Photographer Resume Template for MS Word

When you have a strong summary statement, a hiring manager can be more interested in reading the rest of your resume. Your summary sets the tone for the rest of your resume, so it is important to make it engaging.

Whether you write a paragraph or use bullet points, make sure to only use three sentences or bullets. Choose your words carefully and include the following information:

• Your current job title

• Two or three important applicable skills

• Personal achievements, exemplary traits and areas of specialization

Read over our photographer resume template for Word to get an idea of what a professional summary statement should look like.

Example 1:

• Accomplished professional photographer with over 10 years of experience in photojournalism

• Proficient at setting up and operating still and video cameras and all related equipment

• Able to design computer-generated graphics when necessary

Example 2:

• Skilled photographer with five years of experience shooting marketing campaigns

• Expert at designing picture composition and selecting the appropriate equipment for each project

• Developed new ways to edit and enhance images for a clearer result

Example 3:

Outstanding photographer with over eight years of experience shooting landscapes, people and merchandise. Friendly personality, excellent at organizing creative shots. Talented at editing images to create interesting effects.

Example 4:

Acclaimed aerial photographer with 12 years of experience. Skilled at determining the best equipment and locations for each project and directing team members. Created new methods of film development to make pictures more unique.

A well-written skills section highlights your best applicable job skills and can demonstrate to a hiring manager that you are qualified for the position. Use our photographer resume template for Word to write a skills section that will impress employers. Here are some ways to make this section strong:

• Keep it job-specific by using keywords or phrases from the job description to prove your competence

• Make it as focused as possible so employers can see your strengths at a glance

• List 6–8 skills concisely; you can go into more detail in your work history section

Look at this list of some of the relevant skills an employer might want in a photographer:

• Experienced in setting up and using multiple types of cameras and pieces of equipment

• Can arrange subjects and use angles to achieve the desired composition

• Clear understanding how to use existing light and create artificial light when necessary

• Mastery of computer software to edit or enhance images

• Knowledge of how and when to incorporate props for effect

• Familiar with all principles of camera operation, including adjusting apertures, changing shutter speeds and altering focus as required

• Friendly personality, able to give effective directions to subjects and crew members

When you write the work history section of your resume, your goal should be to excite employers with your accomplishments, not bore them with a simple list of duties you performed. You can go into a bit more detail in this section for added credibility. Take advantage of these recommendations in addition to the photographer resume template for Word when creating your own work history section:

• Try to mention at least one contribution or accomplishment for each position

• Avoid using abbreviations unless they are extremely well-known

• Include numbers when possible to give employers quantifiable data

• List 5–8 bullet points for each position

Read through this list of example entries employers might want to see in a work history section.

• Operated still and video cameras and all necessary equipment such as flash attachments and filters

• Developed new methods of using flashes and reflectors to create unique pictures

• Manipulated and enhanced images using specialized computer software

• Decreased editing time by 25 percent

While it is always necessary to include your education on your resume, it may be especially important for certain higher-level positions. Your education section should be easy for employers to read, as demonstrated in this photographer resume template for Word. Here are additional tips to help you write this section:

• Include any certifications or licenses in this section, especially if you are applying for a specialized position

• It is acceptable to list any educational honors you achieved, but not your GPA unless you graduated recently

• You may include education in progress as long as you note “expected completion 20XX” or “anticipated graduation 20XX”

Example 1:

Bachelor of Arts, Photography – 2017

The Art Institute of Houston – Houston, TX

Courses included: color management, digital image management, studio techniques and location photography

Certification: Digital Photography – Enhanced Skills – 2013

Houston Community College – Houston, TX

Example 2:

Associate of Arts: Photography – 2016

The University of Chicago – Chicago, IL

Courses Included: Exposure and metering, light and color, and equipment and software