Photographer
Cover Letter Example

Along with your resume and portfolio, it's important to have a well-written cover letter. Download the photographer cover letter below and follow our writing tips to learn how to highlight your creativity and design skills.

August 11, 2024

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Photographer Cover Letter Template

Be sure to format your cover letter correctly to ensure it’s easy to read and looks professional.

Copy-paste Photographer Cover Letter (Text Format)

FIRST AND LAST NAME

Email: your.email@email.com

Phone: (123) 456-7891

Address: Street, City, State

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile

[Today’s Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]
123 Company Address
Company’s City, State, Zip Code
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
hiring.manager@gmail.com

Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Last Name],

My name is [Your Name] and I’m applying for the position of [position name] with your company as advertised on [company website/LinkedIn/job board website]. I was delighted to see the job opening as I’ve been following your company for the last few years and admire your direct approach to marketing.

I’ve been a freelance photographer for 7 years, beginning as an event photographer while pursuing my BA in Photography. As my true passion lies in photographing people, I transitioned into portrait photography upon completing my degree. I’ve spent most of the past 3 years shooting weddings, as well as portraits of children, families, and pets. Some of my technical skills include:

Familiarity with a wide array of professional cameras, lighting gear, and lenses
Photo editing software, for which I have taken courses, with expertise in Adobe Photoshop
Developing video shooting and editing skills

On a personal level, I’m a people person with a knack for getting smiles and making clients feel relaxed and comfortable. I’m reliable and capable in fast-paced environments, and I always deliver the finished product on time. When it comes to photo editing, I’m highly organized and pride myself on being extremely attentive to detail, with an eye for presentation.

I would like to invite you to view my online portfolio for a sense of the style and quality of my work at: [website]. Please give me a call at (xxx) xxx-xxxx; I would love to speak with you about how my photography can best suit your needs.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Average photographer salaries in the US

The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license, this data is pulled from the most recent US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment & Earnings report (as of 10/16/2024), featuring the top states by use.

Average photographer annual salaries by state

State	Salary / Year
California	$64,740
New York	$60,840
Florida	$35,740
Texas	$32,810
Pennsylvania	$36,020
Illinois	$35,840
Ohio	$36,000
Georgia	$42,540
North Carolina	$37,730
Michigan	$44,270
National Average	$42,183

3 Tips for Writing Your Photographer Cover Letter

If your resume is the perfect portrait of yourself, consider your cover letter the editing process that takes the initial image and puts it into the best possible light.

A well-crafted photographer cover letter connects the substance of what you can do with a little bit of salesmanship, with the goal of convincing hiring managers that you’re the perfect person for the job.

Here are some tips for putting together a great cover letter for a photography position:

1. Showcase your portfolio

There’s no better way to convince an employer or client that you’re the right fit for the job than showing them your photography. Even if you can’t put photographs in your cover letter, you can still use the letter as an opportunity to connect employers with your work.

Ideally you should have your own website to showcase your work, and include the link to it in your cover letter. Many modern cover letter templates include a section in the header where you can add a link.

If you’re sending your cover letter online as a PDF or Word Document, make sure the link to your site is working properly before you submit your application.

If you don’t have a website yet, you can use a site like Flickr to have something up while you get your own website sorted out. It’s highly recommended that you spend a little bit of time and money to get your own website set up, because having a personal website will come across as more polished and professional to a hiring manager.

There are some great photography website templates out there on the WordPress platform that are inexpensive and easy to update. If you’re serious about a career in photography, investing in your own website is an absolute must.

2. Highlight your technical photography skills

As a photographer, knowing what to include in a cover letter and how to highlight your technical skills could be what lands you the job.

Your technical skill set includes specific equipment you use, training you’ve done, or editing software you’re proficient in, such as Photoshop and Lightroom.

Employers want to hire a photographer who can readily handle both the photography and the editing. By highlighting any relevant video editing or computer skills, you show employers that you can take care of all their needs.

Additionally, if employers mention a particular technical requirement in the job description of the ad, be sure to highlight your competence in that area. By looking closely at a job listing, you can pick up on all of the important keywords that employers will be looking for in your application.

For those with excellent photoshop or digital design skills, you may want to consider demonstrating some of that talent by making a visual resume and matching cover letter.

3. Don’t Forget to Add a Bit About Who You Are

The subject behind the lens is important too!

Your cover letter is an opportunity for you to give employers an insight into who you are both personally and professionally. Let them know about your passion for photography and why you’re an awesome photographer to work with.

Employers may also be looking for specific personality traits or soft skills like the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment or time management skills, so use the space to present yourself as the person they are looking for.

Make sure to mention your interest in the position, and why you want to work with a specific employer or client. Giving employers an idea of how your values align with the work they are offering will help them connect with you as a candidate.