Photography is a competitive industry, and sometimes your visual portfolio needs a boost to convince a hiring manager or client that you’re the right one for the job. A great photographer cover letter shows that you are invested in your work and helps explain the qualities that make you the perfect fit for the position.
With more than 125 cover letter examples for professionals in every industry and at every step of their careers, we know a thing or two about creating a stellar job application. In this guide, along with our photographer cover letter example, we’ll show you how to:
- Choose the best format for a photographer cover letter
- Write each of the essential sections that make your experience stand out
- Create a great cover letter even with no experience
Best format for a photographer cover letter
The format of a photographer cover letter should contain the following elements:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting / salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph (conclusion and call to action)
You can find more ideas on how to format your application by checking out our photographer cover letter example:
Dear Mrs. Simmons,
With experience of capturing treasured moments at over a thousand weddings throughout my solo photography career, I am now seeking a move to a recognized leader in the field.
Event planning at 250+ U.S. wedding venues has taught me the value of scoping shots in advance, scrapbooking ideas with wedding couples before the stress of the big day and making sure that my equipment is properly maintained. My lighting setups are innovative and unobtrusive. No one wants the photographer constantly getting in the way. You rightly offer a flawless experience in your marketing, and my 98% customer satisfaction ratings are a testament to my couple-first approach.
Having run my own wedding photography business for the past seven years, sharing selected snaps from my 1,200+ clients online has both helped me gain new business and also grown my combined social audience to over 55,000. Winning five industry awards last year helped with my personal brand recognition and I am sure that my follower base will be able to help with your marketing efforts. Our past work is our badge of honor.
My Bachelor of Fine Arts degree has also given me a wider appreciation for artistic composition, and I am constantly updating my qualifications with the latest photographic and digital applications. Perfecting a wedding image has never been easier, and my editing skills with the likes of Adobe Creative Suite, Light Room, InDesign and Aperture are unrivaled. Understanding the “look” that couples are seeking is crucial, and listening skills and empathy (at a stressful time) are essential.
I enclose a link to my photography portfolio and would welcome the chance to meet and discuss your corporate approach to capturing that most special of days.
Sincerely,
Daniel Jones
You’ll find tons of useful formatting tips and writing advice inside our comprehensive guide to cover letters.
Cover letter header
The cover letter header is the most visually interesting part of your page, so it’s important that it creates an impact. As a photographer, you’ll want to make sure that your header offers stylish design that reflects your personal brand. Your header should also call attention to your name, contact information, portfolio links and any relevant social media. Make sure these details are spelled correctly so a hiring manager or client can get in touch without any obstacles.
The aim of the cover letter header: Create an attractive visual presentation based on your personal brand, keeping your name and contact information at the forefront of your application.
Cover letter greeting
The greeting is how you choose to address the recipient of your letter. The standard advice is to start this line with the word "Dear" and to end it with a last name. Depending on your target employer, you may opt for something more casual like “Hi” or “Hello” followed by the name. If you don’t have an existing relationship with the reader, however, it’s usually best to stick with a more traditional greeting.
The aim of the cover letter greeting: Address the hiring manager or client by name when possible, choosing the most appropriate greeting based on your relationship.
Cover letter introduction
The cover letter introduction plays a vital role in catching readers’ interest and making them want to read more. Avoid bland and generic introductions, and lead with something compelling and original.
The aim of the cover letter introduction: Offer a relevant and interesting piece of information that hooks the reader.
Dear Mrs. Simmons,
With experience of capturing treasured moments at over a thousand weddings throughout my solo photography career, I am now seeking a move to a recognized leader in the field.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The body of your cover letter is where you can share the details of your skills and achievements. Generally, short anecdotes help you illustrate the impact you’ve had as a photographer. If the role is rather technical, you can also discuss any specialized skills or use numbers to highlight your abilities.
The aim of the cover letter body: Explain your experience and skills and show a hiring manager what you could do for them.
Event planning at 250+ U.S. wedding venues has taught me the value of scoping shots in advance, scrapbooking ideas with wedding couples before the stress of the big day and making sure that my equipment is properly maintained. My lighting setups are innovative and unobtrusive. No one wants the photographer constantly getting in the way. You rightly offer a flawless experience in your marketing, and my 98% customer satisfaction ratings are a testament to my couple-first approach.
Having run my own wedding photography business for the past seven years, sharing selected snaps from my 1,200+ clients online has both helped me gain new business and also grown my combined social audience to over 55,000. Winning five industry awards last year helped with my personal brand recognition and I am sure that my follower base will be able to help with your marketing efforts. Our past work is our badge of honor.
My Bachelor of Fine Arts degree has also given me a wider appreciation for artistic composition, and I am constantly updating my qualifications with the latest photographic and digital applications. Perfecting a wedding image has never been easier, and my editing skills with the likes of Adobe Creative Suite, Light Room, InDesign and Aperture are unrivaled. Understanding the “look” that couples are seeking is crucial, and listening skills and empathy (at a stressful time) are essential.
How to close a photographer cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
The best way to close your photographer cover letter is with a call to action. This sentence expresses enthusiasm for the job and encourages the hiring manager or client to contact you for further discussion. Make sure to end on a positive note without sounding demanding or entitled to an interview.
End your letter with a respectful sign-off that matches the formality and tone of your greeting.
The aim of the cover letter conclusion: Create a polite call to action that invites a hiring manager or client to get in touch.
I enclose a link to my photography portfolio and would welcome the chance to meet and discuss your corporate approach to capturing that most special of days.
Sincerely,
Daniel Jones
Photographer cover letter with no experience
If you have no experience as a paid photographer, focus on these points:
- Transferable skills: Do you already know your way around Photoshop from your graphic design experience? Maybe you are skilled in video creation. Look for links between your current skills and photography and highlight these on your cover letter.
- Personal opportunities: As a photographer, you can easily make your own work to add to your portfolio. Look for chances to take photos in the community. You’ll soon have experience to discuss in your cover letter!
- Interest in the company: Let the target employer know why you are interested in working there. State what you like about the company. Be genuine in your response and give a thoughtful answer about why you are attracted to the type of photography it offers.
Key takeaways
- Photography is a competitive industry, so a cover letter can be essential in showing a client what you bring to the table.
- In a visual field like photography, your header says a lot about what type of candidate you are. A creative cover letter template can help you make a good impression.
- Keep your cover letter to a maximum of one page in order to highlight your most impressive accomplishments without losing the hiring manager’s interest.
Make sure to check out these other related cover letter examples for even more writing and formatting tips:
