Photographer Resume Example
Professional resume template and tips for Photographer positions
Are you ready to focus your career on capturing compelling images? This guide provides a complete overview of the photographer role, from daily tasks like mastering lighting and composition to the essential technical and soft skills needed for success. You'll discover the key software, from Adobe Creative Cloud to specialized tools like Cradoc fotoBiz, and the critical knowledge areas that set professional photographers apart. We also break down the creative, business, and interpersonal abilities—like client service and project coordination—that employers value. Use the insights here on skills, responsibilities, and industry knowledge to build a stronger, more targeted resume with Mokaru and advance your creative profession.
GEORGE FORD
Professional Summary
Photographer with 5+ years specializing in commercial B2B product and lifestyle imagery for retail brands. Directed a catalog photoshoot generating over 400 final assets for a national client's seasonal campaign. Proficient in artificial lighting techniques and Adobe Creative Cloud, including Photoshop and After Effects.
Skills
Experience
- Led creative direction for 12+ commercial photoshoots annually, leveraging Active Listening to interpret client vision and Adobe Creative Cloud to achieve 95% satisfaction
- Developed strategic social media campaigns using Facebook analytics, increasing follower engagement by 40% and securing 3 major brand partnerships
- Managed photography business operations with Intuit QuickBooks, streamlining invoicing and reducing payment delays by 25% through Social Perceptiveness with clients
- Owned end-to-end production for 5 corporate event projects, using Critical Thinking to adjust lighting and Adobe Photoshop for consistent brand-aligned deliverables
- Collaborated with marketing team to create 50+ product images using Adobe Illustrator for packaging, improving online conversion by 15% through service-oriented refinements
- Monitored project budgets and timelines using Microsoft Access databases, ensuring 100% on-time delivery for all mid-level assignments
- Supported senior photographers by adjusting apertures and shutter speeds for 8+ shoots, actively learning to balance artificial light with flash attachments
- Assisted in transferring and archiving 500+ photographs to computers, using Adobe After Effects for basic motion graphics under supervision
- Executed website updates via WordPress, incorporating client feedback through Reading Comprehension to accurately reflect portfolio changes
Education
Certificates
- Adobe Certified Professional in Photoshop
- Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in Visual Design
- Professional Photographers of America (PPA) Certification
Build Your Photographer Resume
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What does a Photographer do?
A Photographer performs various tasks on a daily basis. Here are the core responsibilities you can expect in this role:
- Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
- Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
- Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
- Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
- Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
What skills do you need as a Photographer?
Employers hiring for Photographer positions look for candidates with a strong combination of technical and soft skills. Here are the most important skills to highlight on your resume:
What knowledge areas are important for a Photographer?
Beyond skills and tools, employers value candidates with deep knowledge in these areas. Consider highlighting relevant coursework, certifications, or experience:
How do I write a great Photographer resume?
Creating an effective Photographer resume requires focusing on what employers in the Creative & Design sector value most.
Use relevant keywords
ATS systems scan for specific terms. Include these keywords naturally throughout your resume:
Quantify your impact
When describing how you "adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed", include metrics like percentages, team sizes, budgets, or project scope to demonstrate real results.
Showcase technical proficiency
Highlight hands-on experience with Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Access, Adobe Creative Cloud software and any customer and personal service certifications that validate your expertise.
Match the experience level
For Photographer roles, employers typically expect usually requires trade school, apprenticeship, or 2-year degree. Highlight matching qualifications prominently at the top of your resume.
Example bullet points
Here are some strong bullet points you could adapt for your Photographer resume:
- Led creative direction for 12+ commercial photoshoots annually, leveraging Active Listening to interpret client vision and Adobe Creative Cloud to achieve 95% satisfaction
- Developed strategic social media campaigns using Facebook analytics, increasing follower engagement by 40% and securing 3 major brand partnerships
- Managed photography business operations with Intuit QuickBooks, streamlining invoicing and reducing payment delays by 25% through Social Perceptiveness with clients
How to use AI to improve your Photographer resume
AI tools like ChatGPT can be incredibly helpful when crafting your Photographer resume. They can help you brainstorm achievements, rephrase bullet points for impact, identify missing keywords, and tailor your content to specific job descriptions.
However, AI is not perfect. Always proofread the output carefully. AI can sometimes make factual errors, use generic language, or miss the nuances of your specific experience. Think of AI as a helpful assistant, not a replacement for your own judgment.
AI Resume Prompt
You are a senior recruiter with 15+ years of experience in technical hiring and resume optimization. You have reviewed thousands of resumes for Photographer positions and know exactly what hiring managers and ATS systems look for.
Your task:
Analyze my resume for a Photographer position and provide concrete, actionable feedback to maximize my chances.
Job description:
[paste the job description here]
Provide feedback on the following:
- Match analysis: Which requirements from the job description ARE and ARE NOT reflected in my resume?
- Quantification: Which bullet points lack concrete numbers/metrics? Provide examples of how I can rewrite them.
- Keywords: Which technical terms from the job description (such as Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Access, Adobe Creative Cloud software, etc.) are missing or could be more prominent?
- Impact statements: Rewrite my 3 weakest bullet points using the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
- ATS optimization: What adjustments will increase my score in Applicant Tracking Systems?
- Priorities: Give me a top-5 of changes that will make the biggest difference, ranked by impact.
Be direct and critical - I want honest feedback, not compliments.
Why use Mokaru instead? At Mokaru, we have invested extensive research into our AI prompts and continuously update them based on recruiter feedback and ATS testing. Our AI resume builder handles the complexity for you: optimizing for ATS systems, matching job descriptions, and ensuring professional formatting, so you can focus on landing interviews.
Photojournalist Resume Example
Looking for a Photojournalist resume instead? The skills and experience are very similar to a Photographer. Here is an example you can use as inspiration:
DAVID KIM
Summary
Photographer with 5+ years specializing in commercial B2B product and lifestyle imagery for retail brands. Directed a catalog photoshoot generating over 400 final assets for a national client's seasonal campaign. Proficient in artificial lighting techniques and Adobe Creative Cloud, including Photoshop and After Effects.
Skills
Experience
- Led creative direction for 12+ commercial photoshoots annually, leveraging Active Listening to interpret client vision and Adobe Creative Cloud to achieve 95% satisfaction
- Developed strategic social media campaigns using Facebook analytics, increasing follower engagement by 40% and securing 3 major brand partnerships
- Managed photography business operations with Intuit QuickBooks, streamlining invoicing and reducing payment delays by 25% through Social Perceptiveness with clients
- Owned end-to-end production for 5 corporate event projects, using Critical Thinking to adjust lighting and Adobe Photoshop for consistent brand-aligned deliverables
- Collaborated with marketing team to create 50+ product images using Adobe Illustrator for packaging, improving online conversion by 15% through service-oriented refinements
- Monitored project budgets and timelines using Microsoft Access databases, ensuring 100% on-time delivery for all mid-level assignments
- Supported senior photographers by adjusting apertures and shutter speeds for 8+ shoots, actively learning to balance artificial light with flash attachments
- Assisted in transferring and archiving 500+ photographs to computers, using Adobe After Effects for basic motion graphics under supervision
- Executed website updates via WordPress, incorporating client feedback through Reading Comprehension to accurately reflect portfolio changes
Education
Certifications
- Adobe Certified Professional in Photoshop
- Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in Visual Design
- Professional Photographers of America (PPA) Certification
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Frequently Asked Questions
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