Photography Resume??

[callyolson]

<p>Has anyone written a Photography Resume that can help me out? A photographer that I would love to learn from asked for one for me to apply as her assistant. I am at a loss at where to start and what to say. Do I list the few paying jobs I have had? what education I have had or can I put books I read? I guess what is she looking for really. My experience is limited but I do have some. about 3 paying clients, some volunteer, some education, both editing and photo, but mostly I am self taught.</p>

<p>Thanks for any help and advise!</p>

[john tonai]

<p>Your skills are most important.</p>

<p>Specifically related to photography</p>

[szrimaging]

<p>Perhaps they want a CV?<a href="http://www.artistterms.com/artistcv.htm">http://www.artistterms.com/artistcv.htm</a></p>

[callyolson]

<p>John, When you say the skills are most important, you mean editing along with technical skills too right? How do you list those in a resume? Both areas I am working on but I would not consider myself as limited as an amateur. Curves I know I need to know more, but I improve so much every "session" practice or not that I shoot, both technically and in editing. How would you suggest I describe that?</p>

<p>Zach, I feel that she wants some outside photo work expierence too so I am not sure a CV will work and even so I would not have really anything to fill that. But I will read through the link to see what I can pull out thanks.</p>

<p>Thank you both for your fast feedback.</p>

[starvy]

<p>I think it would be useful if you could post your existing resume with the personal details omitted so we could then see if it works for photographic job needs?</p>

[callyolson]

<p>My current resume is on my work computer. Here is the basic experience that is on there, although I also have some volunteer experience too which involves working with children from 2 to high school.</p>

<h2 id="yui-gen10" title="Drag to rearrange profile sections">Education</h2>

<h3>Azusa Pacific University BS, Business Marketing 2001 – 2005</h3>

<p ><em>Activities and Societies:</em> SIFE Marketing Internship</p>

<p > </p>

<h2 id="yui-gen8" title="Drag to rearrange profile sections">Experience</h2>

<h3 >Supervisor, Seminar Systems Unit at Jackson National Life Distributors LLC</h3>

<p >February 2010 – Present (8 months)</p>

<p >Have not updated the responsibilities on this new position yet. But its managerial in nature and alot of admin and interpersonal skills.</p>

 

<h3 >Operations Coordinator at Jackson National Life</h3>

<p >January 2008 – February 2010 (2 years 2 months)</p>

<p >In this position I wore several different hats, I acted as the assistant to the AVP, an event coordinator, a project manager, a marketing designer and the department coordinator.</p>

<p >Managed over 140 marketing projects through the creation process and regulatory review to insure their usability for seminar events and department marketing.<br />Trained new hires within the department on job responsibilities.<br />Organized focus groups to capture general public opinions of financial topics.<br />Designed educational PowerPoint presentations for financial seminars.<br />Coordinated the approval of marketing pieces for use with financial companies through the National Accounts department.<br />Maintained reporting for the department to review overall numbers and goals.<br />Processed and tracked invoices for department spending, including all seminar invoices.<br />Managed and planed high maintenance seminars on behalf of Support Specialists.<br />Manipulated logos in Photoshop for the using in seminar invites.<br />Created and designed new invitation templates for the department using Adobe Photoshop.</p>

<h3 >Seminar Support Specialist at Jackson National Life</h3>

<p >February 2006 – January 2008 (2 years)</p>

<p >The main responsiblity of this position was to coordinate all the details of educational seminars for Financial Advisors.<br /><br />Managed and planned over 250 client acquisition events.<br />Communicated to Wholesalers and Financial Advisors event status, deadlines and expectations.<br />Maintained expectations and relationship with the mailing vendor Customer Service Representatives. <br />Coordinated the menu, flow of the evening and overall details with restaurants.<br />Delivered corporate presentations to audiences of 15+ people.<br />Created marketing material and invitations for each event.</p>

<p > </p>

 

[vick_vickery]

<p>Now, Cally, add a section to your resume to show "Specialized Photographic Study and Skills" and list the formal and informal study, professional photographic background including types of shoots you've done, equipment you are familiar with, and other skills such as darkroom experience, photoshop and other computer photographic experience, and maybe even some photographic references (happy clients) that agree in advance to be contacted. Good luck!</p>

[charlesheckel]

<p>. . . and figure that all that experience and training in marketing and sales is nothing a professional photographer will sneeze at. ;-)</p>

[john tonai]

<p>Cally,</p>

<p>Photographers hire assistants for a specific (and obvious) purpose-to assist them. Because of this, as Vick mentions working knowledge of photo equipment, digital software/equipment and other skills are extremely important. Most busy photographers don't want to take the time to teach an assistant basic photo skills. The more you know about the basics and about the equipment the photographer use, the more appealing you will be. That said, a photographer could always get a gut feeling about a prospective assistant that will override a lack of skills/knowledge, but don't count on that exception.</p>

<p>Your current resume, while</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>all that experience and training in marketing and sales is nothing a professional photographer will sneeze at</p>

</blockquote>

<p>will tend to make your appeal to the photographer as more of an office manager rather than as a shooting /digital assistant-which seems to be what you want to do. Be careful about explaining what you want out of this job.</p>

<p>Forget the books read. That is filler/resume padding.</p>

<p>As far as your education, it might depend on where you took the classes. If the program was generally considered top-notch, you can list it. However, most of the time it is more important to mention the skills/knowledge you got from the classes. For example, when I used to hire assistants, if they listed Art Center, Brooks or RIT in their education, I knew what technical skills they were exposed to in school. However, it didn't guarantee that they paid attention and learned anything.</p>

<p>Remember, if you apply, but don't get this job, try to arrange a meeting with the photographer to find out why she didn't hire you. Usually it is because a lack, or perceived lack of skills/experience, but find out the holes in your training so you know what you need to address. Also, it might impress the photographer enough to invite you to apply in the future</p>

<p>Good Luck</p>

 

[callyolson]

<p>Thank you for all your responses, this definitely helps me out. I will work on getting those added skills on my resume, I know that it will have holes so I will work on filling them in the coming months too. Again thank you all!</p>