Stunning photographer CV examples to use this year

Photography is a creative and challenging career choice. How do you show off your skills as a photographer in your CV?

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Table of Contents

  1. Photographer CV examples
  2. What to highlight in a photographer CV
  3. The structure of a photographer CV
  4. Do’s and don’ts for a photography CV
  5. FAQ: Photographer CV

Photographer CV examples

Photography is a uniquely creative field with a variety of related skills and talents. When you want to get hired as a photographer, how do you showcase that you’re the right person for any photography jobs you want to achieve? Here’s how you can write a photography CV that gets you hired.

What to highlight in a photographer CV

Photography is by nature very creative, and that means you need a variety of creative skills to succeed as a photographer. However, remember that a hiring manager will see plenty of CVs from candidates who state they’re creative. You need to show your creativity and your hard skills with achievements, experience, and knowledge from previous photographer jobs.

The structure of a photographer CV

Your photography CV structure will depend on what CV format you choose. Your options are a chronological CV, a functional CV, and a combination or hybrid CV. However, these CV formats usually won’t change the content in your CV, just the structure of the CV. Here’s the sections you’ll need for your photography CV.
 
Contact information
 
The CV header is located at the top of your CV and includes your contact information, such as your full name, phone number, and professional job profile link, such as your LinkedIn page. A photographer CV might also include a link to a website CV showing past photography jobs and your portfolio.
 
Personal statement or objective
 
Next is your personal statement or CV objective. This is a 2-3 sentence paragraph at the beginning of your CV that showcases all of your best skills, achievements, and information. In a summary, you’re giving a brief interview of your top skills and experiences; in an objective, you’re also stating your overall career goals.
 
Skills
 
There are many technical skills that you need to know to be a photographer, and just as many creative skills. Here are some of the skills you should consider including on your photographer CV for best results:

  • Photo shoots
  • Digital photography
  • Lightroom functionality
  • Retouching
  • Digital imaging software (Adobe Photoshop, Capture One)
  • Camera types (DSLR, Canon, Action, 360)
  • Family portraits
  • Customer satisfaction
  • Photo editing

These skills generally show that you know how to handle yourself around a camera. The skills section should include both hard skills and soft skills so that it indicates a wide array of the talents you hold, not just a thin sliver.

 
Work history
 
If you have any previous experience in the photography field, you can include it in your experience section. You can include work experience as a professional photographer, freelance photographer, lead photographer, or an entry-level photographer. Additionally, you can include any projects or jobs that might have developed important skills that aren’t based around actually taking pictures, like communication skills.
 
Education
 
Many photographers get a degree to really learn more about their field and network within it. If you have a bachelor’s degree in photography, list it here. If you don’t have college experience, you can include your high school experience instead.

Do’s and don’ts for a photography CV

Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when writing your photography CV:
 
Do:

  • Emphasise all of your photography experience. Even if your experiences were in extracurricular activities or personal projects, it’s still useful experience.
  • Look at photographer CV examples before you write your own. CV templates are a great way to create a beautiful CV design.
  • List any and all certifications you have. Certifications are a great way to showcase that you really do have the skills you’re claiming.

Don’t:

  • Include low-quality photographs in your website CV. If you’re going to have a portfolio, make sure it’s loaded exclusively with high-quality photos.
  • Submit a black-and-white CV typed in a plain document. Photography CVs should have some element of creativity to them, as it’s such a creative field.
  • Talk about a job without including some kind of job description. The job title says very little about your duties and achievements, and it’s important to highlight that.

FAQ: Photographer CV

Q: Do I need to include a cover letter for a photography application?

A cover letter is a great tool to use in a photography application. It allows you to expand upon your photography skills, give more insight into your work history, and show why you have the perfect CV for the job you’re applying to. Use the CVHelp cover letter builder to create your cover letter more easily.

Q: How can I write a photography CV without a lot of work experience?

If you don’t have years of experience in the photography industry, there are many ways you can create a professional CV anyway. Utilize whatever experience you do have. This may include academic, internship, or volunteer experience, or even just personal experience. By bringing attention to your photography experience, you can prove that you’re the right person for the job.

Q: How do I change my photography CV to apply to different jobs?

CV keywords are a great way to make sure that you can change your photography CV to appeal to a specific job. Scan through the CV and see what keywords you can spot. Then, reflect those keywords back at the hiring manager. It’s a great way to showcase exactly what the company is hoping to see.

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