Top freelance photographer sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Writing a memorable experience section: freelance photographer resume edition
Checklist: Ways to make your experience section stand out
- Find balance: use 4-6 bullet points per position;
- Include positions that are relevant to the job you’re applying for;
- Use action verbs when describing your responsibilities and results;
- Highlight your achievements by adding numbers to them (e.g. instead of saying “achieved a steady increase in…”, say “achieved an X% increase in…”);
- Prove that you’re willing to work hard, both individually and in a team.
We’ve gathered the most impressive Freelance Photographer experience sections from real Enhancv resumes. Check them out for some additional inspiration!
- Edited, retouched and delivered picture files
- I learnt how to take and edit pictures
- I learnt how to manually configure a camera to correct settings.
- Positive outcomes on photos.
- High work ethic.
- Improved my maths
- Multimedia content for exhibitions & events (MAKS airsalon, SPIEF, Olympic Games '14)
- Animations and promoreels (Rostec, KRET, Novatek, RJD, Gazprom, ODK)
- Photo & Video of interiors created.
- Created, designed and developed a body of long-term socially significant non-profit photo projects with 3,500+ followers and total reach of 500,000+ people through television, radio and social media
- Helped 50+ people and organizations with pro bono services
- Achieved 99% client satisfaction from my commisioned works
- Published internationally
- Exhibited in National Gallery
- Published on Finnish T.V
- Conservation work published for Greenpeace Media Finland
- Working Photographer
- Covering National and International News
- Pursuing Art, Culture and Sports stories
- Surf Photography, some work published in Wavelength magazine, personal exhibitions.
- Wildcamping photography, writing and photographs published on ClunkMag.
- Teaching camera basics
- Writing blogs and content
- Social media marketing, strong use of Instagram and Facebook for sharing stories and work.
- Fashion Shoots, shoots done for the last two seasons of Kernowfornia Republic. Have also done shoots for one of the GB Olympic sailing team and windsurfing team which included in sea action shots, sponsor clothing photography and studio work.
- Establised a team of 4 full time staffs and part time workers covering every key role in a photography world.
- Covered successfully our target of 15 weddings in the past 2 years
- Trained students who have grown to become great photographers in the industry
- setting up photographic equipment. and taking pictures
- editing and retouching images
- choosing and setting up locations.
- reproducing and framing photographs.
- Review sets of photographs to select the best work.
- Select and assemble equipment and required background properties, according to subjects, materials, and conditions
- Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in studio or on location.
- Communicating with marketing team to create effective advertisements for each event, and when necessary crafting marketing materials such as print and Internet advertisements for individual events
- Anticipating and planning for different scenarios
- Creating sales opportunities for future events during client liaisons and during events, including possessing a strong working knowledge of the company to further these sales opportunities
- Planning multiple events at once
- Used video technology to capture images for print - 1983
- Used innovative camera-obscura technique to successfully paint billboard-sized portraits - instantly - 1986
- Influenced and motivated others to maximise, commercially, the use of technology they would otherwise take for granted
- Introduced digital photography to Abuja, Nigeria - 2000
- l Trained seven startups in the art and business of desktop publishing and digital imaging in Abuja - 2004
- VIP uccesportrait photographer and photo-journalist in Abuja 2004 - 2011ly sold the idea of digital photography to AbujaTu
- Continue to photograph family portraits, cover events and design photo books and online slide-shows
- Collaborate with clients on creative projects. Create and deliver a range of photography assets from small, intimate collections of images to robust large scale asset libraries.
- Uncover what a client's true needs are and pro-actively define the scope of a project. Contribute to the creative planning and design of creative briefs and creative projects' photography strategy.
- Accurately estimate a project's costs during the initial bid. Oversee budgets ranging from 10K up to 500K. 100% of projects have come in under our initial estimates.
- Manage production teams ranging from 2 to 45 people ensuring the production of exceptional photographic assets. Create camaraderie and community among crew inspiring them to grow in their own careers.
- Manage multiple projects from concept through completion. Design and implement efficient workflows and processes.
- Maintain extensive archive of images staying current with copyright registrations, image licenses and asset management. Define naming convention and key wording processes. Find any image in 5 minutes that was shot in the last five years.
- Oversee all marketing and advertising efforts for Leah Fasten Photography. Work with partner agencies to develop and maintain branding guidelines. Design and produce photography treatments, creative overviews and promotions using In-Design and Adobe CS5.
- Brought all studio photography in house reducing photography cost by 40K annually. Lead capture of studio assets across brand channels.
- Boosted efficiency of the studio days by creating separate work flows for e-commerce capture and catalog print capture. Increased average daily shot count from 20 to 35 per day.
- Collaborated with in house pre press department to improve capture standards and create a more efficient CMS.
- Manage creative team in developing lighting scenarios and defining style guidelines to create a style guide supporting the brand voice of Title Nine.
- Create and deliver a range of photography assets, from small, intimate image collections to robust large-scale asset libraries.
- Contribute to the planning and design of creative briefs and projects' photography strategy.
- Accurately estimate a project's costs during the initial bid. Oversee budgets ranging from 10K up to 500K. (100% of projects have come in under initial estimates.)
- Manage production teams ranging from two to 45 people, ensuring the creation of exceptional assets, while creating camaraderie and community among crew, supporting them to grow in their careers.
- Maintain extensive archive of images, staying current with copyright registrations, image licenses and asset management. Define naming convention and key wording processes. In five minutes, find any image that was shot in the last five years.
- Oversee marketing strategy and advertising efforts. Work with partner agencies to develop and maintain branding guidelines. Design and produce photography treatments, creative overviews and promotions using In-Design and Adobe CS5.
- Brought all studio photography in-house, reducing photography cost by 40K annually.
- Lead capture of studio assets across brand channels.
- Boosted efficiency by creating separate work flows for e-commerce capture and catalog print capture. Increased average daily shot count from 20 to 35 per day.
- Collaborated with in-house pre-press department to improve capture standards and create a more efficient CMS.
- Created a style guide: Collaborated with creative team to develop lighting scenarios and define visual stylistic guidelines.
- Brought all studio photography in-house, reducing photography cost by 40K annually.
- Lead capture of studio assets across brand channels.
- Boosted efficiency by creating separate work flows for e-commerce capture and catalog print capture. Increased average daily shot count from 20 to 35 per day.
- Collaborated with in-house pre-press department to improve capture standards and create a more efficient CMS.
- G
- Created, designed and developed a body of long-term socially significant non-profit photo projects with 3,500+ followers and total reach of 500,000+ people through television, radio and social media
- Helped 50+ people and organizations with pro bono services
- Achieved 99% client satisfaction from my commisioned works
- Developping new RTW lighting for better product presentation
- Hosting RTW optimization project for saving 37% space for whole studio
- Hosting RTW color correction project with retouching team for better product color accurateness
- Contacting person for arranging different editorial projects
- Shooting imageries and video for social media team
- Producing high quality and consistently strong imagery, considering exposure and color consistency at all times
PRO TIP
Check the Freelance Photographer job description for inspiration. Look for similarities between your employer’s values and your experience.
Action verbs for your freelance photographer resume
Recommended reads:
Freelance Photographer Resume: Crafting a strong skills section
Do this if you want to make your skills section stand out.
- Check the job advert for keywords and add them to your skills section to pass ATS;
- List only skills that are relevant to the position to keep the hiring manager focused;
- Balance between hard, soft, and technical skills;
- Elaborate on some of your strongest skills in other sections of your Freelance Photographer resume, e.g. the experience section or your resume’s summary.
Top skills for your freelance photographer resume
Upwork
Quickbooks
Microsoft Office
Email clients
PayPal
Budgeting
Marketing
Design
Communication
Leadership and project management
Teamwork
Problem
Solving
Work Ethics
Flexibility
Adaptability
Interpersonall skills
PRO TIP
Don’t feel obliged to spend a separate section for your soft skills - you can weave them throughout your job experience or career summary. But, don’t just write empty words - back them with examples.
Recommended reads:
Freelance photographer resume header: Tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your freelance photographer resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Freelance Photographer resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
How to write an inspiring freelance photographer resume summary
Checklist: Writing a resume summary that makes you stand out
- Keep it short and use well-structured sentences;
- Mention your total years of experience in the field and your #1 achievement;
- Highlight your strengths and relevant skills;
- Add keywords from the company’s website or the job description.
Resume Summary Formula:
PRO TIP
Include a link to your portfolio in your resume header. Most companies will require that you include one in your resume, and even if they don’t, it’s an excellent opportunity to directly show them your proudest projects.
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Making the education section of your freelance photographer resume stand out
Education section checklist for your freelance photographer resume:
- List your highest education degree: including your major, year of graduation, and the institution you attended;
- Highlight the extracurricular activities that have helped you gain additional expertise;
- Share more about the certifications you’ve got, especially if they are relevant to the job position;
- Entry-level applicants: Mention relevant courses and projects.
Top certifications for your freelance photographer resume
Photoshop Bootcamp For Photographers & Freelancers
A Complete Beginner's Guide for Aspiring Photographers and Designers
Creative Client Acquisition Course
Learn how to acquire clients as a freelance photographer or filmmaker
Complete Guide to Freelancing in 2022: Zero to Mastery
Achieve freelance success on sites like Upwork or Fiverr. Start a home business or side hustle. No experience needed!
The Freelance Masterclass: For Creatives
The Ultimate Guide to Freelancing: Learn to Price Projects, Build Portfolios, Find Clients, Brand Yourself & More!
Freelancing on Upwork & Freelancer.com as a Beginner in 2022
Learn how to apply on projects, Win the jobs you want, Earn big on freelance websites such as Upwork and Freelancer.com.
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PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
Freelance Photographer Resume: Formatting Tips & Tricks
Which came first: the hen or the egg? This question reminds us of the thing our resume experts hear most often in their job – which comes first: the content or the format? Well, we advise you to pick the format first and then go on with drafting your resume’s content.
And how do you choose a resume format? Well, based on your applicant profile. In general, there are three basic resume formats for you to choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Let’s look at each one of them in more detail:
The reverse-chronological resume format is quite straightforward. Here, you describe all your previous jobs in a reverse-chronological form, meaning your latest job comes first. This resume format is great for people with lots of experience and skills who don’t have any career gaps.
If you are a recent graduate or don’t really have much experience in the industry you’re applying for, go for the functional skills-based resume format. This format focuses on skills and character traits, rather than experience. It makes the hiring manager realize you’re the perfect fit for the role without putting too much emphasis on your work history.
And if you’re looking for something a bit more intriguing and exciting, check out the hybrid resume format. It’s a combination of the reverse-chronological and functional skills-based formats, which makes it great for all types of job-seekers. The hybrid resume allows you to showcase both your professional experience and your skills, education, and additional qualifications. If you’re feeling creative, add a separate section about your typical day or life philosophy.
Our top style and layout resume format tips:
- Go for a standard 12p resume font;
- Choose 1-inch resume margins for a professional and easy-to-read feel;
- ry your best to fit your resume in a one-page template. If you’re a professional with over 10 years of relevant experience, having a two-page resume is also fine;
- Make sure to save your resume as PDF – this will help you avoid unwanted editing and formatting issues.
Read this: How to make your resume stand out
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Test your draft Freelance Photographer resume by sending it out to peers and mentors in your circles. Ask them to review it as if they are hiring you for a project and implement the feedback afterwards.
Other sections that’ll look good on your Freelance Photographer resume
Do you want to move beyond the traditional skills, education, and experience section? Easy-peasy!
Just choose one or two additional sections to help recruiters get a fuller picture of who you are, both as a person and as a professional:
Adding a splash of creativity to your freelance photographer resume
Boring resumes are no longer an option if you’re looking to impress recruiters.
And no matter whether you’re looking to give your old resume a new life or want to start building a new one from scratch, being at least moderately creative is always a good idea. Do this by adding a ‘favorite books’ section or even a pie chart of what your typical day looks like.
What makes a great freelance photographer resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
