Lead Photographer (Product & Studio)

My 1st Years Ltd.; Northampton; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

My 1st Years in Northampton seeks a Lead Photographer for a 12-month maternity cover. You’ll lead the in-house studio, driving ecommerce, campaign, lifestyle and social shoots from brief to final delivery, in studio or on location.

You’ll direct models and styling, set the weekly shoot schedule, oversee retouching and file management, and coach the junior photographer, while exploring AI tools to enhance workflow.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in product, retail or ecommerce studio photography.
• Confidence directing shoots and running studio operations.
• Strong skills in Photoshop, Lightroom and Capture One.
• Curiosity about AI creative tools or willingness to learn.
• Eye for composition and awareness of luxury and fashion trends.
• Excellent organisation and a calm, proactive approach on busy shoot days.
• Natural team player who leads by example.
• Fully equipped in-house studio plus on-location campaign work.
• Supportive, collaborative creative team, with ownership of studio workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead ecommerce, campaign, lifestyle and social shoots from brief to final delivery, in studio and off-site.
• Direct models and styling, set weekly shoot schedule, and make day-to-day creative calls.
• Oversee retouching, file management and archiving; ensure work meets standards.
• Coach junior photographer and explore AI tools to improve workflow.

Skills

Product photography

Studio direction

Photo editing

AI tools curiosity

Composition sense

Organisation

Team leadership

In-house studio

Collaboration

Ownership mindset

Job description

12-Month Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover)/ or Freelance

Location: Northampton | Working pattern: Hybrid, minimum 3 days a week in the studio / open to freelance working

Start: Mid December

At My 1st Years, every image we create helps celebrate life's biggest little moments. We're looking for a talented Lead Photographer to step into the heart of our in-house studio for 12 months while our current Lead is on maternity leave.

This is a chance to own the creative and operational running of a fully equipped in-house studio, while also getting out on set and on location for our campaign shoots. You won't be doing it alone. You'll be backed by a Junior Photographer, a Junior Stylist, and our wider Marketing and Creative team, all working together to bring our products to life.

What you'll be doing

You'll lead ecommerce, campaign, lifestyle and social shoots from brief to final delivery, both in the studio and off-site. You'll direct models and styling with confidence, set the weekly shoot schedule, and make the day-to-day creative calls that keep the studio running smoothly. You'll also oversee retouching, file management and archiving, make sure the team's work hits the mark before it goes out, and coach our junior photographer along the way. We're excited about what AI-assisted tools can do for our workflow, and you'll help us explore and adopt them.

What we're looking for

• Proven experience in product, retail or ecommerce studio photography
• Confidence directing shoots and running studio operatons
• Strong skills in Photoshop, Lightroom and Capture One
• Curiosity about AI creative tools such as Imagen AI or Adobe Firefly (or a willingness to learn)
• An eye for composition and an awareness of luxury and fashion trends
• Excellent organisation, high standards and a calm, proactive approach on busy shoot days
• A natural team player who leads by example
• A fully equipped in-house studio plus varied on-location campaign work
• A supportive, collaborative creative team
• Real ownership of the studio and the chance to shape how we work

If you'd love to make beautiful work for a brand that's all about life's special moments, we'd love to see your portfolio.

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