Dos and don’ts of writing a photographer bio

It would be nice if your photographs could do all the talking for you, but occasionally you need to use words. The about page on your website and your Instagram profile are just some of the places photographers need to have a bio. A good bio provides photographers with a powerful way to showcase their professional experience and convey their personalities to potential clients.

One of the consulting services we offer at Wonderful Machine is writing a photographer bio. You can view some of our case studies to see some examples of work we’ve done or email us to find out more about the services we offer.

A photographer’s bio should be compelling, thoughtful, and clear. Depending on where your bio will be placed, you may need several versions. In this article, we will cover tips on writing a photographer bio and share examples of short, medium, and long versions. At Wonderful Machine our process also includes considering what kind of self-portraits to include alongside a bio.

Hare a few tips you can use to craft an Instagram bio for a photographer.

PHOTOGRAPHER INSTAGRAM BIO TIPS

For professional photographers, perhaps the most important social media in recent times is Instagram, and the first thing users see when they check out someone’s Instagram profile is the bio. Since the bio, in particular, can lead users to follow you, you’ll want to make it effective.

So what is a good way to write an Instagram bio for photographers?

• Start with your Instagram handle. Treat your handle on Instagram as the title of your bio. Besides your name or the name of your business, consider including your niche or specialty. This practice helps people find you on Instagram and quickly discern what it is you do.
• Specify your location. Be sure to include your location in the bio. This helps potential clients quickly see where you’re based and potential clients may reach out when local projects arise.
• Get creative with your copy. Make your bio succint but take advantage of the 150 character limit and include your credentials. Keep in mind that you might not have enough space for everything, so focus on your strongest points. We also recommend adding emojis to your Instagram bio. They add visual interest and serve to convey a more casual tone.
• Include a a call to action. This can be whatever you want, but usually, it is simply a direct link to your website.

Below is a photographer’s Instagram bio example that shows all of this in action.

We will create a more detailed article about writing a photographer’s Instagram bio and link it here so make sure to bookmark this post.

WEBSITE BIO

Like with an emailer, a bio can act as a potential client’s “first impression” of you, meaning it needs to leave them with a sense of who you are, how you work, and why your personality and approach are a natural fit for their commission — and brand as a whole.

You’re probably not sending out your bio in an email blast to the masses, but the “About Me” page on your site is one of the first places clients go when making hiring decisions (aside from your gallery, of course). Your portfolio may be curated to perfection, but it needs to be accompanied by an equally-engaging bio to give the client an ideal first impression. As a way to get started, we’ve come up with a few Dos and Don’ts.

PHOTOGRAPHY BIO DOS AND DON’TS

DOS:

Do have a photo. One of the first things I do when viewing a photographer’s website is look for a picture of them, and I’m sure I’m not alone. This is one of the reasons we like to have headshots for all our Wonderful Machine member photographers. It’s nice to put a face to a name!

While you can never go wrong with a traditional headshot/portrait, there are other approaches you can take as well, examples of which are toward the end of the article.

Do keep our interest. If you’re more of a dreamer, an imaginative biography that keeps the reader engaged might be right up your alley.

Do have fun. To catch a prospective client’s attention, show creativity in your photography bio and have fun with your writing.

DON’TS:

Don’t be pompous or take yourself too seriously. Unless you’re Duane Michals, Sally Mann, or the like, refrain from overly self-important remarks. You don’t want creatives to think you’re a prima donna who’s difficult to work with or doesn’t take directions well.

• Too pompous “I never want to be someone who takes predictable, boring photographs. To combat this, I ask myself after every photo: is this good enough for a gallery, a museum, a photo book?”  Does anyone aim to take a predictable picture?

Don’t be careless. Avoid typos, bad translations, grammatical errors, and spelling mistakes. If you’re not the best writer — or aren’t writing in your native language — think about hiring someone to help you craft your thoughts. Regardless of whether or not you pursue outside help, always have someone else read over your work. No good impressions come from cringe-worthy grammar or semicolon misuses. Also, steer clear of online translators to rewrite your bio in another language.

Don’t get too lengthy. This is self-explanatory. Please, no novels — or even novellas. Be short and sweet. Leave them wanting more. This isn’t to say that longer bios are to be avoided at all costs, just that they’re a tougher sell than concise blurbs.

Alright, enough negativity. We could come up with more bio “Don’ts,” but let’s shift our focus to some standout bios and “About Me” photographer examples of varying lengths — and what makes each of them work.

PHOTOGRAPHER BIO EXAMPLES

SHORT BIO

Why it Works: Short and Sweet

All photographers write their bios with clients in mind, but Inti St. Clair cuts out the middleman by addressing her clients directly: “Hire her. You’ll have a blast working with her”. Inti also includes a smiling photo of herself, which reinforces how pleasant she is to work with. She is assuaging every client’s biggest fear, that of bringing on a disagreeable and incompetent photographer.

Inti’s photographer bio is full of conversation starters as well, a refreshing way for someone to show their personality without falling into the cliche of listing likes and dislikes.

I also want to shout out bullet points. Inti uses them to make the information easier to digest and quicker to scan through, an ideal setup for the busy, perhaps passively attentive creative.

You can use bullet points in your bio — or anywhere you write, for that matter — to highlight information, such as:

• Your specialties
• Past clients
• Celebrities you’ve photographed
• The languages you speak

BONUS SHORT PHOTOGRAPHY BIO IDEAS

Why it Works: Speaks to The Client’s Needs

This is a nice change-of-pace from Richard Moran, a UK-based photographer who cuts a humble figure in his bio. Instead of focusing on his own qualities as a photographer, Richard appeals more directly to the client by stating that teamwork — strengthened by transparent and focused communication — is the key to success, no matter the assignment.

The adjoining image backs up that approach since it’s clear he’s letting a colleague work hands-on while he offers input without dominating the space. Put text and photo together, and you’ve got an ideal teammate in Richard. Plus, anyone who includes “I don’t have all the answers” in their bio probably isn’t going to be a pain on set. That’s it for short bios. Now let’s go over some longer photography bio ideas.

MEDIUM LENGTH BIO

Why it Works: Strikes a Balance

Having a healthy mix of personal and professional information in your bio is key. The goal is to remind clients that you’re human (and a capable one, at that). Matt Odom has a nice balance; he first lists his specialties, his alma mater, and how he started out in his career. Matt then gets to the fun stuff, where his personality shines through.

He’s also an avid vintage comic collector who is one of a few people in the world to hold an original copy of the 1984 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 first print…COWABUNGA

Although Matt uses a third-person perspective, the writing feels very personable, as if his friend is telling us that, ‘he’s a people person,’ or confirming, ‘yes, he’s a huge Hall and Oates fan.’

Who wouldn’t trust Matt to show up on time, get the job done, and produce timeless images? And perhaps jam to some 80s music afterward?

LONG BIO

Why it Works: Holistic Approach 

A lengthier bio, if done well, is an opportunity for potential clients to gain a better understanding of who you are, and to assure them you’d be a suitable (if not likable!) candidate for the job.

Andrew Faulk comes across as a down-to-earth yet highly professional photographer in his bio. His writing is clever and imaginative but avoids being pompous as he reminds us he’s a “country boy” at heart.

Andrew nails the first sentence of his bio: “I’m Andrew, but most people just call me Andy”. It’s simple, but we can tell Andrew is friendly and approachable, terrific qualities in someone you’re considering working with.

Including a shortlist of clients — as Andrew does with big entities like the New York Times and the Government of Japan — is a smart way to showcase your past experience and reputation within the field.

BIO PICTURES

Bio Pic 1: The Traditional Headshot

Can’t go wrong with a straightforward portrait, be it of your head, your whole body, or something in between. Felix Reed has the right idea, and the fact that he’s so close to the camera allows us to see his eyes. As viewers, we’re drawn to people’s eyes first, which is why so many advertisements feature close-ups of smiling faces — making eye contact with an individual in a photo adds a layer of personability to the proceedings. You feel like you’re interacting with them, in a sense.

Bio Pic 2: With Loved Ones

This is a favorite of many photographers, who use the bio space to show themselves with family members, be they relatives or pets. These images give the viewer a chance to see a different side of you. Maybe you’re a proud dog momma, like Michelle McSwain. Or perhaps you’re the parent of some adorable young children, like Tiffany Luong:

Whatever the case, people can’t help but smile when they see you and your loved ones together. It’s a nice window into your personal life and an easy type of image to track down. After all, who doesn’t have a plethora of pictures with their pets, kids, and other loved ones?

Bio Pic 3: On Assignment

Some photographers want to give off the impression that they live and breathe their craft, and an easy way to convey this message is to get a shot of you on the job. Ethan Welty is an action/adventure photographer, but you don’t need me to tell you that once you get a look at his bio picture:

Bio Pic 4: The GIF

The creative commercial photography duo Jordan Hollender and Diane Collins, who goes by HollenderX2,  introduce themselves with a GIF showing their many personalities. This is a wonderfully wacky way to exhibit the sense of humor injected into their work.

Though none of the above lists are exhaustive, they do give a good sense of the different ways photographers use words and images to introduce themselves to people who visit their website. There is no shortage of ways to give off that ideal first impression and, ultimately, your bio should feel right for you. Don’t get tripped up by the rules, but don’t try to copy someone else’s style. Just be you. A grammatically correct, typo-free you — with a nice photo to boot!

Further Reading

99U: How To Write A Better Bio
See lots of examples of photographer bios on our Pinterest page.
Read some consulting case studies on our Publicity Consulting page.

Lindsay Thompson, Hannah Sirusas, and Varun Raghupathi contributed to the article.

About the Author

Ashley Vaught is a philosopher and lecturer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the Editorial Director and SEO Consultant at Wonderful Machine. This is an art production agency with a network of 600 photographers in 44 countries, and if you need help with your social media presence, you can reach out to them via email. You can connect with Ashley via LinkedIn and learn more about him on his website. This article was also published here and shared with permission.