Skills
Photographer Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in photographers, and how to build and show them.
What skills do photographers need?
Photographers need technical skills such as camera operation, lighting, and composition, plus people skills like creativity and people skills. They also use tools such as DSLR and mirrorless cameras and Lenses.
Technical (hard) skills
- Camera operation
- Lighting
- Composition
- Photo editing
- Retouching
- Business and marketing
People (soft) skills
- Creativity
- People skills
- Patience
- Self-motivation
Tools, equipment and technology
- DSLR and mirrorless cameras
- Lenses
- Studio and flash lighting
- Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop
- Tripods and reflectors
- Drones for aerial work
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how photographers put their skills to work:
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Camera operation” and “Lighting.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “creativity,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our photographer glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Photographer training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.