Photographer Resume Example

Photographer Resume with Writing Guide

Many people think they need to have a photography degree to become a professional photographer, and in many cases, it’s true. But what most people forget is that there are plenty of entry-level jobs in the field without one. There are even several companies that hire photographers with only a high school diploma or GED certificate!

But it doesn’t help if you don’t know how to go about applying for these positions and showing your skills in the best possible light. A photography resume will help you get your foot in the door, but it won’t substitute for experience and a winning attitude.

Following are some tips for writing the photographer resume of your dreams.

Choose Your Format Wisely

There are many different formats to choose from when it comes to writing an effective photography resume. Choose one that is most suitable for your background and skills. For example, if you’re just starting out but have plenty of experience and want to highlight these, you might opt for a more “tutorial” format.

If you’re looking for an entry-level position that doesn’t require formal education or a degree, use a format that highlights your important work experience and explain what type of expertise it will take to perform the job successfully.

Focus on what is relevant in your past work history and how it will be helpful in the position you’re applying for.

Stay Organized

When you write a photography resume, it’s important to keep yourself organized. You don’t want to just throw a list of relevant information at your prospective employer, although that can work in some cases. Arrange the information in sections or use an outline format when applicable.

Make Sure It is Concise and Easy to Read

Above all, your photography resume should be easy to read and understand. Keep all the information in one place and don’t make your reader struggle to read what you have to say.

Make sure all your important information is at the top and that it flows well without being too cluttered. While some people may like a long list of bullet points, keep it simple. A one-page resume should be enough to summarize any photographer’s experience and qualifications for the job they want.

Always use a proper format when formatting your photography resume. This will show that you know what you’re doing and that you take yourself seriously as a professional.

Use Free Resume Templates Online for Inspiration

One of the easiest ways to get started on writing your photography resume is to use a few free templates online. These are sample resumes that you can use as a starting point for creating your own masterful document.

There are also some excellent examples of how to write a photography resume with photographs. Use these to spark your creativity and in turn, help you design a powerful resume that will get you noticed.

Two great sites for writing photography resumes are our very own ResumeGenius.com and VisualCV.com. These sites have plenty of templates to choose from as well as some excellent examples of how to write a photography resume with photographs.

Make Sure You Have the Experience

Of course, the most important part of a photography resume is the experience section. This is where you detail your work history and include any special job tasks that may help tailor your resume to the type of job you want.

As an entry-level worker, it’s important to highlight how much time you’ve put into your career and how this will translate into the position you’re applying for. If you work in a lab as a technician, for example, be sure to include information about using light meters and microscopes, as well as how helpful this experience has been in helping with future projects.

Photographer Responsibilities:

• Create and produce eye-catching advertisements, brochures, and websites that promote products
• Earn money through commissions and fees
• Develop original sales ideas
• Manage budgets and business plans
• Organize event photography sessions for corporate clients such as seminars, product launches, fund raisings, and client recognition ceremonies
• Manage individual clients
• Advertise photographer services
• Collaborate with marketing, design, and strategy committees to create a coherent marketing campaign

Top 10 Must-have Photographer Skills:

1. Excellent Communication Skills. A photographer must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with clients and other professionals at all levels of the industry.
2. Strong Professionalism. Photographers should be able to conduct themselves in a way that inspires confidence and respects colleagues, competitors, and clients alike.
3. Enthusiasm for Photography. This is the most important quality because without it, even a great photographer won’t last long in the business.
4. Creative Problem Solving Skills. A photographer must be able to think outside the box and find creative solutions to complex problems.
5. Technical Skills. Photographers must know how to use all the different types of equipment they might encounter during a shoot.
6. Organizational Skills. Photographers need strong problem-solving skills in order to manage their work, clients, and deadlines effectively.
7. Social Competence. A photographer must be able to work well with others in a small team as well as a large group of people from many different fields and backgrounds.

Tips to write a Photographer Resume Summary:

1. Use a professional tone which is formal and conveys your experience.
2. Be descriptive in the summary so people can understand who you are and what your skill set includes.
3. Include links to portfolio of works to showcase your photos, or any other examples of work that show what you have done.
4. If you want, consider adding a section for education and training, including school names, dates attended with year and certificates earned if applicable (this includes degrees from schools such as the New York Film Academy).
5. If you have a web portfolio, feel free to link that as well. Sites like Behance or DeviantArt are helpful in this regard.
6. If you have any internships or specialized training, feel free to add a section for that as well.
7. If you don’t have any impressive work experience, try adding a section for volunteering with organizations such as the American Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders.

How to write a Photographer Resume with No experience:

1. First and foremost, figure out which jobs you are qualified for. Check your state’s job base website. If you can’t find anything on there, go to Indeed.com and use the search bar to search for jobs in your area that match the qualifications list you wrote earlier.
2. After deciding which jobs to apply for, check out the job descriptions on Indeed or the job listing websites, and make sure you meet all of their requirements (which also doubles as a great writing prompt if all else fails).
3. Use the resources listed below to put together a killer resume.
4. Send your resume and cover letter in for an interview!

How to write a Photographer Cover Letter:

1. Keep it short, but not too short.
2. Proofread several times and ask friends for proofreading to make sure you don’t have any errors!
3. Make sure that each cover letter ends with a request for an interview (do not just ask for an ‘interview’–they want to know why they should interview you!)
4. Address the letter to a specific person and mention who referred you if you’ve been referred by someone already in the industry
5. Make sure your cover letter is not more than one page.
6. Be sure to include a list of references and their contact information at the end of your cover letter.
7. Make sure the look of your resume and cover letter matches!
8. Make sure you have a professional e-mail address that ends in an .edu or .org; if possible, use yourname@yourcollege.edu or yourname@yourcollege.org to make it as easy as possible for employers to contact you!

Key Takeaways:

• Your resume needs to be tailored just for you. Use the information on this page to customize your resume and cover letter.
• A good resume includes headers and footers that highlight your experience, education, specialties, career goals, and other related information.
• Your resume needs to be concise and well organized. This provides better insight into what you have done in your previous positions and also makes it more readable by recruiters and hiring managers.