Resume guide · Job Zone 3

Photographersresume guide.

Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. A strong Photographers resume shows active listening, speaking and service orientation, and names the tools you have worked with, such as Microsoft Access, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.

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01Also called

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Advertising PhotographerCommercial PhotographerGraduation PhotographerNewspaper PhotographerPhoto EditorPhotographerPhotojournalistPortrait PhotographerSports PhotographerStudio Photographer

02Skills employers expect

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Importance is how much the skill matters to the job; level is how much of it the job demands. Both are worth naming on the resume, in this order.

SkillImportanceLevel
Active ListeningHighIntermediate
SpeakingHighIntermediate
Service OrientationHighIntermediate
Active LearningHighIntermediate
Complex Problem SolvingHighIntermediate
Critical ThinkingHighIntermediate
Judgment and Decision MakingHighIntermediate
MonitoringHighIntermediate
Reading ComprehensionHighIntermediate
Social PerceptivenessHighIntermediate

03Knowledge areas

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  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Administration and Management
  • Communications and Media
  • English Language
  • Fine Arts
  • Production and Processing
  • Administrative
  • Psychology

04Common responsibilities

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Ordered by importance. Each one is a bullet waiting for a result and a number.

  1. Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
  2. Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
  3. Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
  4. Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
  5. Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
  6. Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in studio or on location.
  7. Manipulate and enhance scanned or digital images to create desired effects, using computers and specialized software.
  8. Test equipment prior to use to ensure that it is in good working order.
  9. Enhance, retouch, and resize photographs and negatives, using airbrushing and other techniques.
  10. Estimate or measure light levels, distances, and numbers of exposures needed, using measuring devices and formulas.

05Software and tools

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35 tools across 15 categories. The six largest categories are below; Hot marks a hot technology, In demand a tool employers ask for most often.

Data base user interface and query software12
  • Microsoft AccessHotIn demand
  • Cradoc fotoBiz
  • HindSight InView
  • Light Blue Software Light Blue
  • ShootQ photography studio management software
  • ShootZilla
  • Simplifi pixifi
  • Simply Studio System
  • StudioCloud
  • StudioPlus Spectra
  • SuccessWare service management software
  • Tave Studio Manager
+ 7 more
Graphics or photo imaging software5
Video creation and editing software4
  • Adobe After EffectsHotIn demand
  • Apple Final Cut ProIn demand
  • YouTube
  • WeVideo
Accounting software2
Web page creation and editing software2
Calendar and scheduling software1
  • Genbook
Cloud-based data access and sharing software1
  • Google Drive
Desktop publishing software1
Document management software1
Electronic mail software1
Instant messaging software1
  • Twitter
Internet browser software1
Operating system software1
  • Apple macOSHotIn demand
Spreadsheet software1
Word processing software1

06Education and preparation

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Typical education
Some College Courses
27% of surveyed workers. Others report High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (18%) and Post-Secondary Certificate (14%).
Preparation level
Job Zone 3 · Medium preparation
Usually vocational training, an associate degree or a few years of related experience.

07Putting it on your resume

ResumeXRays guidance
BEE · How to show it

Lead with the credential and the record. Job Zone 3 roles usually ask for training, a license or a few years of related experience. Put those on the first screen, then show what you did with them.

Name the tools exactly. This occupation is heavy on named software. A skills section that says "Microsoft Access, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Creative Cloud software" matches more job descriptions than a general phrase. Use the spelling employers use.

Show speaking and service orientation, not just active listening. Speaking and service orientation rank close to active listening for this occupation. One bullet per role that shows a decision, a tradeoff or a result covers them.

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