Photographer CV—Examples and 25+ Writing Tips

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 centre, with the perfect photographer CV they’ll see.

Not a problem.

In this guide:

• The best professional photographer CV examples to get photography jobs.
• How to customise a CV to the photographer job description.
• How to write CVs 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 CV examples for professions related to photography? Try these:

• Artist CV
• Event Planner CV
• Graphic Design CV
• Hairdresser CV
• Interior Design CV
• Makeup Artist CV
• Production Assistant CV
• Video Editor CV
• Videographer CV
• Journalist CV

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

Now— 

Photographer CV Example

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

1. Format the Photographer CV Template 

Some shots capture a tense moment, like a photojournalist framing a Molotov cocktail midair over a crowds’ political protest.

Other times (think modelling photo shoots), it takes time to set up for the perfect picture.

Treat your CV like a photoshoot— 

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

So—

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

• List your most recent or current employment and education first, then go backward from there—this is called the reverse-chronological layout. 
• Pick a stylish CV font which is still easy for any reader to view.
• Leave a 1-inch border around all 4 edges of your CV for photography jobs.
• Only include relevant parts of a CV; if it doesn’t add value or increase your chances of a photography interview, leave it off.

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 CV and remember you when it counts.

Expert Hint: In the address on a CV, 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 CV Objective or Summary

Like Lightroom’s loupe function, employers peer closely at photography CVs’ opening statements (also known as profile 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 CV 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 CV 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 CV summary:

Photographer CV Example—Summary Statement 

Passionate professional photographer with over 10 years of experience with editorial, landscape and event photography. Skilled at wedding photography, photojournalism, and portraits. Photos have been published online and in print in major publications, including within the Daily Press. Won the 2018 Virginia State Photograthon for Editorial Photographer Of the Year.

I’m a freelance photographer currently seeking a full-time, on-staff position at a photography studio, design team, or marketing department. I have my own camera, a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, which I could bring to work with me, as well as a lot of professional gear (e.g., lenses, stands) to contribute.

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

First, the “bad” freelance photographer CV sample is generic, while the “good” one is a targeted CV 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 CV with no experience?

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

The photography CV 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 CV for photographer jobs:

Entry-Level Photography CV Objective Example

Recent university graduate with a degree in photography and 2+ years of experience working as a freelance photographer. Skilled at snapping landscapes, architecture, weddings, concerts, and using photo editing software, such as Phase One Capture One Pro and DxO PhotoLab. Won 2nd place in the Tri-County Countryscape Photography Tournament. Seeking to use knowledge of modern photography principles and creative instinct to become the next staff photographer at Tanimatrix Media Lab.

I’ve recently graduated from university with a photography degree, and I would like to put that creative degree to work as a staff photographer at a newspaper, online blog, or at a photography studio. Aside from the knowledge I gained in university, I also have done several freelance gigs over the years via Upwork.

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

No employer wants a generic CV 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 CV with a photograph? In the United States, it is not suggested for you to add a photo onto a CV unless you’re a model or actor. There’s really no reason the employer needs to see you with a CV 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 CV 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 CV keywords).
• Include numbers where appropriate to quantify past responsibilities and convince them how skilled you are as a photographer.

Here are two photography CV examples of great job descriptions:

Photography Job Description for CV Examples

Editorial Photographer
August 2015–September 2019
Daily Press Newspaper, Newport News, VA

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

• Took photos and videos to support and frame written news articles, including events, features, and architecture.
• Attended various events, from public appearances to political conferences, in order to obtain photographs for future publication.
• Organised photos into newspaper archives, and sorted through shots to find the best possible photograph to use for a given story.
• Managed creative suite of software and tools to edit images for colour correction and a variety of factors, according to editorial guidelines.

Key Achievements

• 2018 “Editorial Photographer Of the Year” winner at the Virginia State Photograthon.

Freelance Photographer

May 2013–July 2019
Self-Employed, Virginia Beach, VA

Job Responsibilities:

• Attended events to look for photo ops.
• Took dozens of photos each day.
• Searched through reel for perfect shots.
• Edited and tweaked photographs.

See these?

In the second photographer job description CV section, it’s just a dull list of past duties. 

The first photographer CV sample, though, gives plenty of details, uses keywords based on the job description, and adds quantifiable accomplishments

High contrast, indeed.

After that—

A CV skills section.

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 2016 and 2026, there will be a 6% decline, or 8,300 jobs less. Those 8,300 jobless photographers mean much more competition for the remaining photography jobs.

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 CV section inclusions:

25+ Top Photographer Skills for a CV

• Photography Organisational Tools (e.g., Adobe Lightroom)
• Photography Nondestructive Editing Tools (e.g., Adobe Photoshop)
• Photo Editing & Touch Ups
• Digital Photography
• Analogue 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 CV (5 or 6 tops). 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 CV skills section.

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

The name of your CV file matters! If you use a file name such as “CV” 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.

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 CV in our CV builder now.

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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 CV with your academic accomplishments in focus and its format cropped to perfection.

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

Photographer CV Example of Education Section

B.F.A. in Photography

New York Film Academy, New York, NY

Completion: 2019

Relevant Coursework: Space, Form, and Process, Black and White Photography, Light Colour Design Studio, Themes in Art and Culture, Digital Cinema, Large Format Photography, Science of Light, History of Art and Design, Professional Practises in Photography.

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 university, whether it’s a photography degree or otherwise, leave high school off. 

5. Add Some Special Effects to a Photography CV

Employers have a large depth of field when it comes to the amount of photography CVs 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 CV template for it to sparkle and shine:

Certifications & Licences

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

Photography Organisations & 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 CV? A great photography cover letter. Always include a cover letter, because most creative heads and photography studio employers prefer it. 

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

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Key Points

Let’s recap— 

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

• Get the formatting sorted before you put pen to paper on your photography CV.
• 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 CV.

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

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