Capturing a moment in time is an art, and as a photographer, your resume should reflect the creativity and technical expertise of your craft.
If you’re unsure how to frame your experience and skills to snap up your next gig, we’re here to help.
Check out our friendly guide, complete with a photographer resume example to get your portfolio noticed and land that dream job.
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Photographer Resume Example
The example Photographer resume above demonstrates the ideal format and content your resume should have.
Its professional and clean layout is designed for optimal readability by busy hiring managers.
Follow our comprehensive guide to write your own effective Photographer resume.
Photographer resume structure & format
Resume structure
Resume structure is essential when it comes to convincing companies to interview you.
These are the sections that recruiters expect to see in your resume:
- Contact details: Your name and essential contact info.
- Resume summary: A short paragraph providing recruiters with a brief summary on your suitability for the job.
- Core skills: A bullet pointed list of your most in-demand Photographer skills.
- Work experience: Your current and previous jobs, listed from newest to oldest.
- Education: Your relevant qualifications for Photographer jobs.
- Additional info: Any further details that could boost your applications, such as languages or hobbies and interests.
How to format your Photographer resume
To make a strong impression, your resume format must be both professionally stylish and easy for recruiters to read quickly.
Here are our vital formatting tips to make your resume both appealing and reader-friendly.
- Resume length: Keep your resume concise, aiming for 1 to 2 pages. With recruiters swamped by resumes daily, keeping it brief can help you stand out.
- Font & colour scheme: Use a simple font which is easy to read and avoid elaborate ones which might make reading difficult. Go for black-text-on-white background, but feel free to add a splash of colour in the design to help your resume stand out.
- Page layout: Ensure your page is divided into clear sections with bold headings or borders, as this enables readers to quickly pinpoint the information they’re interested in.
- Break text up: Break text up into concise bullet points and short paragraphs to make it easy for busy recruiters to digest the info.
- Photos: Photos are not mandatory in Australia but you can add a small headshot to the top if you like.
Quick tip: Achieving a professional look for your resume can be difficult and time-consuming. If you want to create an attractive resume quickly, try our Resume Builder and use one of our eye-catching professional resume templates.
Contact Details
Being reachable and identifiable is essential for any job seeker which makes the contact details section a fundamental part of your resume. Although simple, it’s crucial to execute this section correctly.
Be sure to include these vital details clearly at the top of your resume, and be economical with the space you use:
- Your name and professional title: Adapt the title (e.g. Marketing Asssitant or Junior IT Manager) to suit the roles you’re aiming for.
- Email address: Use a professional-sounding email (e.g. shane-smith@gmail.com) and steer clear of nicknames or informal tags (e.g., shanzeybwoySmitho200@gmail.com).
- Phone number: Provide your mobile number for direct contact. Double-check to ensure it’s correct.
- Location: Include the general area you are targeting for work, such as Canberra, Brisbane.
You might also consider adding these optional details:
- Webpage links: Connect to a professional online presence such as a LinkedIn profile or a personal portfolio, making sure they are properly maintained and professional.
- Photograph: In creative sectors, a professional photo can be helpful, though it should not dominate your resume’s layout.
It’s advisable to omit personal information such as your date of birth, full home address, or gender from your resume as these do not enhance your job application and occupy precious space.
Photographer Resume Summary
The resume summary at the top of your document is a crucial, concise introduction that encapsulates your professional qualifications and readiness for the job. It sets the stage for your detailed application.
To instantly capture a recruiter’s attention and lead them into reading further into your resume, use these proven tips:
- Keep it short: Keep your summary between 3 to 5 sentences long so it can be read within seconds. Save the detail for your work experience section.
- Tailor to target jobs: To stand out, align your summary closely with the skills and keywords found in your target job adverts, increasing the likelihood that recruiters will recognise your fit for the role.
- Avoid using cliches: Resist the temptation to describe yourself as a “self-starter” or a “results-driven professional” – these clichés offer little insight into your actual capabilities.
Photographer resume summary example
What to include in your Photographer resume summary
- Summary of your experience: Outline the variety of roles you’ve undertaken and the organisations you’ve been part of to give employers a clear overview of your career experience.
- Relevant skills: Tell employers you have the right skills for Photographer roles by detailing your most relevant skills for the job.
- Qualifications: Remember to mention any qualifications applicable to Photographer jobs, showcasing your suitability for the role.
- Benefits of hiring you: Highlight the benefits you can bring to the employer, whether it’s in terms of cost reduction, efficiency improvements, or revenue generation for the company.
Quick tip: Choose from hundreds of pre-written summaries across all industries, and add one to your resume with one-click in our Resume Builder. All written by recruitment experts and easily tailored to suit your unique skillset and style.
Core skills section
Highlight your suitability for Photographer roles by including a core skills section in your resume.
Present a list of your essential skills in bullet-point format, each capped at four words, ensuring they are immediately noticeable to hiring managers.
Skills for your Photographer resume
Photographic Techniques Mastery – Demonstrating expert ability in applying various photographic techniques such as long exposure, macro, and high-speed photography to create striking images.
Camera Operation Proficiency – Operating a wide range of camera equipment, including DSLRs, mirrorless systems, and medium format cameras, ensuring technical precision in capturing images.
Lighting Setup Expertise – Designing and implementing professional lighting arrangements for studio and location shoots to enhance the subject matter and achieve desired effects.
Image Editing Capability – Using advanced image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom to retouch, color-grade, and manipulate photographs for final presentation.
Lens Selection Knowledge – Selecting the appropriate lenses to achieve the desired depth of field, angle, and composition for various photographic assignments.
Digital Workflow Management – Organising and managing digital files from capture to storage, employing efficient workflows to maintain image quality and accessibility.
Colour Theory Understanding – Applying knowledge of colour theory to produce images with accurate colour representation and appealing contrasts.
Print Preparation and Finishing – Preparing images for print, including understanding colour profiles and print materials, to ensure high-quality photographic prints.
Video Recording Ability – Shooting high-quality video footage, including knowledge of frame rates, resolution, and audio capture for multimedia projects.
Drone Operation for Aerial Photography – Piloting drones to capture aerial photographs and video, adhering to regulations and mastering techniques for stable, high-impact imagery.
Quick tip: Our Resume Builder contains thousands of in-demand skills for every profession that can be added to your resume in seconds – saving you time and greatly improving your chances of landing job interviews and getting hired.
Work experience section
Your work experience section gives you the opportunity to showcase the contributions you can make to potential employers.
List your past jobs starting with the most recent and focus on detailing your last 3-5 years of work.
Structuring your jobs
Ensure that your employment history is easily understandable by structuring your roles in this way.
Outline
Start with a 1 to 2 line outline of the job, including what the employer does, where you sit within the organisation, and the overall goal of the job.
Key responsibilities
Outline your primary duties in 5-8 bullet points, focusing on essential skills, tools, and expertise.
Ensure each point is succinct, indicating your interactions within the company and your contributions to its success.
Key achievements
Conclude each job description by detailing 1-3 major achievements that significantly benefited the employer, such as cost reductions or early project completions.
Aim to quantify these achievements with specific data to demonstrate their impact.
Example job for Photographer resume
Outline
Take HD images of couples, families, and children either at the studio or on location, for a prominent photography studio that is based in Perth.
Key Responsibilities
- Cooperate closely with clients and colleagues to produce high-quality photographic images.
- Employ specific photography techniques to enhance photographs as required.
- Utilise photo manipulation software, such as Adobe to achieve desired results.
- Work with clients to offer creative input in order to achieve client requirements.
Quick tip: Create impressive job descriptions easily in our Resume Builder by adding pre-written job phrases for every industry and career stage.
Education section
Your resume should feature an education section near the end.
This part should be a bullet-pointed list of your qualifications, with a focus on those that are significant for Photographer roles.
Keep it brief if you are an experienced candidate. If you’re new to the field, use this section to elaborate on the skills and knowledge you’ve obtained through your educational pursuits.
This section can include:
- University degrees
- Industry specific qualifications for Photographer jobs
- Vocational education and training (VET) diplomas
- Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE)
Additional information (optional)
At the very bottom of your resume you can add an additional info section, for anything else that might help you to look more appealing to employers.
This is often used for hobbies and interests, but can also include awards, publications or a list of technical skills.
If you are considering adding anything here, remember to only include things that are related to your work, or things which are very impressive.
Don’t add common pastime hobbies such as watching TV or socialising with friends, as they won’t make any impact.
Writing a good Photographer resume isn’t easy, but by following the steps above carefully you should be able to craft a resume which gets responses from recruiters and lands plenty of interviews.
Remember to proofread your resume once it’s finished and always tailor it slightly on every application to ensure you always look highly suitable for the job.
Good luck with your job search!