Resume template · Updated October 2026
Photography assistant resume template
Short answer
FAANGPath suits a photography assistant: a short summary and skills print before experience, so lighting, tethering and gear skills are seen first. The fictional sample assists commercial and product photographers, sets up lighting, runs tethered capture and handles gear. Show shoot days, the kinds of shoots, equipment you know and post-production help.
Download the photography assistant sample
Chloe is a fictional photography assistant and digital tech. Replace every detail with your own before you send it.
The files are made in your browser by Resumity's own exporters, from this sample. The builder opens it as your own resume: click any line to replace it. Free plan, no watermark.
Why FAANGPath suits a photography assistant resume
FAANGPath prints a short summary, labelled skills rows and then experience, in black and grey. Photographers hiring assistants check practical skills such as lighting, tethering and gear first, and this compact page shows them fast.
Second choice: Olivia. Olivia adds a bold blue header band, a fit for assistants building toward their own photography business.
What goes in each section, in FAANGPath's order
FAANGPath prints its sections in a fixed order, the same in the PDF and the Word file. Here is that order for this sample, and what to put in each section.
- Professional Summary. Shoot types, years assisting, studios or photographers you work with and your main skills.
- Skills. Lighting, tethered capture, gear, file management and editing tools.
- Work Experience. Bullets on shoot days per year, shoot types, lighting setups, digital tech work, gear care and retouching support.
- Education. Photography or art degree, or courses, with the year.
The sample resume as text
The same content as the files above, so you can copy a line or compare it with your own.
Chloe Bennett
Photography Assistant and Digital Tech
Chicago, IL | chloe.bennett@example.com | (312) 555-0124 | sample-chloe-bennett.example.com/portfolio
Photography assistant with four years of studio and location work for commercial, product and portrait photographers. Set up lighting, run tethered capture and manage files on set.
Experience
Photography Assistant, Windy City Photo Studio, Chicago, IL (05/2022 to Present)
- Assist on about 150 shoot days a year for product, food and portrait clients.
- Set up and adjust strobe and continuous lighting with the lead photographer.
- Run tethered capture in Capture One and back up files to two drives during every shoot.
- Cull and do first-pass retouching for about 40 product shoots a year.
- Keep the studio gear inventory and arrange repairs and rentals.
Freelance Photography Assistant, Self-employed, Chicago, IL (06/2020 to 04/2022)
- Assisted wedding and event photographers on location.
- Carried and set up lighting and backdrops.
- Helped with client posing and shot lists.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Photography, Columbia College Chicago (05/2020)
Skills
Studio lighting, Tethered capture, File backup, Product retouching, Set preparation, Capture One, Lightroom, Photoshop, Profoto, Calm on busy sets
How to make the sample yours
Count shoot days
Shoot days per year and the types, such as product, portrait or fashion. It shows experience quickly.
Name lighting gear
Strobes, modifiers and continuous lights you set up. Reliable setup is the core of the job.
Show digital tech work
Tethering, backups and file naming during shoots.
Mention post work
Culling, basic retouching and file delivery.
Add your own work
A portfolio link if you shoot your own projects.
Keywords to keep where they are true
Terms this kind of resume is usually searched for. Use the posting's exact wording, and only for work you have done.
- photography assistant
- lighting setup
- tethered capture
- Capture One
- Lightroom
- Photoshop
- studio photography
- product photography
- strobes
- digital tech
- file management
- set preparation
Mistakes to avoid
- Client images you cannot share.
- No shoot types or counts.
- Claiming photography credits that belong to the photographer.
- Long gear lists without context.
How the sample PDF reads in text extractors
We exported this sample with Resumity's PDF exporter in Chrome on 2026-10-29 and read the file back with three open-source text extractors. This shows whether software that turns a PDF into text can recover it; it is not a test of any commercial applicant tracking system. How we test templates.
| Extractor | Name, email, phone | Headings | Bullets intact |
|---|---|---|---|
| pdf.js 4.10.38 | All found | 4 of 4 | 8 of 8 |
| pdftotext (Xpdf) 4.00 | All found | 4 of 4 | 8 of 8 |
| pypdf 6.13.0 | All found | 4 of 4 | 8 of 8 |
Frequently asked questions
What should a photography assistant resume focus on?
Shoot days, shoot types, lighting and digital tech skills, and gear care. Photographers want someone who sets up fast and protects files and equipment.
How do I get my first assisting job?
Contact photographers in your area with a short resume and a note on the gear you know. Assist at student shoots or events to build experience. Being on time, careful with gear and quiet on set matters more than experience at first.
Should I include my own portfolio?
Yes, as a link. Keep it to your own work, not images you assisted on, unless the photographer allows it. A personal project that shows lighting skill helps photographers trust you with their setups.
How do I list freelance assisting?
As one job with types of photographers and shoots. List repeat clients only if they are happy to be named.
What is a digital tech?
The person who runs tethered capture, checks focus and exposure and manages files on set. If you do this, say so, because it is a valued skill. Name the capture software you know and how you back up files during a shoot.
How long should the resume be?
One page.
Will applicant tracking systems read this FAANGPath PDF?
The sample PDF read back with its contact details, all 4 section headings and all 8 bullets intact in three open-source text extractors (pdf.js, pdftotext and pypdf). Commercial systems such as Workday, Greenhouse or Taleo were not tested, and each employer configures its own.
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