A photographer cover letter presents the hiring team with a glimpse of your capabilities, achievements, skills, professional background, and experience for employment consideration.
If you are looking to secure a good photography job, you should consider marketing your strengths strategically in a cover letter to capture the attention of the busy hiring manager.
The purpose of a cover letter is to complement the resume by providing relevant additional information about the applicant to persuade the hiring manager to consider your application. It is used to explain how your qualifications and skills match the job description. It can aid in getting an interview invitation.
Keep in mind that photography intensively involves imagination and creativity. All such job openings seek to see your creativity in action through how you describe yourself. Therefore, a photographer’s cover letter should aim to make a captivating impression on the hiring team by demonstrating a few strategic examples of your technical and artistic skills that make you stand out.
Samples and Free Templates
How to Write a Photographer Cover Letter
Include essential components such as an excellent introduction, a proper description of skills, the use of keywords, and much more.
The following are all necessary components that form part of the informative paragraphs of the letter:
Introduce yourself
Begin with a brief introduction detailing why you think you are the best candidate for the job. Mention why you are excited about getting the job, and state how the job opportunity suits your long-term career goals. Without repeating content already discussed in your resume, you should detail your past job experiences and accomplishments in two paragraphs and relate them to the job requirements.
Include your portfolio
To support the information about your skills presented in the cover letter, you may need to attach a link to an online portfolio showcasing your work. Make sure to attach the best version of your work that demonstrates your style and quality of work. It is often advisable to put effort into creating a website that displays your gallery, which further shows the hiring manager that you are serious and skilled in the use of technology.
Showcase your technical skills
Focus on showcasing your technical skills. Discuss technical skills like photo editing skills, proficiency in handling various cameras, photography training, and all the relevant software in which you are an expert.
Include your digital skills
Describe the digital skills you possess and use for publishing your pictures. Some key digital skills employers currently seek from candidates include image cropping techniques, image manipulation, composition, and editing. You can also mention your competencies and knowledge of social media sites like Facebook or Instagram and how you use them to post your work and source for the market. Most importantly, highlight some of your top-notch video and photo editing skills, such as Photoshop, etc., to stand out.
State your achievements
The hiring team would be interested in knowing about your achievements or accomplishments and should therefore include them in the cover letter. Include the various successes and accolades you have received due to your qualifications, education, and experience. Include your skills to give the hiring team a glimpse of your potential. Mention the awards and recognition you have obtained for your work. Candidates with little working experience can still reference achievements obtained in their internships, classrooms, or volunteer programs.
Add keywords for the job description
Using relevant keywords in a cover letter points out to the hiring team the specific talents and skills that they seek from the candidates. These skills may include color-correcting skills, photo editing, video editing, etc., among others. It is advisable to discuss your past achievements and link them to the job description requirements; that way, you can tackle the keywords needed.
Convince the hiring manager why your passion lies in photography. Employers are convinced that a passionate employee is more likely to be proactive and competent, with a high chance of delivering high-quality performance. Explain what motivates you to take pictures to help the hiring manager resonate with your inspirations for an increased chance of being called for an interview.
Thank the letter recipient for their time
It is part of professional courtesy to thank the hiring manager for taking the time to read your job application, which promotes a positive attitude. Give a summary of your experience, skills, and qualifications, and show your desire to be among the shortlisted candidates.
Provide your contact details for follow-up
Before concluding the cover letter, provide your email address or phone number for the hiring manager to contact you if they need clarification or call you for an interview.
Sign off
Conclude the letter by signing against your name, which is part of the professional requirements of a formal letter.
note
If you are sending the cover letter via email, you should mention in the subject line the job title you are applying for and include your name in the email to catch the hiring manager’s attention.
EXAMPLE
Subject: Application for a Photographer Job Position—Your Name
Photographer Cover Letter Sample
Subject: Photography Job application
It is with much anticipation that I write to demonstrate my interest in joining your team as a photographer at (ABC Photography) company. My sharp technical skills, coupled with (5 years) of working experience in photography, conveniently make me the best candidate for the job.
I have worked as a (freelance) photographer, shooting events such as birthdays and weddings. I gained adequate technical and digital skills for editing photos and videos using apps such as (Photoshop, list others).
I am passionate about photography, which inspired my career choice to study photography and video editing at (name of college). Attached is a link to some of my previous works, which will help you gauge my competence in the field of photography (provide a link).
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my cover letter. Your consideration will be much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Applicant name
Signature
Sample Letter
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to express my interest in the Photographer position at Imaginative Lens Studios, as advertised on your website. With my passion for capturing moments and a solid background in various photography styles, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team.
In my previous role at Creative Visions Photography, I honed my skills in portrait, event, and landscape photography. I am particularly proud of a project where I successfully showcased a local community event, which not only received high praise from the client but also increased their event attendance by 30% the following year. My ability to connect with subjects and bring out their best, coupled with my technical expertise in editing and lighting, allows me to produce photos that tell a story and create an impact.
I am proficient in the latest photography software, including Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. This, along with my continuous pursuit of learning new techniques, ensures that I can efficiently handle the diverse needs of your clients at Imaginative Lens Studios.
I am particularly drawn to your company because of your commitment to artistic excellence and community involvement. I believe my skills and experience align well with these values, and I am eager to bring my creative vision to your team.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my photography skills and vision can contribute to the continued success of Imaginative Lens Studios.
Sincerely,
Jordan Smith
Analysis
From this sample, an you can learn several key aspects of effective cover letter writing, especially tailored to the photography industry:
- Structure and Flow: The letter has a clear structure—an introduction of intent, a body that details experience and skills, and a closing that invites further discussion. This logical flow makes the letter coherent and easy to follow.
- Showcasing Relevant Skills and Achievements: The letter illustrates how to highlight relevant skills and notable achievements effectively. For a photographer, this includes both technical proficiency (like expertise in photography software) and successful project outcomes.
- Professional Tone and Clarity: The sample letter uses simple, professional language, showing how to communicate clearly and effectively without over-complicating the message. This is crucial for creating a positive impression and making the content accessible.
- Connecting Personal Values with Company Values: The letter demonstrates how to express alignment with the company’s values and ethos. This helps in portraying the candidate as not just skilled but also a good cultural fit for the organization.
- Balance Between Formality and Approachability: The sample letter strikes a balance between being formal and approachable, which is important in creative fields like photography. The applicant maintains professionalism while also allowing personality to shine through.
Tips for Writing a Great Photography Cover Letter
A few minor issues can lead to the dismissal of your application if you are not keen enough.
Listed below are critical points to note and some tips to follow when writing a photographer’s cover letter:
Only include relevant skills
Read through the job description requirements to understand the skill sets the hiring manager is looking for, and tailor your cover letter to only portray the skills required. Aligning your skills to match the requirements in the job description helps save time for the letter recipient and captures their attention, improving your chances of getting the job.
Provide a background
Make sure to provide a background on your relevant experiences, achievements, knowledge, and awards to help the hiring manager understand your capabilities. In addition, mention a brief overview of your education and the course studies relevant to the job position to show the hiring manager that you are adequately trained for the job position.
Avoid spelling and grammatical mistakes
Any grammatical or spelling mistakes show elements of illiteracy, leading to a definite dismissal of your application. You should ensure that you proofread your cover letter before submitting it to eliminate any errors.
Research the company you are applying to
You need to research the company you are applying to, mainly to ensure you have background information about its culture, mission, vision, and needs. This background information about the company guides you when writing a cover letter. You can tailor your skills to match the needs of the company.
Final Thoughts
The only thing standing between you and your dream job is a good cover letter. It should complement your resume by providing the hiring manager with extra insights into your professional background, skills, personality, passion, goals, and achievements. This article provides meaningful insights and tips to guide you in writing a successful photography cover letter.
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