Photographer Resume Examples
Years of Experience
- 0
- 2-3
- 5-10
- 10+
Talia Keil
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Red Street, Jersey City, NJ 12345
Profile
Recent Fine Arts graduate with concentration in photography. Passionate photographer with experience capturing portrait and commercial subjects in unique and creative ways. Strong organizational skills and high level of experience editing and creating digital images. Accepted to juried exhibition at The Bailey Center.
Key Skills
- Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom
- Experience with digital and film photography
- High level of creativity
- Organizational skills
- Studio experience
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography
New Jersey City University, Jersey City, September 2016 – June 2020
Professional Experience
Photography Internship, Power Studios, Jersey City, NJ
September 2019 – June 2020
- Assisted in setting up lighting and background for commercial food and clothing photography shoots
- Communicated positions and poses to models, to provide them with direction
- Assisted photographer with digital editing and touching up photos to meet client specifications
- Undertook maintenance on wide variety of equipment, including cameras, flashes and lights
Volunteer Photography Assistant, Masters Games, New York City, NY
July 2017 – August 2017
- Managed equipment for professional sport photographers, ensuring they received lenses and cameras when needed
- Maintained schedule of events showing when photographers could access arenas for different photo opportunities
- Used judgement and eye for shots to help photographers access best location to take photographs
- Communicated with photographers, athletes, the public and games organizers to ensure photographers could work without interruption
Ari Gestetner
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Blue Terrace, Indianapolis, IN 12345
Profile
Professional photographer with two years’ experience in the real estate field. Communicated directly with customers to take creative images of properties for use in brochures, on signage and in online and social media advertising. Strong attention to detail to ensure houses were displayed to their best advantage.
Key Skills
- Customer service skills
- Detail oriented
- Digital editing with Adobe Photoshop
- Experienced with real estate, commercial and drone photography
- Strong communication skills
Education
Associate of Applied Science in Visual Communications – Photography
Ivy Tech Community College, Indianapolis, IN, September 2016 – June 2018
Professional Experience
Real Estate Photographer, Cosmos Advertising, Indianapolis, IN
July 2018 – Present
- Collaborate with real estate agents and creative directors to determine best shots to advertise each property
- Adapt techniques and equipment to make best use of natural light and account for difficult spaces
- Retouch each image using digital editing software and organize into galleries for customers and art directors
- Network with real estate agents and build strong working relationships, bringing in new business through referral and repeat customers
Commercial Photography Intern, Expert Studios, Indianapolis, IN
January 2018 – June 2018
- Assisted photographers with setting up shots, including lighting, flashes and backgrounds, for products
- Operated drone photography equipment for commercial photographs of large machinery
- Completed digital edits of photographs using Adobe Photoshop, including retouching and adding digital effects
Edmond Cartier
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Green Boulevard, Boston, MA 12345
Profile
Highly skilled and experienced photographer with background in creating human and pet portraits. Able to utilize patience to wait for the perfect shot and work quickly to capture the moment when it appears. Quick to adapt to take advantage of favorable conditions. Experience working in studios and on location.
Professional Experience
Pets and You Studio, Boston, MA
November 2015 – Present
- Create engaging posed and action portraits of people and their pets, including dogs, cats, alpacas and chickens
- Use high level communication skills to create rapport with subjects, putting them at ease for the photography session
- Scout locations to find best place for outdoor shoots with pets that pair great lighting with interesting backgrounds
- Managed social media accounts to post engaging images and stories, leading to 20% increase in customer inquiries
ABC Studios, Boston, MA
July 2011 – October 2015
- Took portraits and candid shots at events including graduations, proms and weddings
- Communicated with photo subjects to pose them ensuring the a quality image
- Set up lighting and background equipment at each location to create a portable studio
- Digitally retouched photographs to ensure each client got the best possible image
Education
Master of Fine Arts in Photography
Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA, September 2009 – June 2011
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography
Parsons School of Art, Media and Technology, New York City, NY, September 2005 – June 2009
Key Skills
- Artistically creative
- Experienced in portrait, still life and animal photography
- Experienced with photography software
- Highly organized and goal-oriented
- Highly skilled in digital photography
Certification
- Certified Professional Photographer, 2019
Sakura Sato
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Yellow Avenue, Portland, OR 12345
Profile
Passionate news photographer with 14+ years experience covering breaking news stories and current events. Images have been featured on the covers of national newspapers and news magazines. Able to quickly capture striking photos that tell a story. Experience taking posed shots for lifestyle stories as well as covering natural disasters, protests and other quickly-evolving events.
Professional Experience
AC Photography Agency, New York, NY
July 2010 – Present
- Take photos of breaking news events from various locations around the globe, including Syria, London, Brazil and Australia
- Use perceptiveness and solid photography experience to be in the right location to get a creative and engaging image that captures the moment
- Collaborate with journalists and editors from newspapers and press agencies to ensure photos taken reflect the stories being told
- Communicate with photographic subjects, creating a connection to ensure powerful photos can be captured and releases signed without antagonism
The Smalltown Observer, Smalltown, OR
July 2006 – June 2010
- Captured still life, portrait and action photographs to illustrate a range of new stories
- Used initiative to research news stories and present photograph options to add extra insight to the story
- Collaborated with the news team to ensure desired images were created
- Organized and curated galleries of images ensuring the best photos were presented for editor selection
Education
Master of Arts in New Media Photojournalism
George Washington University, Washington, DC, September 2004 – June 2006
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, September 2000 – June 2004
Key Skills
- Experience capturing editorial images of breaking news stories
- Expertise in developing good relationships through collaboration and strong interpersonal skills
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Thorough understanding of photography equipment
Certification
- Certified Professional Photographer, 2018
Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for Photographer Resumes
Hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) look for key skills and action verbs to identify potential candidates. An ATS scans each resume and evaluates it based on the number of keywords and phrases included and highlights these resumes for the hiring manager. This means that using more of these key skills and words in your resume can increase the chance of a hiring manager seeing your resume and inviting you for an interview.
| Key Skills | |
|---|---|
| Adaptability | Adobe Lightroom |
| Adobe Photoshop | Collaboration |
| Communication | Consistency |
| Creative skills | Customer service |
| Detail oriented | Digital imaging |
| Editing software | Editorial photography |
| Fashion photography | Interpersonal skills |
| Nature photography | Networking |
| Organization skills | Perceptiveness |
| Physical fitness | Portraits |
| Real estate photography | Self-motivated |
| Social media management | Time management |
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Adapt | Archive |
| Collaborate | Communicate |
| Coordinate | Create |
| Design | Digitally retouch |
| Judge | Light |
| Manage | Network |
| Organize | |
| Select | Sell |
| Solve | |
Tips for Writing a Better Photographer Resume
Be specific about your photography skills
Photography is a broad field and hiring managers often look for candidates with skills in the specific type of photography they need. Instead of saying that you have photography skills, mention the type of photography you excel in, whether that’s portraiture, landscapes or news photography. This can be highlighted in the key skills or professional experience bullets section of your resume. Don’t forget to include the names of the digital editing programs and photography software that you use.
Example #1
Good
Created portrait photographs in a studio and on location, utilizing natural and studio lights to capture beautiful images of children, couples and families
Bad
Took photos of people
Example #2
Good
Worked in a professional studio to create commercial images of a range of products, including food, books, toys and clothing, for use in e-commerce sites
Bad
Created product images
Highlight your photography soft skills
Being a good photographer is about more than being able to take great photos; your soft skills are essential to finding success. Teamwork, leadership, and organizational abilities are all sought after by employers. Other desirable soft skills differ depending on the type of position. A wedding photographer needs strong interpersonal skills to put the bridal party at ease, and a fashion photographer needs to be able to collaborate with stylists, editors, models, and others. Emphasize at least one soft skill where you have a particular strength or that’s featured in the job description.
Example #1
Good
Quickly adapts to changing circumstances and able to solve problems that arise when photographing news stories
Bad
Experience photographing news stories
Example #2
Good
Managed time to ensure multiple shoots were completed on time and within budget in a fast-paced environment and organized photographs so they could be easily found by editors
Bad
Completed multiple fashion shoots
How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description
Hiring managers have specific needs in mind when they advertise a position and are looking for someone who can meet those needs. A job description sets down exactly what they’re looking for. Tailoring your resume to include the skills and experience that match what’s in the job description can help you stand out from other applicants.
To decide what skills and experience to feature, start by examining the job description. The most important requirements are typically listed first or mentioned multiple times. Make sure your resume describes how you meet the key requirements described in the job description. Keep your resume from sounding generic by avoiding bland descriptions, and focus on your major attributes and achievements.
Example Photographer Job Description
Alpha Photography is looking for an experienced and creative wedding photographer to join our team. The ideal applicant will be able to communicate with clients to determine their needs and ensure the story of their wedding day is captured. Afterwards, you will utilize editing software to enhance the photographs and collaborate with other members of the creative team to ensure a beautiful album is delivered in a timely manner.
Responsibilities:
- Take photographs for weddings, engagements and other events
- Photograph in a variety of locations, including churches, gardens, city streets and reception halls and make adjustments to ensure clear and creative photos are captured in all circumstances
- Edit photographs using digital editing software, including retouching, cropping and graphic effects if requested
- Meet with prospective clients to discuss what is possible for their wedding photos
- Communicate with bridal couple and wedding organizers to organize schedules for the day
- Compile galleries and collaborate with the graphic designer to create albums
- Help clients decide which photos to purchase
Qualifications:
- Experience in wedding or event photography
- Proficient with photo editing software, including Adobe Photoshop
- Can use creativity and problem solving abilities to account for different locations and unforeseen circumstances
- Expert skills in camera operation and lighting
- Strong communication skills
- Good organizational and time management skills to ensure all required photos are captured in the allotted time
- Able to take candid shots unobtrusively and manage groups to ensure the required portrait and group shots are captured
The job description shows that the ideal application should have the following attributes and experience:
- Wedding photography experience
- Experience in different locations
- Creativity
- Communication skills
- Organizational skills
- Experience with photo editing software
- Collaboration
- Problem solving
- Time management
Take the key priorities you highlighted in the job description and include the experience and skills you have that match. Below, you’ll find an example of how to best incorporate them into your resume.
Photographer Work Experience Example
Wedding Photographer, Rose Photography, Portland, OR
April 2015 – Present
- Take creative wedding photos to ensure the client’s wedding day is fully captured
- Communicate with clients before and after wedding to determine desired shots and collaborate on wedding album and portrait choices
- Organize list of required shots and set schedule to ensure everything is captured within the allotted time
- Solve problems caused by photographing in a variety of locations, including those with poor lighting
- Utilize photo editing software, including Adobe Photoshop, to retouch photos and prepare for printing