record.

From: Crime Scene Photography: Capturing the Scene by Dick Warrington in Who Says You Can't Do That