13 Self-Employed Photographer Resume Examples for 2025

A successful photographer resume showcases your technical skills, experience, and creative vision. In the article, find proven resume examples and strategic advice to help you stand out. Learn how to highlight your photography work, key projects, and professional background. Whether you are diving into a new gig or expanding your client base, make your resume work for you and showcase your unique style and skills.

  Compiled and approved by Diana Price
  Last updated on See history of changes

  Next update scheduled for

At a Glance

Here's what we see in the best resumes for self-employed photographers.

  • Show Impact With Numbers: The best resumes use numbers to show impact. Common metrics are client satisfaction ratings, photography sessions per month, social media engagement, and annual revenue growth.

  • Highlight Relevant Skills: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are Adobe Photoshop, Canon EOS systems, lighting techniques, photo editing, and portfolio management.

  • Balance Creative And Technical Skills: Resumes should show both creative and technical skills. Highlight creative vision and technical expertise to attract hiring managers in this field.

Get your resume scored

Want to know if your self-employed photographer resume stands out? Our resume scoring tool gives you a clear picture of how your resume measures up. It checks for key elements that hiring managers in the photography industry look for, and shows you where you can improve.

Upload your resume now for a quick, unbiased assessment. You'll get a score and useful tips to make your resume stronger, increasing your chances of landing photography gigs.

...
Clear
Drop your resume here or choose a file.
English resumes in PDF or DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.
   100% privacyWe're committed to your privacy. Your resume will be scanned securely to give you confidential feedback instantly. Your resume is completely private to you and can be deleted at any time.

Positioning your education

Place your education section after your work experience on your resume. When you are self-employed as a photographer, your practical experience is what hiring managers look at first. Your photos and the jobs you have done are key to showing off your skills.

If you have recently completed a photography degree or a related course, you may consider putting this information before your experience. This shows you are up to date with the latest techniques and tools in photography. But remember, if you have been working for a while, your hands-on experience should take center stage.

Highlight diverse experience

When you are a self-employed photographer, showing a wide range of work is important. Make sure to include different types of photography jobs you have handled. For example, if you have done both wedding photography and product shoots, list these experiences. This shows that you can adapt to various assignments and client needs.

Also, talk about any unique settings or challenging conditions you've successfully worked in. If you have experience shooting in low light or capturing fast-moving events, mention this. This will show that you have both the skill and the creativity to tackle a diverse set of projects.

Resume length for photographers

For self-employed photographers, keeping your resume concise and focused is key. You want to aim for a one-page resume if you have less than 10 years of experience. This helps you show your most relevant work quickly. When you have more than that, a two-page resume can cover your extensive portfolio. Yet, remember, the first page is what gets the most attention. Make sure your most striking photography accomplishments are prominent on that first page.

Do not try to fill the space by reducing your font size or margins. Instead, refine your content to only include your strong and relevant photography skills and jobs. For example, highlight the types of photography you specialize in and notable projects or clients. Less important details, like early education or unrelated work, can be omitted to save space and focus on your photographic expertise.

Showcase your portfolio

Include a link to your online portfolio in your resume. This lets employers see your style and skills directly. Make sure your online portfolio is up-to-date with your best work.

Add testimonials from clients if you have any. Positive feedback shows you are reliable and good at your job. These are key in the photography industry.

Beat the resume bots

When you create your resume as a self-employed photographer, remember that it might first be read by a software. This is called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Make sure your resume can be understood by these systems.

Here are some tips:

  • Use standard job titles. Even if you call yourself a 'Photography Wizard,' on your resume use 'freelance photographer' or 'professional photographer.' This is more likely to be recognized.
  • Include keywords from the job you want. If the job asks for 'photo editing' skills, make sure that phrase is in your resume.

List photography gear

Mention the camera and equipment you use. This helps employers understand your technical capabilities and if you can handle specialized jobs.

If you use any specific software for editing, like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom, include that too. This information can set you apart from other candidates.

Neglecting the portfolio

Many self-employed photographers focus too much on duties rather than showcasing their work. Remember, your top projects and photos matter most. Here's how you can improve:

  • Include a link to your online portfolio. Make it easy to find.
  • Choose photos that match the job you want. If you aim to work in events, show event photos.

Don't just list your tasks—show results. Instead of 'Took photos at weddings,' say 'Captured over 30 weddings, resulting in 100% client satisfaction.' Always keep it simple and clear.

Showcase relevant skills

To get noticed, you need a resume that speaks directly to the job you want. As a self-employed photographer, show the skills and experience that make you the right choice. Your resume should paint a clear picture of your abilities.

  • List software you master, like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom, to show your technical expertise.
  • Showcase your eye for detail by mentioning projects where you selected the perfect shot from hundreds.
  • If you're moving into photography from another field, connect past work with photography. For example, if you were in marketing, mention how you designed visual content.

List achievements, not duties

When crafting your resume as a self-employed photographer, focus on your achievements rather than your job duties. You offer unique services and capturing the value you've provided to clients will make your resume stand out.

Remember, it's about showing how good you are through what you've accomplished. For example:

  • Basic: Managed a successful wedding photography business with regular clients.
  • Better: Grew a wedding photography business by 25% in one year through innovative social media marketing and client referrals.

Another example:

  • Basic: Conducted photoshoots for a variety of events.
  • Better: Enhanced client satisfaction by providing personalized photoshoots, resulting in a 40% rate of repeat commission from event clients.

Choose strong action verbs

When you present your work as a self-employed photographer, you should use action verbs that capture your creativity and professionalism. These words will help you show the value you've brought to each project and client. Think about what you do when you take pictures or work on your craft, and use verbs that tell this story in a lively way.

Use verbs that describe your role in managing projects, dealing with clients, and producing outstanding work. Avoid weak verbs that do not show your active involvement and impact in your work. Here are some words that you can use on your resume:

  • To display your ability to capture and create visuals, use captured, composed, created, developed, enhanced.
  • To show your business skills, include verbs like marketed, negotiated, networked, branded, booked.
  • When discussing your technical skills, verbs such as edited, processed, retouched, adjusted, converted explain your expertise.
  • To express your project management abilities, use coordinated, directed, planned, executed, delivered.
  • Highlight customer service and client relations with verbs like consulted, communicated, collaborated, engaged, satisfied.

Want inspiration for other action verbs you can use? Check out synonyms to commonly used action verbs like Help, Teach, Led, Handling, Work on.

Show leadership growth

As a self-employed photographer, you might not have traditional promotions, but you can still show growth in leadership. Think about times you've led a project or directed a shoot. These are examples of your leadership skills.

  • Managed a team of assistants for large wedding shoots, ensuring efficient workflow and top-quality results.
  • Directed multi-day commercial photography projects, coordinating with clients, models, and stylists for successful outcomes.

You can also mention if you've expanded your business. Maybe you started with small events and now cover large, high-profile ones. This shows you know how to grow a business and take on more responsibility.

  • Grew business from individual portraits to include corporate event coverage within two years.
  • Developed a successful online marketing strategy that tripled client bookings.

Essential skills for photographers

As a hiring manager, I know the importance of listing the right skills on your resume. For you as a self-employed photographer, showcasing the right technical expertise is key. Here are some skills you should consider:

  • Adobe Photoshop knowledge for post-processing
  • Lightroom for photo editing
  • Digital SLR cameras for capturing high-quality images
  • Lighting techniques to enhance photographs
  • Photo composition to create visually appealing images
  • Color correction for accurate image presentation
  • Image file management to keep your portfolio organized
  • Social media marketing to promote your work
  • Website development to showcase your portfolio online
  • Customer service to manage client relationships effectively

Include these skills in a dedicated section on your resume. This makes it easier for hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to see your technical abilities quickly. Tailor your skills to the job you want; if you focus on wedding photography, emphasize your event photography skills. If your work is more commercial, highlight your experience with product photography. Remember, quality over quantity – show your strongest skills related to the job.

Need more resume templates?

Quick links

Samples


Insights