Skip to main content
Creative & Design

Photographer Resume Example

A photographer resume needs to prove technical range and business results — ATS scans for software and shoot-type keywords, while reviewers judge primarily on the linked portfolio and client volume.

Build My Photographer ResumeCheck My ATS Score

Photographer Resume Sample

A complete, recruiter-approved example you can use as a starting point. Open it in the builder to edit every line.

Photographer resume example rendered in the Gridline template
Built with the Gridline template

VANESSA NEWMAN

Commercial Photographer

New York, NY · v.newman@email.com · (555) 675-3312

Summary

Commercial photographer with 5 years shooting product, portrait, and editorial work for brand and agency clients. Runs a freelance practice generating $95K in annual bookings alongside contract work for Getty Images.

Experience

Freelance Photographer · Self-Employed

2022 - Present

  • Booked and shot 60+ commercial and editorial projects annually, generating $95K in yearly revenue
  • Built a repeat-client base with a 65% rebooking rate through consistent delivery and studio lighting expertise
  • Managed the full post-production workflow in Lightroom and Photoshop, delivering final assets within 48 hours
  • Retouches 300+ hero images per quarter in Photoshop to brand color and crop specifications
  • Maintains a 12TB Lightroom archive with keyword and model-release tracking for every shoot

Contract Photographer · Getty Images

2020 - 2022

  • Produced editorial and lifestyle image sets licensed across 30+ publications, generating recurring royalty income
  • Directed talent and crew on location shoots, completing 4-6 shoots per month on tight production timelines
  • Uploaded and keyworded 4,500 licensed frames, keeping metadata rejections under 2%
  • Scouted and secured 20+ New York locations, handling permits and call sheets for each shoot

Photography Assistant · Halstead Studio

2019 - 2020

  • Set up and broke down studio lighting for 8-10 product and portrait shoots per week
  • Maintained a 40-piece camera and lens inventory, logging every rental and service date in Cargo
  • Culled and tagged 2,000+ raw frames per shoot in Lightroom for the lead photographer's selects

Education

B.F.A. Photography — School of Visual Arts · 2019

Skills

Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Studio Lighting, Portrait Photography, Commercial Photography, Photo Retouching, Client Direction, Location Scouting, Post-Production Workflow

Certifications

Adobe Certified Professional – Photoshop, Adobe

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, FAA

Certified Professional Photographer (CPP), Professional Photographers of America

Projects

Ground Floor – editorial portrait series on Brooklyn makers, exhibited at Rush Arts Gallery

Still Hours – 40-image product study shot for a home goods brand launch campaign

One Roll – self-published 35mm street photography zine, 500 copies sold direct

Languages

English (Native), Spanish (Conversational)

Interests

Darkroom printing, Analog cameras, Cycling, Jazz records, Gallery volunteering

Use This Example in the Builder

Must-Have Keywords for Photographer Resumes

These are the keywords ATS systems and recruiters search for. Include them naturally in your Skills, Summary, and Experience sections.

Adobe LightroomAdobe PhotoshopStudio LightingPortrait PhotographyCommercial PhotographyPhoto RetouchingClient DirectionLocation ScoutingCamera EquipmentPost-Production WorkflowDigital Asset Management

The Right Resume Structure for Photographer Roles

ATS systems parse your resume top to bottom. The order of your sections matters — here is the order that works best for Photographer applications:

  1. 1Contact Information
  2. 2Portfolio Link
  3. 3Professional Summary
  4. 4Work Experience
  5. 5Skills
  6. 6Equipment & Software
  7. 7Education

ATS Optimization Tips for Photographer Resumes

  • Lead with a portfolio link — photography is judged on images first, resume second.
  • Quantify client and project volume: number of shoots, campaigns, or clients served per year.
  • Specify photography genre and technical range: studio, location, product, portrait, editorial.
  • Mention post-production workflow and retouching software explicitly for ATS matching.
  • Note any usage-rights, licensing, or stock-photography revenue if freelance or self-employed.
  • Include equipment and lighting expertise (strobes, continuous, natural light) relevant to the role.
  • If self-employed, treat it like a real job: list revenue, client retention, or repeat-booking rate.

Ready to Build Your Photographer Resume?

Start from this pre-filled Photographer example — it already has the right keywords, format, and structure. Edit every line in the builder.

Start Building FreeBrowse All Examples

Related Resume Examples

All creative & design examples →
Video Editor resume example — full one-page sample

Video Editor

View example →
Art Director resume example — full one-page sample

Art Director

View example →
Graphic Designer resume example — full one-page sample

Graphic Designer

View example →
UX Designer resume example — full one-page sample

UX Designer

View example →