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design-ux
Beginner Photographer
Resume Example
4.5 / 5
Why This Template Works
This resume format is optimized for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) by clearly outlining relevant skills and experience in a beginner's context within the field of design and UX. It ensures that all necessary information is included such as contact details, professional summary, work experience, education, and skills sections. The use of action verbs and quantifiable achievements helps to make the resume stand out to hiring managers while still being easily parseable by automated systems.
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How to Write This Resume
Expert guidelines and best practices for each section of your resume.
01
Contact
Contact
First Name Last Name City, State, Zip Code Phone Number | Email Address LinkedIn Profile URL | Portfolio URL (Optional)
General Guidelines
Your contact information is the first section recruiters see. Keep it concise and professional. Ensure your email address is appropriate (e.g., [email protected]). Include your LinkedIn profile for a comprehensive view of your professional journey. A portfolio or personal website is recommended for creative, technical, or design roles.
Avoid This
Do not include your full physical address (street number/name) for privacy reasons. Avoid including personal details like marital status, age, photo, or social security number unless specifically required in your country. Do NOT use unprofessional email addresses such as nicknames or informal names. For artists and designers, do NOT include GitHub links - instead, use ArtStation, Behance, or similar portfolio sites.
Real Examples
Don't
John Doe 1234 Random St, Apt 56 New York, NY 10001 [email protected] github.com/aliciacode
Do
Alicia Chen Los Angeles, CA (555) 123-4567 | [email protected] linkedin.com/in/aliciachen | artstation.com/aliciachen
Quick Tips
- Use a professional email address (firstname.lastname format)
- Ensure your voicemail is set up and professional
- Double-check your phone number and email for typos
- Make your LinkedIn URL custom (linkedin.com/in/yourname)
- For artists, use ArtStation or Behance instead of GitHub
02
Summary
Summary
Professional Title Result-oriented [Role Name] with [Number] years of experience in [Key Skills/Industries]. Proven track record of [Major Achievement]. Skilled in [Key Technologies/Skills]. Committed to delivering [Specific Value] for [Target Industry/Company type].
General Guidelines
A professional summary is your elevator pitch. It should be 3-5 sentences long, summarizing your experience, key skills, and major achievements. Tailor it to the job description by using relevant keywords. Focus on what makes you unique and the value you bring to potential employers.
Avoid This
Avoid generic objectives like 'Looking for a challenging role to grow my skills.' Recruiters want to know what value you bring to them, not what you want from them. Don't use first-person pronouns (I, me, my). Keep it concise and impactful.
Real Examples
Compare a weak objective with a strong professional summary.
Don't
Objective: I am a hard-working individual looking for a Beginner Photographer position where I can learn new things and advance my career.
Do
A dedicated beginner photographer specializing in urban portraits, combining street photography spontaneity with meticulous planning to capture compelling narratives. Developed skills in advanced lighting techniques through internships at leading studios and received recognition for storytelling on social media.
Quick Tips
- Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., 'Increased revenue by 20%')
- Keep it under 5 lines for readability
- Use strong action verbs to start sentences
- Tailor the summary to match the job description
03
Skills
Skills
Technical Skills - Languages: [List] - Frameworks: [List] - Tools: [List] Soft Skills - [Skill 1], [Skill 2], [Skill 3]
General Guidelines
Group your skills logically (e.g., Languages, Frameworks, Tools). Focus on hard skills relevant to the job. List skills in order of proficiency or relevance. Soft skills are better demonstrated through bullet points in your experience section rather than a bare list.
Avoid This
Do not list skills you are not comfortable using in an interview. Avoid using progress bars or percentages to rate your skills (e.g., "Java: 80%"). Do not include outdated technologies unless specifically required.
Real Examples
Don't
Adobe Photoshop: 95%, Adobe Lightroom: Intermediate
Do
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom
Quick Tips
- List technical skills such as software proficiency (Photoshop, Lightroom) separately from soft skills like communication and creativity.
- Prioritize your skills based on relevance to the photography industry; put those most directly related at the top.
- Include specific tools you use for editing photos or managing photo sessions. Be sure to omit any irrelevant items like office productivity suites unless they're directly relevant to a photographer's work environment.
- Highlight both your technical expertise and creative abilities, ensuring each bullet point in soft skills section complements your professional experience.
04
Experience
Experience
Job Title | Company Name | Location Month Year – Month Year - Action Verb + Context + Result (Quantified) - Led [Project] resulting in [Outcome]... - Collaborated with [Team] to implement [Feature]...
General Guidelines
This is the core of your resume. Use reverse-chronological order (most recent first). Start each bullet with a strong action verb. Focus on achievements and impact, not just duties. Use numbers to quantify your impact (dollars, percentages, time saved, users affected). Show progression and increasing responsibility.
Avoid This
Avoid passive language like "Responsible for..." or "Tasked with...." Don't list every single daily task; focus on significant contributions and measurable outcomes. Avoid jargon that recruiters outside your field won't understand.
Real Examples
Practical example showing do's and don'ts for experiences
Don't
Responsible for organizing photo walks in urban areas, where I interacted with people and took photos. This helped me learn various photography techniques.
Do
Organized weekly photo walks in bustling cityscapes, engaging over 50 participants each session to share insights on lighting and composition.
Don't
Handled equipment during internships at a photography studio and assisted senior photographers with client interactions. I learned about different types of lenses.
Do
Assisted senior photographers in setting up advanced lighting setups for portrait sessions, gaining hands-on experience with various camera models and techniques.
Quick Tips
- Start each bullet point with a strong action verb that showcases your active role in projects or tasks (e.g., organized, led, managed).
- Quantify the impact of your actions when possible. Mention numbers related to engagement, reach, or improvement to give context and scale.
- Focus on achievements over mere responsibilities. Highlight specific outcomes you contributed to rather than listing duties.
- Tailor each bullet point to reflect progression in responsibility and complexity as you move through different roles.
05
Education
Education
Degree Name | University Name | Location Month Year – Month Year - Relevant Coursework: [Course 1], [Course 2] - Honors/Awards: [Award Name] - GPA: X.X (if above 3.5)
General Guidelines
List your highest degree first. If you have significant work experience, keep the education section brief. Include your GPA only if it is above 3.5 or if you are a recent graduate. Highlight relevant coursework, academic projects, honors, or leadership roles.
Avoid This
Do not include high school details if you have a college degree. Avoid listing every single course you took; select only the most relevant ones. Don't include graduation dates from decades ago if age discrimination is a concern in your field.
Real Examples
Don't
High School Diploma | Westview High School | San Diego, CA September 2016 – June 2020 - Coursework: English Literature, Algebra II, World History
Do
Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts - Photography | California State University, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA September 2021 – May 2025 - Relevant Coursework: Introduction to Digital Photography, Urban Landscape Photography, Advanced Portrait Lighting - GPA: 3.8
Quick Tips
- List your highest degree first and include only the essential details.
- Exclude high school education if you have completed a college or university degree.
- Highlight relevant coursework that aligns with your career aspirations in photography.
- Mention honors, awards, or leadership roles to strengthen your profile.
06
Projects
Projects
Project Name | Tools/Technologies Used - Briefly describe what you created and its purpose - Highlight specific challenges you solved - Link to portfolio or demo if available
General Guidelines
Projects are excellent for demonstrating practical skills, especially if you lack work experience or are changing careers. Include a link to your portfolio or demo if possible. Focus on projects that show problem-solving skills and relevant tools for the target role.
Avoid This
Don't include trivial tutorials unless you significantly expanded on them. Avoid projects that are outdated, incomplete, or irrelevant to the role you're applying for. Don't just list technologies—explain what you created and why it matters.
Real Examples
Practical example showing do's and don'ts for projects
Don't
I used Adobe Lightroom to edit my photos from a street photography series.
Do
Created 'Urban Faces', a street photography series using Adobe Lightroom, capturing the diversity of Los Angeles through candid portraits. Highlighted spontaneous moments to tell unique stories.
Quick Tips
- Select projects that showcase your skills in tools like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
- Detail specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them in your project descriptions.
- Include a link to an online portfolio or demo of your work to provide context for the impact of your projects.
- Focus on innovative approaches to urban portrait photography, such as blending street techniques with meticulous planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this role and how to best present it on your resume.
Include a short summary, portfolio link, camera and editing tools, internships, assistant work, volunteer shoots, projects, and bullets that show how you planned, captured, edited, and delivered images.
Use real projects, event coverage, studio support, and portfolio work. Be specific about image counts, tools, deadlines, and the type of shoot instead of using broad creative buzzwords.
Focus on camera operation, lighting basics, composition, Lightroom or Photoshop, file organization, communication with subjects, and reliable delivery of edited galleries.
Yes. A portfolio is essential for photography roles. Use a clean link near your contact information and make sure the work shown matches the job you are targeting.
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