Professional Photographer Resume—Examples for 2023

Whether they’re cityscapes, composites, photojournalism, or abstract shots, you’re no average shutterbug. You’re a professional photographer with the skills to back it up.

But, unlike bokeh effects, you don’t want to be twinkling in the background. You need to be the image they focus on, upfront and center, with the perfect photographer resume they’ll see.

In this guide:

• The best professional photographer resume examples to get photography jobs.
• How to customize a resume to the photographer job description.
• How to write resumes for photography that score creative job interviews.
• Expert tips and examples to better your chances of landing photography jobs.

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Seeking other creative resume examples for professions related to photography? Try these:

• Animator Resume
• Artist Resume
• Dance Resume
• Fashion Resume
• Fashion Designer Resume
• Filmaker Resume
• Graphic Design Resume
• Hair Stylist Resume
• Journalist Resume
• Video Editor Resume
• Videographer Resume

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Resume Examples for Any Job.

Now— 

Photographer Resume Example

Photographers are visual artists who captures images using a camera. They use their creative and technical skills to create and edit high-quality images that meet the expectations of their clients. Photographers can specialize in many fields of photography, like portraits, landscapes, or wildlife.

Here’s how to write a photographer resume that’s picture perfect:

1. Format the Photographer Resume Template 

Some shots capture a tense moment, like a photojournalist framing a Molotov cocktail midair over a crowds’ political protest. Other times (think modeling photo shoots), it takes time to set up for the perfect picture.

Treat your resume like a photoshoot— 

If you don’t format a resume right, your interview chances are as dead as the subjects of memento mori photography. So—

Here’s how to format a photographer resume template perfectly:

• List your most recent or current employment and education first, then go backward from there—this is called the reverse-chronological resume layout. 
• Pick a stylish resume font which is still easy for any reader to view.
• Leave a 1-inch margin on your resume for photography jobs.
• Include must-have resume sections (profile, work experience, education, skills), and a couple of bonus ones (certifications, volunteering, etc.) to beautify your photography resume.

Use a strong and clean visual format. Avoid dense blocks of text. Triple check spelling and grammar. Doing these things will make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to read your resume and remember you when it counts.

Expert Hint: In the address on a resume, within your contact details, be sure to provide a link to your photography portfolio. Oh, and fix it up. Interviewers and agency directors will want to see your best work, and any unfinished website or photo albums will turn them off.

2. Start with a Photographer Resume Objective or Summary

Like Lightroom’s loupe function, employers peer closely at photography resumes’ opening statements (also known as resume summary). These brief paragraphs, known as either a summary or objective, give them a quick introduction to you as a candidate. 

It needs to catch their attention— 

If you don’t interest them here, they’ll discard your resume as if it were an image my father took (every photo he shot had his finger in the frame; it became a sort of extended family member). But which intro paragraph to pick?

If you have years of pro photography expertise, go with the summary paragraph. 

The resume summary intrigues them to consider you further by introducing you to them and talking up your photography experience and shot-taking skills. To add the cherry on top, it gives a numbered accomplishment for verification of your photography talents.

Here’s how to write a creative photographer resume summary:

Photographer Resume Example—Summary Statement 

Can you notice what separates the good example from the bad one?

First, the “bad” freelance photographer resume sample is generic, while the “good” one is a targeted resume tailored specifically for one job and company. 

Going further, the “good” example gives numbers (in this case, the year of their photography award). In the “bad” example, there’s no way for the studio director to determine just how skilled the candidate is as a photographer. But— 

What about when writing a photography resume with no experience?

When you’ve no experience as a professional photographer, such as on a freelance photography resume, go with the objective paragraph. 

The photography resume objective statement impresses them with your freelance work, or it shows them you have the skills to be a great photographer from other work you’ve done. It also talks up your career plans and goals as a professional photographer. Finally, it gives them a quantifiable achievement to prove your value, as well.

Here’s how to write an objective statement on a resume for photographer jobs:

Entry-Level Photography Resume Objective Example

Just like with our last resume examples, this second one is as outdated as the daguerreotype process—

No employer wants a generic resume heading, but all want some form of numbers attached to a particular photography win. 

The first example, however, is fully developed and ready for them to view.

Expert Hint: Do you send a photography resume with a photograph? In the United States, it is not suggested for you to add a photo onto a resume unless you’re a model or actor. There’s really no reason the employer needs to see you with a resume photograph, and they probably can find you online anyway.

3. Write a Great Photographer Job Description and Photography Skills Sections

The work history section is where you influence the employer to hire you based on your past employment. Don’t drone on with a list of photographer duties you performed. Instead— 

Here’s how to describe past experience on a resume for photographers:

• Use reverse-chronological ordering, listing your most recent or current job at the top. 
• Include your job title, the time you worked there, the company’s name, and their location.
• Be descriptive in your photography job description, referring to the responsibilities from the job ad to ensure they’re a match (these are resume keywords).
• Include numbers where appropriate to quantify past responsibilities and convince them how skilled you are as a photographer.

Here are two photography resume examples of job descriptions:

Photography Job Description for Resume Examples

See these?

In the second photographer job description resume section, it’s just a dull list of past duties.  The first photographer resume sample, though, gives plenty of details, uses keywords based on the job description, and adds quantifiable accomplishments.

High contrast, indeed.

After that—a section with resume skills. Think about photography job openings as the smallest aperture you can find—f/2000. And, like any narrow aperture, it means it captures a wide field. 

According to the report by the US Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projection, between 2020 and 2030, there will be a 17% grow. It means more comptetion for you. So, prove to them you’re the best cameraperson they can possibly find with a curated list of the most in-demand skills for photographers.

Here is a list of sample photography skills resume section inclusions:

25+ Top Photographer Skills for a Resume

• Photography Organizational Tools (e.g., Adobe Lightroom)
• Photography Nondestructive Editing Tools (e.g., Adobe Photoshop)
• Photo Editing & Touch Ups
• Digital Photography
• Analog Photography
• File Types (e.g., RAW, JPEG, PNG, TIFF)
• Wedding Photography
• Communication Skills 
• Photojournalism
• Action & Sports Photography
• Drone Operation
• Abstract Photography
• Nighttime / Low Light Photography
• Black and White Photography
• Composite Photography
• Food Photography
• Portrait Photography
• Time-Lapse Photography
• Creativity Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Nature Photography
• Gimp
• Canva
• Fashion Photography
• Topaz Studio
• Long Exposure Photography

But hold up a sec.

Don’t put a list of 25 photographer skills on a resume (never go above 10). Don’t even put these particular skills we’ve listed above.

Instead, refer back to the photographer job description. Find the skills this photography studio or marketing department wants from their job responsibilities.

If you have a skill that matches something from the ad, that’s what you should list in a photographer resume skills section.

Expert Hint: You know how important the right file format is. As such, save photographer resumes you send out in the PDF format. The employer may have a hard time reading a Microsoft Word resume, depending on their device and browser, but a PDF resume looks right anywhere.

The name of your resume file matters! If you use a file name such as “resume” or “new_resume” you won’t stand out and your file can be difficult to sort. It can also give the impression that you don’t really care about the job enough to pay attention to details. Instead of a generic file name, use a format such as: “firstname_lastname_resume.PDF” to make it easier for an employer to find your documents.

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4. Turn the Photographer’s Education Section Into the Reason You’re Hired

There’s no trade requirement which says a photographer needs a minimum education to get hired. However, employers still want to see education on a resume with your academic accomplishments in focus and its format cropped to perfection.

Here’s a photography resume sample of a top education section:

Photographer Resume Example of Education Section

Here’s how to make your own just like it:

• Start with listing your degree or certificate title at the top.
• Add the design school or university’s name, its city and state, and the year in which you completed the course.
• Include a list of relevant classes to show the photography studio or digital marketing team you’re well rounded.
• Next, add any academic extras you may have, such as awards or extracurricular activities.

Expert Hint: If you’ve completed a degree at a college, whether it’s a photography degree or otherwise, leave high school off. 

5. Add Some Special Effects to a Photography Resume

Employers have a large depth of field when it comes to the amount of photography resumes to go through. Want to gain the longest exposure when it comes to considering you for an interview?

Include more than just the core sections we’ve talked about.

Below are some of the best additional sections to add to any photography resume template for it to sparkle and shine:

Certifications & Licenses

• Certified Professional Photographer (CPP)
• CPD iPhotography Course Certification
• Certificate in Digital Photography

Photography Organizations & Associations

• National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)
• American Society of Media Professionals (ASMP)
• Professional Photographers of America (PPA)

Related Hobbies & Interests

• Fashion Blogging
• Instagramming
• Interior Design

Equipment & Professional Camera Makes & Models

• Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
• Nikon D750
• Panasonic S1R
• Sony A9 Mirrorless Camera
• Fujifilm X-A5
• Olympus E-M10 III
• Fancierstudio Chromakey Lighting Kit
• LimoStudio Continuous Lighting Kit
• Canon 70 - 200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
• Nikon 85mm f/1.4G

Knowledge of a Second Language

• Oromo: Native Proficiency
• Thai: Professional Working Proficiency
• Icelandic: Intermediate Proficiency
• Spanish: Basic Conversational Proficiency

Expert Hint: Know what pairs well with a photographer resume? A great photography cover letter. Always include a cover letter, because most creative heads and photography studio employers prefer it. 

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Key Points

Let’s recap— 

Here’s how to create a photography resume that steals the show:

• Get the formatting sorted before you put pen to paper on your photography resume.
• Open the document with a powerful and compelling summary or objective statement.
• List your past work responsibilities in high-resolution detail.
• Include achievements with numbers to quantify your know-how.
• Add a short list of the most potent photography skills this employer’s looking for.
• Throw in an extra section or two, such as photography certifications or foreign languages.
• Don’t forget a cover letter for photographer jobs alongside your resume.

Have any questions on how to write a photographer assistant resume or a photography resume for beginners? Need help documenting your professional photographer resume achievements? Let’s talk below in the comment area, and thanks for reading!