Portfolio Cover Letter Examples of 2023

Written by: Frank Hackett (CPRW)
Updated: March 1, 2023

Downloadable Examples
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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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When applying for a graphic design, videographer, or art-related position, hiring managers will focus primarily on your professional portfolio and past projects when determining whether or not to bring you in for an interview. One might wonder whether or not a cover letter is even necessary for this type of application. However, this document can allow you to provide context for your professional projects and how your background aligns with the organization. A cover letter can often make all the difference in whether or not a prospective client or employer decides to bring you in for an interview.

Using our Portfolio Cover Letter Guide will help you to:

  • •   Provide valuable insights and context for your professional projects and enhance the impact of your career achievements by showcasing unique examples from your career
  • •   Showcase how your experience is the right fit for the company’s needs, work culture, and long-term organizational goals
  • •   Create a compelling introduction to grab the hiring manager’s attention
  • •   Pitch your services to potential clients by showcasing the results of your past projects

Portfolio Cover Letters

Example #1
Portfolio_Example-1.pdf

Example #1

Example #2
Portfolio_Example-2.pdf

Example #2

Example #3
Portfolio_Example-3.pdf

Example #3

Portfolio Text-Only Cover Letters

Years of Experience
  • Example #1 #1
  • Example #2 #2
  • Example #3 #3

Allison Rosenberg
Graphic Designer  | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | 123 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 12345

January 1, 2022

Cynthia Roberts
Senior Hiring Manager
Astora Fashion Designs
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]

Dear Ms. Roberts,

As a freelance graphic designer with over five years of experience, I’ve had the opportunity to create innovative marketing assets across a variety of digital and print platforms. While working on a project for Eva for Women, I produced quality logos and marketing materials to accentuate the brand’s unique identity. Following the completion of the contract, the company experienced a 150% increase in social media followership and a 70% increase in annual sales. I believe that I can achieve similar success with your organization in the graphic designer position.

Astora Fashion Designs is a prestigious brand with a well-established identity. This is also what draws me to apply for the position, as I believe that I can help your team continue to refine your brand aesthetic to drive long-term marketing growth. I am confident that my experience will be an asset to your organization based on the following achievements from my professional career:

  • Executed a wide range of graphic design projects for a variety of clients, including print/web ads, logos, product pages, trade show materials, graphics, brochures, and web pages
  • Developed print and digital marketing material for a fashion design company, which contributed to a 150% increase in social media traffic, a 100% increase in web traffic, and a 70% increase in sales
  • Consulted with clients to define the look and feel of brand aesthetic for web pages

I hope to speak with you soon to discuss further how my graphic design background can help you further accelerate the growth of your brand. You may contact me via phone or email for any additional questions you may have on my background. I appreciate your time and consideration.

Best regards,
Allison Rosenberg

John Bergsen
Videographer | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | 123 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY, 12345

January 1, 2022

Matthew Johnson
Senior Hiring Manager
Accentra Video
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]

Dear Mr. Johnson,

With over seven years of experience as a videographer, I’ve managed and executed over 300+ video productions for a diverse range of clientele. I pride myself on collaborating effectively with the cast and crew to bring nationally televised commercials to life. I believe that my background and expertise within the industry would make me a valuable asset to your team in the senior videographer position.

Accentra Video’s reputation for delivering innovative and creative commercials draws me to apply for this position. During my time with Arkline Productions, I made a consistent effort to push boundaries and create commercials that were both inclusive and relatable for a wide range of audiences. I am confident that my unique approach to video production would allow me to succeed in this position based on my past achievements:

  • Managed 200+ video productions for nationally televised commercials, infomercials, and product testimonials for client accounts generating over $500K in revenue per year
  • Executed all aspects of pre-production and post-production for a commercial to raise awareness for LGBTQ+ activism, created storyboards, and coordinated with creative teams to identify the appropriate tone for sensitive subject matter
  • Led a $200K video project to develop a commercial for a new antidepressant product line, which included incorporating testimonials from patients on their experience and newfound quality of life

I would like to schedule an interview to discuss further how my expertise in video production can help your company continue to deliver unique and eye-catching commercials. Feel free to contact me via phone or email at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best regards,
John Bergsen

Jessica Lang
Photographer | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | 123 Bridge Street, Boston, MA 12345 | (123) 456-7890

January 1, 2022

Caleb Morris
Senior Hiring Manager
Memories Inc.
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]

Dear Mr. Morris,

As a photographer with over 10+ years of professional experience, I’ve conducted over 400+ professional photo shoots for individual clients and large corporations. In 2020, I ran a project to capture the perfect photo for the March cover of Wedding Plan Magazine. I am confident that my background in the photography space makes me uniquely qualified for the photographer position with your organization.

Memories Inc. has a prestigious reputation for providing quality photography services to its clients that strongly aligns with my professional background. I pride myself on my ability to collaborate with diverse clients during photo shoots to provide a unique experience that allows for a full range of self-expression. I believe that I can be a valuable asset to your organization based on the following achievements in my career:

  • Collaborated with individual clients and large corporations to execute 400+ high-quality photo shoots for weddings, magazine covers, award ceremonies, and events
  • Communicated with a diverse range of clients to identify unique needs, ensure compliance with specifications, and provide appropriate tone and lighting to photographs
  • Achieved a 4.9-star rating on Google Reviews across over 300+ customer testimonials

I hope to speak with you further regarding how my photography experience can help your company continue to deliver outstanding service to your clients. You may contact me via phone or email at your convenience. I appreciate your time and consideration.

Best regards,
Jessica Lang

Portfolio Cover Letter Tips

Now that you’ve seen some examples of portfolio cover letters, we’ll provide additional insights to help you create your own document during the job search. The key to writing a strong cover letter is to avoid providing the hiring manager with vague and generic details. You don’t want to restate all the details on your resume. Instead, you should use the cover letter as an opportunity to highlight other aspects of your unique story and explain why your background makes you a good fit for the client or company you’re applying to. Below, you’ll find three expert tips to help you craft a compelling cover letter for your next job application:

1. Create a Strong Introduction

To grab the hiring manager’s attention, you need to lead with a strong introduction that highlights the focal points of your professional career. In the example below, the job seeker provides a brief outline of their career trajectory and anchors the paragraph with one of their defining industry achievements. This strategy entices the hiring manager to view the application and portfolio more closely during the hiring process:

Example

As a freelance graphic designer with over five years of experience, I’ve had the opportunity to create innovative marketing assets across a variety of digital and print platforms. While working on a project for Eva for Women, I produced quality logos and marketing materials to accentuate the brand’s unique identity. Following the completion of the contract, the company experienced a 150% increase in social media followership and a 70% increase in annual sales. I believe that I can achieve similar success with your organization in the graphic designer position.

2. Showcase Your Most Compelling Career Accomplishments

A hiring manager will undoubtedly be impressed by your portfolio if the projects are substantial. The cover letter will never supersede your portfolio, but it can help to complement it if you build out your content strategically. In the example below, the candidate draws attention to the challenges and complexities of their various video productions and establishes a sense of scope for their achievements. These additional details add new dimensions and context for the portfolio projects and valuable insights into their unique approach to video production:

Example

  • Managed 200+ video productions for nationally televised commercials, infomercials, and product testimonials for client accounts generating over $500K in revenue per year
  • Executed all aspects of pre-production and post-production for a commercial to raise awareness for LGBTQ+ activism, created storyboards, and coordinated with creative teams to identify the appropriate tone for sensitive subject matter
  • Led a $200K video project to develop a commercial for a new antidepressant product line, which included incorporating testimonials from patients on their experience and newfound quality of life

3. Highlight Your Client Relations Skills

When pursuing a contract position or seeking to acquire new business, you should make a point to showcase your client relations skills in your cover letter. Prospective customers and employers will often feel more comfortable if they see examples of you communicating and collaborating with other clients effectively. In the example below, the candidate makes a point to outline the collaborative approach they use to conduct their photo shoots. Being able to guide a client in the right direction for a photo while creating a space that allows for self-expression can be challenging to balance. Incorporating unique details such as this can help to make a stronger impression on the hiring manager and differentiate you from the competition:

Example

Memories Inc. has a prestigious reputation for providing quality photography services to its clients that strongly aligns with my professional background. I pride myself on my ability to collaborate with diverse clients during photo shoots to provide a unique experience that allows for a full range of self-expression. I believe that I can be a valuable asset to your organization based on the following achievements in my career:

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