As a crime scene photographer, you apply forensic science principles to an investigation and collect images that may be useful to said investigation. You document and record physical evidence, ensure each photo has an item to provide scale, and coordinate with analysis labs to answer any questions. Crime scene photographers may be asked to document a site at any time of day or night and are often exposed to gruesome and tragic sites, so mental fortitude is essential to success in this field. Some crime scene photographers focus exclusively on this role while others serve in another position—often a law enforcement role—and switch to forensic photography as needed.