Design

Entry LevelPhotographer Resume Example

Use this free entry levelphotographer resume sample as your starting point, then tailor it for your experience level and target job.

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Photographer Resume Template (entry level)

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Professional Summary

Entry-level Photographer and second shooter with hands-on experience in studio lighting, Adobe Lightroom, and tethered capture. Reliable on set, detail-oriented in editing, and fast on delivery.

Professional Experience

Photographer / Second ShooterMay 2025 - Present
Goldenhour Studio, Austin, TX
  • Second-shot 30-plus weddings and events a year, delivering 400-plus culled RAW frames per event within 48 hours.
  • Assisted lead photographers with Profoto strobe and softbox lighting for 15-plus studio sessions weekly, managing tethered capture and on-set backups.
  • Culled and color-graded portrait galleries in Adobe Lightroom, supporting a consistent 7-day delivery turnaround.

Skills

Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Studio Lighting, Tethered Shooting, RAW Workflow, Retouching, Portrait Photography, Color Grading

Education

Certificate, Professional PhotographyMay 2025
Austin Community College

Certifications

  • Adobe Certified Professional - Lightroom

Gear

  • Canon EOS R5 and Sony A7 IV mirrorless bodies, 24-70mm and 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses
  • Profoto B10 strobes, softboxes, and reflectors for studio and location lighting
  • Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and Capture One for RAW workflow and retouching

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Key Skills for Photographer

Adobe LightroomPhotoshopStudio LightingTethered ShootingRAW WorkflowRetouchingPortrait PhotographyColor Grading

ATS Keywords for Photographer

Use these naturally in your summary, skills, and experience when they reflect your background.

PhotographerAdobe LightroomPhotoshopCapture OneStudio LightingPortrait PhotographyRetouchingRAW WorkflowTethered ShootingSecond ShooterPhoto EditingClient Galleries

How to Write an Entry Level Photographer Resume

An entry-level photographer resume should prove you can support a real production and deliver usable files fast, not just that you own a camera. Anchor it in second-shooting, studio-assisting, or B.F.A. project work built around Lightroom, tethered capture, and studio lighting, plus the culling and turnaround discipline that shows you can handle volume under a lead's direction.

Resume Writing Tips

Show you can handle a full shoot day

Describe assisting a lead on lighting, tethered capture, and culling, not just taking photos. Naming Profoto strobes, Capture One, and a delivery turnaround proves you can survive a real production, not only a classroom exercise.

Turn your B.F.A. work into deliverables

Reframe school projects as client-style deliverables: instead of photography portfolio, write shot and retouched a 30-image editorial series on Canon mirrorless with studio strobes, which reads like paid work to a hiring manager.

Lead with gear fluency and turnaround

Entry roles want reliability, so name the bodies, lenses, and software you know and cite a delivery time. Culled 800 RAW files and delivered a 7-day gallery signals you already understand professional workflow expectations.

Skills to Highlight

Adobe Lightroom

Name a project where you culled and color-graded RAW files in Lightroom, showing you understand catalog organization and a consistent editing look, not just applying presets.

Studio Lighting

Describe a shoot where you set or assisted Profoto strobes and softboxes, referencing how you controlled exposure and shadows rather than just listing lighting as a skill.

Tethered Shooting

Mention managing tethered capture in Capture One or Lightroom on set, which proves you can support a professional workflow and keep files organized under pressure.

RAW Workflow

Cite how you culled, backed up, and processed RAW files from card to delivered gallery, showing you grasp the full pipeline from capture to client.

Common Questions

I only have school and personal projects - what do I list?

List B.F.A. capstones and personal shoots as projects with the same rigor as jobs: genre, gear, your specific role, and a link to the portfolio, since entry photography roles expect a body of work over years of employment.

Do I need a photography degree?

No. A B.F.A. helps, but a certificate, associate's, or a strong self-taught portfolio is enough for most entry and assistant roles. Employers care more that you can light a scene, cull RAW files, and hit a turnaround than about the diploma.

How do I stand out as a second shooter?

Emphasize reliability and volume: events second-shot, frames delivered, turnaround met, and lighting you handled. Leads hire second shooters who won't miss a moment and deliver clean files fast, so quantify both.

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