Good photographers should always have a resume to go alongside their portfolio. While a picture may speak 1,000 words, don’t underestimate what a resume can say about you. Think of your resume as a way to showcase your more practical skills and qualifications, while examples of your work display your creativity.
On your photography resume, highlight the areas where your work has been published. This could be magazines, brochures, galleries, or advertisements. Any formal education stands to greatly benefit the resume, and you should also list any full-time photography-related jobs you have had such as a studio assistant or in-house videographer. Employers generally want to know what equipment you typically use and the software you are competent with and to what level.
Use the photography resume sample below as a guide for creating yours.
Jackson Perez
100 Main Street, Cityplace, CA, 91019 | (555) 322-7337 | example-email@example.com
Summary
Accomplished and dependable photographer with studio management skills and more than 15 years of industry experience in multi-faceted media organizations. Enthusiastic and outgoing. Committed to delivering promised results and remaining true to a unique artistic vision.
Highlights
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Experience
03/2001 to Current
Owner/PhotographerJoy Bauer Studios San Francisco/ Louisville, KY
- Specializing in Fashion / PR, Event/ Wedding, Family/Pet, Sports and Dance photography
- Providing services in print design and video production
- Coordinating and producing all elements of media production
- Contributing photographer for NFocus Magazine of Louisville, KY
- Non-apparel product photographer for Amazon production team at Shepherdsville, KY production studios
- Fashion/talent photographer for Pinnacle 10 Model Management
- Newborn hospital photography and sales with premiere Bella Baby.com
11/1999 to 03/2001
General ManagerThe Picture People Stone Ridge Mall, San Francisco, CA
- Preformed in management role to a staff of 15
- In charge of all hiring, training, store operations and sale goals
- Photo lab at location increased responsibilities with quality control and technical training
- Motivating the staff was essential to growing the standard of our photography while creating a fun team oriented work environment
- Focused on positive guest relations and driving new and repeat business.
05/1996 to 10/1999
Assistant Manager to ManagerGlamour Shots Mall of America, Minneapolis, MN
- Assisted in leading a staff of 10 makeup artists, 8 photographers, 5 sales associates
- Our goal was to develop a talented enthusiastic team; motivated to consistently achieve sales goals while being dedicated to providing a fun and memorable experience
- Accountable for recruiting, training, store operations and sales goals
- My team increased sales over 15% from the previous management, generating the franchise’s highest annual revenue exceeding $500,000
Education
Photography and Adobe Photoshop classes California College of the Arts San Francisco, CA
Photography Resume Questions
How do you make a photography resume?
You want to use a similar format to the photography resume sample, but you also want to take it a step further. You should select a specialty and cater your resume to the specific job you want. For example, if you want to become a wedding photographer, then emphasize experiences where you photographed couples and worked at weddings. It may also be good to focus on skills rather than experiences. List any special certifications or types of software you are familiar with.
What’s the best way to include digital skills of a photography resume?
You should have a separate portfolio from your resume to showcase pictures, but you also want to list your computer proficiency. Include it within the general skills section, as is the case with the photography resume sample. Do not simply state you are familiar with photo editing software. Instead, include specific brands. This helps immensely, especially if you know how to use software the job listing mentioned.
Stating specific software will help your resume pass an Applicant Tracking System more easily. This is a service that scans documents for certain words. Your resume will get through it and into the hands of hiring managers more easily with more detailed information.If you’ve never held a photography job before, how do you make a photography resume?
You may enjoy photography as a hobby, but now you want to make a career out of it. When you lack experiences similar to the ones on the photography resume sample, you should place more emphasis on your skills and accomplishments. If you took any classes related to photography, even if your degree was not in photography or art itself, then you can list that coursework on your resume. Clubs and volunteer work are also acceptable when you lack more traditional employment experiences.
What sections should you include in your photography resume?
Your resume can include the same sections as the photography resume sample. You want a summary statement, skills section, work history, and education section. Our resume builder allows you to craft a resume in minutes; however, many aspiring photographers wonder if they should elaborate more.
You can add an accomplishments section if you have won awards related to photography. In some cases, you may want to consider including a link to a personal website or LinkedIn profile right on the page.How do you list awards on your photography resume?
Only list awards related to photography. Anything else will only get in the way. You want to include the name of the award, the date you won it, and the organization that bestowed it. For a resume, an award can include a number of different things, including scholarships, promotions, and volunteer-related accolades. Generally, you want to put the accomplishments section between the skills and work experience sections, as seen in the photography resume sample.