Free photographer job description template
Fill in the [brackets] and cut anything that doesn’t fit your job. Unlock one-tap copy and PDF download free with your email.
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Photographer job description template · Fill in the [brackets]
Photographer
About the job
[Business name] is hiring a Photographer who plans, captures and edits photographs for customers, from portraits and events to product images. [One or two sentences about your business and why someone would want to work there.]
What you’ll do
- Market or advertise services to attract clients
- Analyze and plan the composition of photographs
- Use photographic techniques and lighting equipment
- Capture subjects in professional-quality photographs
- Use photo-enhancing software
- Maintain a digital portfolio to show their work
- Archive and manage imagery
What you need
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Portfolio of work [required with application]
- Own camera and lighting equipment [or specify provided gear]
- Reliable transportation to shoots
Nice to have
- Experience with [portrait, event or product] photography
- Retouching and editing skills
How to apply
[Apply link, email or phone], by [date].
[Business name] is an equal opportunity employer.
✓ Unlocked. Use the buttons above the template to copy it or save it as a PDF.
Example: the template filled in for a small business
Hypothetical example for Willow Studio, a two-person portrait and event studio.
Willow Studio is hiring a part-time Photographer for weekend portrait sessions and events. You'll shoot, edit and deliver galleries within [__] days. Send a portfolio with your application; we provide lighting and a backdrop, you bring your camera.
Notice what makes it work: real hours, the actual tools, who they report to, and one honest reason to want the job. That’s the difference between a blank template and a job description that gets the right applicants.
What a photographer does
A photographer plans, captures and edits photographs for customers, from portraits and events to product images. Typical duties include:
- Market or advertise services to attract clients
- Analyze and plan the composition of photographs
- Use photographic techniques and lighting equipment
- Capture subjects in professional-quality photographs
- Use photo-enhancing software
- Maintain a digital portfolio to show their work
Duties adapted from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Requirements, training and licenses
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says many photographers are self-employed. If you hire a freelancer rather than an employee, put the scope, deliverables, and usage rights in writing, and ask your tax professional how the person should be classified.
Training: Portfolio-driven; training varies.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Photographers.
How much does a photographer make?
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. A median means half earned more and half earned less. Pay in your area may be higher or lower; check postings for similar jobs near you. A growing number of states and cities require a pay range in job postings, so check your local rules before you post.
Before you set the rate, run the free hiring cost calculator. It adds payroll taxes and other costs and shows how much work the hire needs to bring in to pay for itself.
Free template or written for you?
| Free template | Job Description $30 | Hiring Kit $299 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written for | Any business | Your business | Your business |
| Duties and schedule | Typical, with blanks | Yours, filled in | Yours, filled in |
| Pay | National figure | Set for your local market | Set for your local market |
| State rules | “Check your state” | Checked for your state | Checked for your state |
| Ready to post | No, you edit it | Yes | Yes, plus the job posting |
| Performance review form | — | Included free | Included |
| Interview guide and 30-60-90 day plan | — | — | Included |
| Use the template | Have us write it | Get the Hiring Kit |
Free template
- Typical duties with blanks to fill in
- National pay figure
- You edit it before posting
Job Description · $30
- Written for your business: your duties, schedule and pay
- Checked for your state’s rules
- Ready to post
- Free matching performance review form
Hiring Kit · $299
- Everything in the $30 job description
- The job posting
- Interview guide
- 30-60-90 day plan for the new hire
Fixed prices. See what’s included in Job Description Writing and the Hiring Kit.
Common questions
Should I hire a photographer as an employee or a contractor?
That depends on how much control you have over how, when and where the work is done. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes many photographers are self-employed, but the label alone does not decide the status. Check with a tax professional, and put usage rights in writing either way.
Can I use this template for free?
Yes. Copy it, edit it and post it. It's a starting point written for any business, so fill in the brackets and adjust the duties to your actual job. If you'd rather have it written for your business, ready to post, our Job Description service is $30.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is general information. Requirements for some roles, especially in healthcare, vary by state. Check your state's rules, and talk to an employment attorney if you're unsure.
Published by Groundwork Business Advisory. Updated October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Pay data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 wage estimates.