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Table of contents

Photographer resume example
Related resume examples
Choose the right resume format for your photographer resume
How to write a photographer resume in 5 simple steps
Add a cover letter
Key takeaways for your photographer resume
Commonly asked question about resume writing

From framing the perfect shot to bringing out the beauty in your clients to delivering on their creative visions to editing photos to make your pieces pop, your photography skills rely on both your artistry and your eye for details. Whether you’re a wedding photographer, a photojournalist or anything in between, what you need is a resume that compliments your amazing portfolio and communicates your skill and talent.

With the help of some easy-to-follow instructions on how to write a resume and some excellent resume examples for reference, the task can be a snap.

Here, you’ll learn exactly what you need to know to write an impressive photographer resume in a matter of minutes. Keep reading to learn more about:

Examples of resumes for photography applicants with and without experience.
What makes a photographer resume example great.
Tips and tricks for writing a resume for a photographer.
What to include in every section of your photographer resume.
How to choose the right resume template and format for the role.

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. If you’d rather be snapping photos than doing all that writing, try our professional AI Resume Builder for step-by-step guidance and professional advice.

Photographer resume example

Entry-level photographer resume example

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What makes this a great photographer resume sample?

It’s creative.
Visual appeal might not be the most important aspect of a typical resume, but for a photographer, a resume that shows artistic flair has a much better chance of standing out.
It focuses on skills.
This photographer has lots of impressive skills and qualifications, but relatively little experience. In this case, highlighting skills over experience is a good call.
It uses active language.
Words like “conducted” and “delivered” convey a greater sense of impact than repetitive boilerplate like “responsible for.”

Experienced photographer resume example

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What makes this a great photographer resume sample?

It focuses on experience.
This candidate has a long and impressive work history, so it makes sense to showcase experience to highlight this particular strength.
It includes a link to a portfolio.
In lieu of a projects section, this candidate has included a link to a website where potential employers can view her work. This allows her to showcase her best shots.
It uses numbers.
Numerical data makes this candidate’s achievements feel more impactful and concrete.

Choose the right resume format for your photographer resume

To land the job you want, you need to get the right information in front of a recruiter. How do you accomplish that? By selecting the right resume format.

Experienced applicants should consider a chronological resume format to highlight work experience and a strong career progression.
Applicants with little to no experience should consider using a functional resume format.
Midlevel applicants with three to five years of relevant experience should consider a combination resume format to showcase a balance of skills and work experience.

Visit our guide to learn more about how to format a resume to highlight your candidacy.

Select an appropriate photographer resume template

Create your resume

While every resume template will have the same basic sections — a professional summary or resume objective, skills, work history and education — you can customize the look and feel of your resume by selecting the right template.

Photographers are artists. Express your unique personality by choosing a creative resume template. Or, try something sleek and stylish by going with a modern resume template.

How to write a photographer resume in 5 simple steps

While there are some basic rules for writing a great resume, top candidates for competitive photographer jobs know that the key to getting noticed is to write a resume that is specific to the industry and the role they seek.

Step 1

Study the photographer job description

You might not know it, but the job listing that you respond to already provides you with a number of useful hints for how best to tailor your resume.

Many employers run resumes through applicant tracking systems (ATS) that screen out unqualified candidates based on preset keywords. If your resume doesn’t contain the right keywords, you’ll be eliminated before a human ever sees your resume. To make your resume ATS-friendly, take note of the keywords that the job listing uses. A resume that is customized to include those keywords has a much higher chance of success.

For example, if you respond to a job ad where the employer asks for editing experience and names Photoshop as their software of choice, you should double check to make sure that your Photoshop skills are featured prominently. Don’t lie if you lack the qualifications they ask for, but anything that does align well should be included.

Step 2

Write a professional summary or resume objective

Your photographer resume should open with a resume profile, where you provide potential employers with a summary of your skills and career experience.

Candidates with less experience should choose a resume objective, which emphasizes transferable skills and your career goals. Applicants with more robust photography experience should go with a professional summary, which outlines your skills and experience and highlights some of your most notable professional accomplishments.

Here are some strong examples for your photographer resume:

Photographer professional summary example:
Experienced studio photographer with a proven track record of 12 years, adept at capturing compelling and dynamic visual narratives through the lens. Proficient in creating captivating portraits, product shots and conceptual imagery that exceed client expectations. Equipped with a deep understanding of lighting techniques, composition and post-processing, resulting in consistently high-quality and impactful photographs. Collaborative team player with excellent communication skills, able to seamlessly interact with clients, models, and colleagues to bring creative visions to life. Continuously adapting and evolving in the ever-changing landscape of photography. Dedicated to delivering artistic excellence and pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling.

Photographer resume objective example:
Driven wedding photographer with two years of hands-on experience, dedicated to capturing the intimate and cherished moments that make each wedding a unique and memorable event. Proven ability to blend creativity with technical proficiency, resulting in stunning imagery that reflects the emotions, joy and love shared by couples and their families. Proficient in using both natural and artificial lighting to create visually captivating compositions. Adept at fostering a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere, ensuring couples feel at ease in front of the camera. Seeking to leverage skills and passion for photography to continue creating lasting memories for couples on their special day.

Step 3

Highlight your most relevant photographer skills

Regardless of your experience level, hiring managers will be looking closely at the photographer resume skills you list. Skills for a photographer resume should be added to your resume skills section and peppered into your resume profile and your work experience section.

A strong skills section includes a balanced mixture of both hard and soft skills. Hard skills are the measurable skills needed to perform a job. These are the technical photography skills you’ve earned through training and experience. Soft skills, on the other hand, are not so easily taught.

They are behaviors and personality traits that help you do your job well. Even a beginner shutterbug may outperform an experienced photographer with the right soft skills. Below, we provide a side-by-side list of hard and soft skills to help you see the difference between the two.

Hard Skills

Camera proficiency
Lighting techniques
Post processing
Composition
Lenses and equipment
Printing and presentation

Soft Skills

Communication
Creativity
Collaboration
Attention to detail
Problem solving
Enthusiasm

Here is an example of a strong photographer skills section:

Advanced proficiency in using various camera types, including DSLRs and mirrorless systems
Expertise in utilizing a wide range of lenses and accessories
Knowledge of advanced editing techniques
Communicative and enthusiastic with a commitment to customer satisfaction

Pro tip

Photography is often a very client-focused field. It’s a good idea to emphasize your customer service and interpersonal skills.

Step 4

Write a strong photographer work experience section

While the required background and experience will be different for each role, the key to getting noticed is writing a work experience section that demonstrates what you will bring to the table.

Here is an example of a great photographer work experience entry:

Photographer, Memorable Moments Studio
Reno, NV
April 2019 – July 2022

Collaborated closely with clients to understand their vision and deliver tailored photography services, resulting in a client satisfaction rate of over 95%.
Captured and edited a diverse range of photography projects, including weddings, portraits, and corporate events, maintaining consistent quality and style.
Utilized advanced lighting techniques, both natural and artificial, to create visually captivating compositions that met and exceeded client expectations.
Employed strong attention to detail in post-processing using Adobe Creative Suite, enhancing images through precise color correction, retouching, and compositing.
Managed project timelines, efficiently coordinating logistics, schedules, and deliverables for multiple simultaneous projects.
Led and directed photography sessions, skillfully guiding subjects and capturing genuine emotions to produce memorable and impactful imagery.
Collaborated closely with a team of fellow photographers, designers, and clients, contributing creative ideas and adapting to evolving project needs.

Pro tip

Make your credentials pop by using action words, data and metrics to capture the attention of a hiring manager.

Step 5

Showcase your education and training on your photographer resume

To be hired as a photographer, you’ll need to show employers that you have the required education and training. While many photographers sport associate’s, bachelor’s, and even higher degrees in photography, these aren’t strictly necessary. Showcase whatever education you do have in the education section of your photography resume.

How to list your photographer education:

Education:
Bachelor of Arts
Photography
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV

Certifications:

Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) – Adobe Photoshop
Professional Photographers of America (PPA) Certification

Pro tip

If you have professional certifications or special training, add them to your resume. You can include them in your education section or add a special section to your photographer resume.

Optional sections for your photographer resume

Awards and Certifications

Adding accolades to your resume is a smart way to show off your abilities, achievements and qualifications. Awards emphasize exceptional performance or leadership, whereas certifications offer hard evidence of your expertise and abilities in a specific domain.

Including certificates and awards on your resume sets you apart from other contenders. They tell the employer you are truly dedicated to your field and capable of making significant contributions to their organization — ultimately increasing your chances of landing the job.

How to list awards on your photographer resume:

2020 Weddings Weekly Photo Contest – Grand Prize Recipient

Projects

Most photography jobs are going to be interested in learning about your body of work. You will likely be asked to provide a portfolio. Your resume can add context to the work that you provide via your projects section. Here, you can explain your artistic undertakings.

How to list projects on your photographer resume:

High Profile Wedding Album
- Captured and documented the entire wedding day, including pre-ceremony preparations, ceremony, reception, and candid moments.
- Utilized a combination of natural and artificial lighting techniques to create stunning and timeless images that told the couple’s love story.
- Edited and retouched over 500 images, ensuring consistent color grading and enhancing the overall visual appeal.
- Collaborated closely with the couple to ensure their vision was translated into the final imagery, resulting in a highly satisfied client.
Fashion Editorial
- Captured and documented the entire wedding day, including pre-ceremony preparations, ceremony, reception, and candid moments.
- Utilized a combination of natural and artificial lighting techniques to create stunning and timeless images that told the couple’s love story.
- Edited and retouched over 500 images, ensuring consistent color grading and enhancing the overall visual appeal.
- Collaborated closely with the couple to ensure their vision was translated into the final imagery, resulting in a highly satisfied client.

Languages

Languages give you a chance to showcase your cultural awareness and adaptability, two qualities highly prized in today’s globalized job market. Being multilingual also expands your communication abilities, giving you access to a wider variety of clients, customers and stakeholders, and opening the door to international opportunities.

Communicating with clients is a huge part of a photographer’s job, so be proud of the fact that you’ve got exceptional communication skills!

How to list languages on your photographer resume:

Fluent in English and Korean.
Proficient in Mandarin.

Interests and Hobbies

Adding hobbies to your resume is appropriate as long as they’re relevant to the job. They offer an opportunity to show your personality and meaningfully connect with a potential employer. Plus, they emphasize your transferable skills, like creativity or leadership — qualities you take from job to job.

For a photography resume, showcasing artistic hobbies demonstrates your passion for the arts.

How to list interests and hobbies on your photographer resume:

Graphic design
Videography
Fashion

Add a cover letter

Create your cover letter

Adding a photographer cover letter to your application can help you stand out. Why? Because it gives you extra space to convince the employer that you’re the right person for the job. Learning how to write a cover letter for a photographer job is important because your cover letter is an opportunity that you don’t want to pass up. Your cover letter adds context to your resume and allows you to explain why your qualifications make you the best fit for the job that you’re targeting. Study our cover letter examples to learn how to express your unique candidacy in a compelling way and how to format your cover letter for success.

Or, if you want a job-specific cover letter in a matter of minutes, use our professional Cover Letter Builder, which offers professionally written text suggestions for every section. Use the wording as-is or customize it to suit your needs.

Key takeaways for your photographer resume

Follow our steps for a standout resume

Take care to write all five sections of your resume in a way that is specific to the job you seek. Your professional summary, skills, work experience and education section should all contain information that is targeted to the job ad.
Select the appropriate resume format

Decide what you’d like to emphasize the most on your resume — strong skills, an impressive work history or both — and then select the template that will help you put your best foot forward.
Be specific to the role

Use specific information from the job ad rather than generic resume filler when crafting your document. Again, a well-written job description will tell you the critical credentials you must emphasize on your resume.
Include both hard and soft skills

Being a photographer requires a mix of technical and personal skills to do the job well. Study our list of hard and soft skills to be sure that you include a balance of both types in your resume.
Make your work experience section shine

Accomplish this by using action verbs, data and metrics to show the impact of your work.
Choose an appropriate resume template

Creative resume templates are a good fit for photographers. If you’re having trouble choosing, though, it never hurts to go with the basics. Try a simple resume template for a pared down and professional resume.
Go the extra mile

Including a well-written photographer cover letter can increase your chances of landing a job interview.

Commonly asked question about resume writing

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Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.