Cinematographer Resume Example, Sample, and Format

Want to land that dream cinematography gig? A compelling cinematography resume has to convince the recruiters and make them want to dive into your reel immediately.

To captivate recruiters with your endless artistic flair and technical finesse in a single frame, you’ll need a resume capable of framing your accomplishments.

By the end, they’ll be shouting, “Lights! Camera! Hire!”

In this guide:

• A cinematography resume sample that gets jobs.
• How to pick up the best cinematography resume skills.
• How to write a resume for a cinematography that gets interviews.
• Expert tips and examples to boost your chances of landing a cinematography job.

Save hours of work and get a job-winning resume like this. Try our resume builder with 20+ resume templates and create your resume now.

Create your resume now

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW

What users say about ResumeLab:

I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your resume.”
Patrick

I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work!
Dylan 

My previous resume was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful!
George

Create your resume now

Searching for resume examples targeting similar jobs? Take a look at these: 

• Filmmaker Resume Example
• Film Resume Example
• Video Editor Resume Example
• Production Assistant Resume Example
• Career Change Resume Example
• Music Resume Example
• Videographer Resume Example
• Photographer Resume Example
• Theater Resume Example
• Resume Example for All Jobs

Cinematography Resume Example

A cinematographer is an artist who captures moving images through camera work and lighting to help tell visual stories for film and video. As the director of photography, the cinematography resume should demonstrate experience in creating compelling visual compositions that enhance narratives.

Now, here’s how to write a cinematography resume:

1. Choose the Right Cinematography Resume Format

Formatting your cinematographer resume is like pre-production. You must make many decisions before you start shooting (or writing).

The most significant decisions are framing the narrative and choosing the correct format. You don’t want to drop the ball here, as organizational skills are necessary in the film industry.

Here are some tips for a clean and clear cinematographer resume format:

• Go with a functional format if you’ve been freelancing, though we'll focus on the reverse-chronological format for this example.
• Choose a simple resume font like Calibri or Times New Roman, size 11 or 12.
• Keep resume margins at one inch and space things out like wide shots.
• Aim for a tight, one-sheet resume. You can go for a two-page resume for 10+ years’ of experience.
• Include the essential sections: Header, Resume Profile, Work History, Education, and Skills. Also, plan for extra sections you want to cut into the final edit. 
• In your resume header, include only your name, job title, phone number, and email. You can add your reel/website URL, too, but that’s optional mainly (unless they specifically request it).

That’s our opening shot, so let’s get down to the exposition.

Expert Hint: Resumes in Word sometimes break down, and the best way to prevent that is by saving your resume as a PDF. 

2. Make a Jaw-dropping Cinematography Resume Summary or Objective

Your resume summary should make employers sit up and take notice, like a jaw-dropping establishing shot in a film. 

Why? Because your summary is your big chance of standing out from the crowd. To find an employer who “gets” your cinematographic vision. It’s also one of the best ways to get your foot in the door as a beginner.

Here's how to craft an attention-grabbing cinematography resume summary:

1. Lead with an adjective that captures your style. “Visionary,” “Innovative,” or “Storytelling” all work, but more general options such as “Dedicated” or “Versatile” are great, too. 
2. State your resume job title—“Cinematographer”—and add your years of experience in numbers.
3. Highlight a goal that shows your passion and wish to achieve for the production company, like “To leverage my visual storytelling and technical skills as a cinematographic leader on set.”
4. Choose 2–3 professional achievements that show your impact: “Shot 5 award-winning shorts” or “Maintained an under-budget shooting ratio of 7:1 for 2 years.”

On the other hand, if you’re writing an entry-level resume, you can’t expect them to roll out the red carpet. But if you have them, flex some demanded skills and write a resume objective.

Focus on demonstrating those transferable skills, passion for visual storytelling, and eagerness to learn from more seasoned professionals to convey your strong motivation and potential as an up-and-coming cinematographer.

Doing so will ensure the employer sees how your talents correspond to the studio's specific needs and convince them of your value going forward.

3. Elevate Your Cinematography Resume Job Description and Skills 

Your work history may be as epic as a Martin Scorsese film. You may have shot for major studios and directors.

But if you don't showcase that professional experience on your resume, you can instantly ruin your work history section. The key is to tailor your cinematographer resume to the job description.

Follow these rules to create a job description that matches the posting perfectly:

1. Study the job posting closely. Absorb every detail.
2. Scan for the duties and skills they want.
3. Think of similar responsibilities you’ve had and skills you possess.
4. Write bullet points highlighting your most significant achievements that are impossible to ignore. Use powerful action resume verbs to supercharge your work history, ignoring experience irrelevant to the keywords specified in the job ad.

Speaking of skills, cinematographers need to have those aplenty. But how do you pick the right ones? Do you just glue together a few random selections and call it a day?

No. You wouldn’t do that with a motion picture and consider it Oscar-worthy.

To create a successful effect with your resume skills section, refer to the keywords in the job ad to see what particular set of skills they hold as most desirable. Not doing so is simply a mistake and a very easily avoided one.

See the list below to inspire your cinematography skills section:

25+ Proven Skills for a Cinematography Resume

• Camera operation
• Lighting design
• Composition
• Editing
• Versatile genres
• Film Theory
• Visual storytelling
• Technical expertise
• Creativity
• Working with on-set crew
• Collaboration
• Communication skills
• Problem-solving
• Attention to detail
• Adaptability
• Time management
• Decision making
• Leadership skills
• Mentoring
• Budget management
• Scheduling
• Technical direction
• Equipment operation
• Color grading
• Special effects
• Motion graphics
• Videography
• Photography
• Directing
• Producing
• Motion control
• Rigging
• Grip operation
• Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Pro, Avid, etc.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW

Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now.

4. Avoid Wasting Your Education Section on the Cinematography Resume

Not listing education on your resume is a resume mistake. It takes years to finish film school, so why not show off your diploma instead of leaving it accumulating dust on the wall?

First, list your highest level of schooling, the name of the film school, and graduation year.

Usually, you can yell “cut!” and call it a day unless you’re just starting, like a student resume.

In that case, pad your education section to include relevant classes, student club memberships, and other achievements demonstrating your potential. Show that it’s not just a title but that you live and breathe cinematography.

5. Let the Credits Roll, But Only After Adding Extra Sections to Your Cinematography Resume

Cinematography reels are good however you shoot them, but add some extra sauce, and they become next-level. Rich, gooey visuals that leave audiences wanting more. Did you know this trick? A simple addition can elevate your resume well beyond expectations. 

Without them, your resume may seem decent as-is. You’ve hit the essential sections and just want to finish it. But that’s just that bit of movie magic, and if recruiters were to peel back the curtain, they’d find that it’s not different enough from the hundreds of other resumes they got.

Top off your reel with some additional resume sections:

• Industry certifications 
• Hobbies that feed your creativity
• Volunteer film projects
• Industry organizations you belong to
• Recommendations from directors you've worked with.

Expert Hint: A cover letter lets you showcase your creative vision and filmmaking passion in your own words. Hiring managers want to see your unique perspective beyond just technical skills. So, don't skip writing one that showcases your creative potential and how you’d fit in with the production company.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

Key Points

For a strong cinematography resume:

• Use a reliable cinematographer resume template that is perfect for casting light on your skills.
• Create an award-worthy resume summary or objective to grab their attention.

• Mention relevant work experience and list impressive achievements.

• Adjust the wording on your cinematographer resume per the job posting to tailor it for maximum effect.

• Use extra sections and reap the rewards of showing off versatility and passion.

Need more help with your cinematography resume? Which of these tips did you find the most useful? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to chat.

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article per editorial guidelines, ensuring our content's high quality and reliability. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog annually.