Cinematographer Resume: Sample and Writing Guide

All it takes is one great opportunity—but no matter how many cinematography jobs you apply for, you never get a callback. How are you supposed to get your big break when there are no breaks coming your way? 

With a cinematographer resume that’s Roger Deakins’ level of epic.  Get your skills into focus, give your talent the right exposure, and your job hunting will be faster than Fuji Reala 500D. 

This guide will show you: 

• A cinematographer resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a cinematographer resume that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a cinematographer resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for a cinematographer to get any job you want.

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Not quite what you’re looking for? Check out our related guides: 

• Videographer Resume Sample
• Filmmaker Resume Sample
• Video Editor Resume Sample
• Film Resume Sample
• Video Producer Resume Sample
• Production Assistant Resume Sample
• Photographer Resume Sample
• Production Coordinator Resume Sample
• Creative Director Resume Sample
• Best Resume Examples for Any Profession

Sample Cinematographer Resume

Here’s how to write a job-winning cinematographer resume: 

1. Choose the Right Format for Your Cinematographer Resume

Cinematographers are responsible for creating the visual style of a movie. They plan every shot and lead the camera and lighting crews during shooting. A cinematographer resume has to go beyond showcasing your technical skills—you also need to prove you’re organized, communicative, and detail-oriented. 

Already visualizing a look for your resume? Excellent! Let’s go over the plot outline to make sure you’re not missing anything—

Here’s how to format your resume: 

• Decide on the right resume format. For most cinematographers, a reverse-chronological resume will be the best option. It’s like a good MCU—it focuses on what matters most and everyone’s instantly familiar with it. 
• Set standard resume margins—1 inch all the way around the page. 
• Pick a professional resume font (or font pairing, if you want to get fancy) that’s clear and easy to read. 
• Add your name, job title, and contact information to the top of the page. 
• Stick to the ideal resume length. One-page resumes are the best choice for cinematographers with fewer than 7 years of experience. Aim for two pages if you’re a regular in the video village. 
• Save the final cut of your resume in two formats—PDF and .docx. Most companies will ask you to submit a PDF resume, but some may still want a Word Doc. 

Busy production schedule? If you need to cut some corners, pick a ready-made creative resume template and make it your own. 

Alright—

Calling last looks! Ready to roll?

Read more: Resume Structure: A Complete Guide

2. Write a Resume Objective or Resume Summary

First up, we need to capture a tight shot of your best achievements—they’ll appear at the top of the page, in your resume profile. 

This short introductory paragraph is essentially a montage of the best bits from your career, cut for maximum impact. 

Now, there are two types of resume profiles: 

• Resume summary: best if you’re an experienced cinematographer with a few titles to your name. 
• Resume objective: what you’ll write instead if you’re a new graduate and/or have no experience as a professional cinematographer. 

In both cases, your aim here is to elicit curiosity and grab the reader’s attention. 

To this end, every resume profile should include: 

• Two or three of your biggest accomplishments as a cinematographer. 
• A few key skills that match the requirements in the job ad. 
• A specific offer tailored to the company or project. 

Before we set up for the next scene, a quick resume tip: if you’re drawing a blank on what to include in your profile, just fix it in post. It’ll be easier to write once you’ve completed the rest of your resume. 

Still not sure about your opening shot? Read more: How to Write the Perfect Resume Introduction

3. Create a Great Cinematographer Resume Work Experience Section

Next on today’s schedule, an elaborate flashback—

Your work experience, presented using Memento-style reverse chronology. 

Here’s how to put work experience on your resume: 

• List relevant employment starting with your most recent position.
• Add your job title, the name of the company, and the dates you’ve worked there. 
• Write a few bullet points that show your best side. No need to describe the exact duties of a cinematographer—the reader’s familiar with the context. Instead, zoom in on your professional accomplishments. 
• Get the pacing right by starting each bullet point with an action verb, and use numbers to quantify your achievements. 
• Include more bullet points for your most recent jobs. 

Achievements in focus? Awesome—

Now, let’s switch to monochrome and adjust our WB, because we’re going even further back in time.  

Never worked for a production company? See here: How to List Freelance Work on a Resume

4. Show Your Education in the Best Light

As Quentin Tarantino and James Cameron would tell you, you don’t need formal education to make it in the movie business. Still—

Whether you’re a film school grad or a self-taught genius, education needs to make an appearance on your resume. 

So: 

If you have 5+ years of experience as a cinematographer, just provide your highest level of education, be it high school or college. Include the name of the institution and years of attendance. 

If you’re less experienced, use the magic hour of your schooling to its full advantage. Add bullet points, mentioning academic achievements, relevant coursework, and projects on your resume. Only include your GPA on a resume if it was 3.5 or higher. 

Looking good! 

Time to cut back to the present for a series of short takes on your best skills. 

Read more: How to Add Education to Your Resume

5. List the Right Skills for a Cinematographer Resume

Here’s how to add key skills to your resume: 

• Start by jotting down all the professional skills that you have. Remember to include soft skills as well as technical skills. 
• Compare your list to the skills required in the job description. Use the ones that match to build a set of around ten. 

Cinematographer Resume Skills

Your list won’t be a shot-for-shot remake of the example above—make it your own and shine a spotlight on the very best you have to offer. 

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

6. Add Other Sections to Your Cinematographer Resume

Abby Singer, everyone! 

Almost done. Before we wrap for the day, consider adding the following resume sections: 

• Certifications and licenses
• Awards
• Memberships in industry-related organizations
• Personal projects or relevant volunteer work
• Languages

...or anything else to make you stand out like Meryl Streep in a Z-movie. 

Want to add your hobbies? Just make sure to frame them correctly: How to Put Hobbies and Interests on a Resume

7. Attach a Cover Letter to Your Cinematographer Resume

Resume done, sizzle reel ready—

Hang on! There’s something missing: you still need a cover letter. 

Here’s how to write one: 

• Use the right cover letter format. 
• Start your cover letter with a professional achievement to instantly display your value. 
• Show how your talent, skills, and experience can contribute to the success of the company. 
• Include an offer and a call to action in your cover letter ending. 

Keep it short and sweet—the ideal cover letter length is generally under one page. 

Read more: How to Write A Job-Winning Cover Letter

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

That’s a wrap! 

Thanks for reading! Still not sure how to write a cinematographer resume? Maybe you could offer some pointers of your own? Drop us a line in the comments! 

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