Freelance Photographer Resume Sample
Justine S. Miller
Address: 440 Wyman Rd, Boston, MA
Phone: (857) 987 6543
Email: [email protected]
Current Job: Business Owner/Photographer, Boston, MA
Objective
A highly skilled photographer with 6 years of work experience seeks the Freelance Photographer position at Phillips Auctions. Proficient with Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop CC, and Photomatix Pro. Proven ability to manage tight deadlines and deliver top-quality photos.
Skills
- BA in Photography/Digital Media
- Proficiency in analog and digital photography
- Knowledgeable with active, commercial, fine art, portrait, macro, and conceptual photography
- Multi-tasking skills
- Team working skills
- Strong commitment to excellent customer service
- Creative and innovative
- Excellent communication and networking skills
Work Experience
Business Owner/Photographer; 2019 to Present
Light Studio; Boston, MA
Responsibilities:
- Oversee all aspects of production from creating concepts with clients, planning logistics of shoot locations, handling actual photoshoots, editing pictures to the presentation of final images.
- Consult with clients during pre and post-production to ensure their requirements and expectations are met
- Collaborate with freelance photographers, events coordinators, and stage/program directors during major events such as product launching, corporate events, movie promotions, or fashion shows.
- Ensure all procedures meet the client’s standard of quality, timeline, and budget
- Launch the business in 2019 and grew the client base from 10 to 500
Photographer; 2017-2019
Matrix Images, Los Angeles, CA
Responsibilities:
- Organize the flow of photoshoot, supervised crew assembly, and managed freelance staff on-set and location photoshoots
- Collaborate with styling coordinators, art director, project manager, and photo team members to ensure accuracy in concepts and seamless project flow
- Initiate a dialogue between art director and freelance support team to resolve artistic differences which prevented a costly delay in project completion
- Complete a photoshoot within the timeline despite last-minute changes due to weather changes by assembling a makeshift studio
- Correspond with the project management team and third-party vendors from concept to pre-plan through the actual shoot to track project progress, costs, and quality
Photographer; 2016 to 2017
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Responsibilities:
- Provide on-location, offsite, and in-studio photography services to different departments, Stanford magazine, and Stanford Daily
- Coordinate with department heads and project managers to determine appropriate medium, requirements, and concepts for photoshoots
- Upload and back up digital images and photographs on the University photo server and photo management system
- Update the photography and lighting equipment inventory owned by the University
- Take multiple photographs to provide editors, department heads, student organizations, writers, and others with a variety of selections to ensure that their requirements are met
Education:
College
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Photography/Digital Media
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, WA
2012-2016
GPA – 3.85
High School
Glendale High School
Glendale, CA
2008-2012
How To Write A Good Freelance Photographer Resume
Become a photographer – see the world! Yes, a career as a Freelance Photographer can be rewarding financially and emotionally. There are many opportunities for you to share and showcase your skills with the camera. But clients can be choosy with who they hire. You must submit a good Freelance Photographer resume – one that differentiates you from everyone else.
Showcase Your Portfolio
If you’re serious about growing a career as a Freelance Photographer, then hopefully, you created an online portfolio to showcase your work.
Posting your photographs on social media is great but having them organized in a portfolio is better. Putting up a personal website that includes a portfolio page that shines the spotlight on your work and includes links to your social media pages is the best!
If you haven’t done this – it’s not too late. Setting up a personal website is fast and easy. There are free WordPress templates that you can download and use to put up your website.
You can do it yourself or ask someone who knows how to design a website. The investment is worth it.
Once your personal website is live, include the URL in the Contact Information section of your resume. You must also add the links to your social media pages. The ideal social media platforms for photographers are Facebook and Instagram.
Choose the Right Resume Format
When composing a shot, you want to make sure the right elements are there and that the subject is positioned in a way that best captures its beauty and essence. Otherwise, the image will be underwhelming and won’t correspond to the idea you had in mind.
The same can be said about your choice of resume format. If you choose the wrong resume format, the key points or elements of your resume won’t be emphasized. Worse, it might draw attention to your flaws and weaknesses as a freelance photographer.
If you’ve been a Freelance Photographer for 2 years with a busy schedule year-round, use the reverse-chronological format because it focuses on your work experience.
The format of the reverse chronological is as follows:
- Contact Information
- Objective Statement
- Strengths/Skills
- Work Experience
- Education
- Certifications/Licenses
It’s called “reverse-chronological” because the work experience section is presented in reverse-chronological order. This means that you start out with your current or most recent employment period.
If you’re a newbie and are looking for your first client as a Freelance Photographer, use the functional format because it will put your technical skills and other work-specific qualifications at the forefront.
The format of the functional is as follows:
- Contact Information
- Objective Statement
- Awards/Achievements
- Certifications/Licenses
- Skills/Strengths
- Education
- Training/Seminars Attended
- Work Experience
You don’t have to include all of these sections in your resume. Only add the sections that are relevant to your status as a rookie Freelance Photographer.
If you have extensive experience with the honor of working with many industry movers and shakers and you’re vying for the attention of a high-profile client, use the combination format.
The format of the combination is the same as the functional. The difference is that the preceding sections are written to add substance to your work experience. It should make the client think “No wonder he’s so successful and in-demand!”
Since you have extensive work experience and probably a laundry list of achievements, it’s perfectly alright to exceed one page.
Highlight Your Career Accomplishments
Did you win photography contests while in school? Did any of your works cited by major publications? Did you host a successful and well-attended photography exhibition? Were you and your works cited by a respected website or journal?
These are examples of career accomplishments that will always impress the recruiter. Even if you don’t have any work experience but you have won photography contests or received awards, the recruiter will certainly be interested in what you have to offer.
As the saying goes, “The proof of the pie is in the eating.” There’s no better proof than being recognized for your skills and talents!
Use the Objective Statement as Your Sales Pitch
“Why should we hire you as our photographer?” The answer to that question can be found in your Freelance Photographer objective statement.
A common mistake by job seekers is to not give the objective statement much thought and attention. For one thing, this section is located in the top-third area of your resume. Certainly, when the recruiter or client scans your resume, he will come across your objective statement.
Use it as a way to pitch your qualifications as a Freelance Photographer. You can do this simply by reviewing the job ad. What does the client want the photographer to do? What are the requirements and expectations?
For example, the client wants a well-experienced photographer who can do portraits and shoot corporate events and you have the experience, you can craft an objective statement that’s tailor-made to what the job entails:
Freelance photographer with 8 years of experience, I have been frequently hired by corporations to shoot their events and profile pictures. Among my clients are Essence Beauty Products, Stay Frosty Beer Corporation, Hirsch Property Developers, Windy Beverages, and BHD Automobiles. I hope to be given the opportunity to share my talent with your company and cover your forthcoming events.
The list of clients alone will surely entice the recruiter to place your resume on the “For Interview” stack.
Freelance Photographer Skills List
Anyone can get the most expensive smartphone with the most sophisticated camera but that won’t make him an amazing freelance photographer. The camera takes the photos but it’s the person behind the camera who turns an image from nothing to something.
In the same way that your photos tell a story, your Freelance Photographer skills list must tell the story of how and why you become a professional.
Education
Having a Bachelor’s Degree in Art or Film would be great to show you have an understanding of the elements that make a subject aesthetically pleasing as well as storytelling through images.
If you have a degree in a course that’s unrelated to photography, it will help out your career to take up photography courses.
Many people think they can become a photographer because they have a good idea of what beauty is all about. But when they sign up for photography courses, they realize they still have a long way to go to becoming a professional photographer.
Choose the type of photography that you want to specialize in:
- Landscape
- Sports/action
- Aerial
- Fashion
- Portrait
- Architectural
- Wedding
- Wildlife
Indicate your specialization in your Freelance Photography resume and make sure you include the links to an online portfolio page that shows examples of your work.
Knowledge of Photography Equipment
To become successful in photography, you must be prepared to invest in professional equipment – and it can be quite expensive!
It goes without mentioning that you should have a camera that’s professional grade. And no, a smartphone camera won’t cut it. Here’s a short list of basic equipment needed to become a professional photographer:
- Prime lenses
- Tripod
- Speedlight
- Reflector
- Polarizing and NO Filter
- Color Checker
In addition, you have to be adept at working with computer software programs for photo editing such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel PaintShop Pro, Luminar, Affinity Pro, and GIMP to name a few.
Business Acumen
As a Freelance Photographer, you’re essentially an entrepreneur. You own a business offering professional photography services. Unless you hire staff, you’ll be handling all the areas of your business.
You need to have business acumen – an understanding of how business works. You must learn how the different areas of running a business, functions:
- Accounting
- Marketing
- Sales
- Information Technology
- Customer/Client Support
- Legal – How to read contracts
- Research and Development
- Business Administration
You don’t have to be an expert in all of these areas. Just have a working knowledge of the basics – enough to be able to come up with a process flow for your profession.
Creativity
Creativity is a soft skill. Yes, you can learn how to be creative but many successful photographers were born with it. They can see an image and decipher the story behind it.
Creative people know what to do with the elements that are present at the moment.
Notice the Freelance Photographer at a wedding. He constantly looks around and observes the interactions between the participants. All of a sudden, he locks in an event, draws his camera, and clicks away.
You look in the direction of where the photographer took the shot and shake your head. Then, you see the photograph and stare wide-eyed in amazement. In one photo, the Freelance Photographer was able to tell a story.
That’s creativity!
Communication
You’ll be interacting with several people in the course of the job. The client will share his ideas on the kinds of images he wants you to capture. Some have a concept in mind that you’ll have to translate to images.
If you’re in an event such as a wedding or a fashion show, you’ll be interacting with other professionals. To ensure a smooth and successful production, it’s important to communicate your tasks and objectives clearly to avoid mistakes and misunderstandings.
Freelance Photographer Duties And Responsibilities For The Work Experience Section
Before you take a photograph, you take the time to compose the shot, right? You want to make sure that all the elements needed to bring your vision “to life” are in the picture. The same thing can be said about writing your Freelance Photographer duties and responsibilities in the work experience section.
You need to present your duties and responsibilities convincingly to earn the approval of the recruiter. They must directly answer the needs of the client. Let him know that you have the experience and the necessary skills to get the job done.
Follow our tried-and-tested tips to help you write an effective work experience section.
Tailor your Duties and Responsibilities to the Job Description
Review the Job Ad carefully and highlight the skills, responsibilities, and other qualifications that you can match. Matching the employer’s requirements will show that you are capable of doing the job.
Avoid including irrelevant details no matter how impressive they are. The recruiter will not pay attention to them because he will only take into account your transferable skills and experiences.
Incorporate the keywords from the job Ad in your bullet lists, to also help you pass the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). In the ATS, recruiters input specific keywords which refer to the abilities, skills, and responsibilities that the applicant should possess.
Back-up Your Skills with Real Incidents
Take note of the key soft skills that the employer listed in the Job Ad. Weave them into your list of duties and responsibilities by giving examples of how you utilized them at work.
For example, if the job description emphasized teamwork skills, mention an incident demonstrating how well you collaborated with cross-functional teams. If problem-solving skill is required by the employer, cite a situation that shows how you responded to last-minute changes.
Add Quantifiable Achievements
Boost your credibility by adding measurable accomplishments to your bullet lists. Show the outcome of your contributions to make yourself more hireable.
Use numbers to show:
- How your customer base grew
- How many contracts you have inked
- Number of awards won
- Number of photo shoots you handled
- Percentage by which you improved work process
It also shows that you’re responsible enough to ensure the growth of your career as a Freelance Photographer. You know what it takes to run a successful business and that means understanding the importance of staying on schedule to keep within the budget.
Use Action Verbs
Begin your bullet points with action verbs to strengthen the impact of your work experience section.
Choose verbs that are appropriate for the job you are eyeing. Here is a shortlist of action verbs you can use:
- Accelerated
- Assembled
- Brainstormed
- Cataloged
- Coordinated
- Consolidated
- Created
- Developed
- Executed
- Established
- Introduced
- Initiated
- Innovated
- Implemented
- Launched
- Oversaw
- Provided
- Resolved
- Transformed
- Supervised
Entry-Level Freelance Photographer Resume
Are you worried that your entry-level Freelance Photographer resume will get swept aside or overlooked in favor of more experienced candidates? Not true at all! When it comes to hiring photographers, clients not only want the best but someone easy and a pleasure to work with.
Stay ahead of the more experienced competition by following our entry-level resume tips below:
Enhance Your Online Presence
We discussed the importance of having a website and social media pages for a Freelance Photographer. An online presence becomes even more important for a first-timer because you have to cast a wider net to get noticed.
- Create online profiles in the top freelancing websites such as UpWork, Freelancer, Guru, and FlexJobs. These websites are among the go-to sources of businesses for finding talent. Remember, we live in an age where hiring remote employees such as freelancers have become the norm.
- Write blogs on your personal website and post them on your social media pages. Blogging enhances your image as a professional photographer by giving you a platform to share your knowledge, ideas, and opinions. Potential clients will use your blogs to gauge your personality and assess if you’re someone they can work with.
- Join photography community pages on Facebook, Linked In, and other social media networks. Engage the community, share valuable and actionable tips, and most of all, network for clients!
Don’t Prioritize Your Earnings… Yet
If you’re looking to land your first client, don’t price yourself out of the market. A prospective client who comes across your profile sees that you have zero experience, and notices your rates are higher than the more experienced photographers will leave your page shaking their heads.
Lowering your prices isn’t by any means commoditizing your skill as a photographer. It’s simply called adjusting your rates to the forces of supply and demand.
Prove yourself consistently as a top-notch photographer. When people see and hear about the quality of your work, demand for your services will rise. There will come a time when you can truly write your own paycheck.
It’s a Numbers Game… Keep Applying!
So you came away from the job interview feeling pretty good about your chances of getting hired. Don’t be complacent and assume the best case scenario right away or you might end up feeling pretty disappointed.
Keep applying to job ads that fit your skills and experience. Getting hired as a freelancer is a numbers game – the more jobs you apply to the higher the probability of getting the interview.
Consequently, the more interviews you go through the better the chances of getting contracted for the job.
