Air Force - Photographer

Defence Technology Agency; Blenheim; On-site; NZD 61,974 - 75,746; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free access to gyms and swimming pools

Subsidised medical and dental care

Opportunities for travel

Sponsored tertiary study programmes

Job summary

A military organization is seeking a skilled Photographer to document various activities and ceremonies, both within New Zealand and overseas. The role demands creativity and technical ability, requiring the candidate to produce compelling visual stories. Essential qualifications include a Level 6 Diploma in Photography or Visual Arts. Frequent deployments and dynamic working conditions are expected. The organization offers competitive salary packages and numerous benefits, including opportunities for education and personal development.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older at the time of graduation from recruit course.
• Class 1 restricted driver's licence required.
• Portfolio submission showcasing recent work is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Capture military activities during operations and exercises.
• Photograph ceremonies, events, and personnel in the field.
• Produce various types of photography, including documentary and technical.

Skills

Photography skills

Creative storytelling

Technical skills

Communication

Education

Minimum Level 6 Diploma in Photography or Visual Arts

Job description

As a Photographer, you will deploy on operations and exercises to document our activity, and capture military ceremonies and major events alongside our Navy, Army, and Air Force personnel.

About the role

Education and support roles. Entry type: General entry. Location: Varied. Salary: $68,860.

As an Air Force photographer, you will be a passionate and skilled professional. You will be a creative storyteller, determined to visually capture moments or people in the most captivating way, continually pushing for new angles or trying new techniques.

Operating throughout New Zealand, and occasionally overseas, you will have access to unique occasions and outstanding people to produce extraordinary portrait, commercial, documentary, landscape, and technical photography.

The imagery you capture of military activities on local exercises or overseas deployments, photojournalism of major events and ceremonies, and studio photography will be published across the internet and social media, through press releases and print media, and in advertising campaigns.

Requirements

Basics

• Must be 18 years old by the time you graduate from the recruit course.
• Class 1 restricted driver’s licence is required.

Once you've registered and applied online, your application will be reviewed by a Candidate Engagement Facilitator (CEF). If you meet the minimum entry requirements, you will then be required to submit a portfolio showcasing your recent work. View our portfolio submission guidance below.

Education

Hold a tertiary qualification (minimum Level 6 Diploma) in Photography or Visual Arts.

There is no contractual obligation for you to stay in the NZDF for any length of time.

We offer guidance on entry requirements in the relevance section. Apply if you're uncertain, as we’ll work through the criteria with you to determine if you can proceed.

You will join a tight‑knit team of highly skilled photographers and will work alongside the video and design teams within the creative department of Defence Public Affairs (DPA). Your tasks will mainly support public affairs activities by documenting real‑time activity or setting up scenes to meet a specific brief (such as recruitment collateral). You will attend ceremonies, military parades and sporting events to capture images for use online or by external agencies.

You’ll support digital media activity, processing your images quickly for use within our websites and social media channels. You will also be required to accurately caption and archive your work, recording detailed meta‑data.

At times, you may work on more technical projects with other Defence Force units capturing, processing, and presenting images that document technical component defects, equipment repairs and specifications for component and equipment modification. Your technical skills are also required to record aircraft and vehicle incidents, document evidence at fire and crime scenes, and capture medical and dental information.

Job on deployment

You will be tasked with capturing our operational activity. As a result, you’ll need to maintain flexibility for frequent late night or early morning activity. You will respond at short notice to natural disasters and local emergencies showcasing the humanitarian aid and disaster relief provided by the NZDF. You will be required to photograph our personnel in the field and capture aerial images of the ground, other aircraft, ships and vehicles.

This role provides a unique opportunity to interact with members across the NZDF, of all ranks, trades and units. You will be trained in how the many and varied parts of the wider NZDF operate, and you will constantly need to effectively combine excellent communication, creative and technical skills in order to get the best results from within often challenging environments.

Operational images captured by Air Force Photographers are often released by the Defence Force to external media, so your work will be published both nationally and internationally.

Photography Submissions

Portfolios should contain a selection (20‑30 images) showcasing your recent photography, and include:

• At least one photo essay, depicting a single subject matter or topic as a visual story showing a strong conceptual base, in 6‑8 images
• A variety of techniques, including studio lighting and off‑camera flash
• A variety of photography types, including portraiture, photojournalism, and commercial work

Each image should be accompanied by a caption, of around 30 words, describing the ‘who, what, where, when’ contained within the image.

The portfolio should be PDF format, not larger than 9 MB, and include a cover page with your name, and any relevant social media accounts (e.g. Instagram) or websites.

Useful resources: Instagram: @NZDefenceForce; Website: www.nzdf.mil.nz; Magazines: issuu.com/nzdefenceforce

Recruit Course

Recruit Course – 12 weeks at RNZAF base Woodbourne.

The aim of this course is to induct aviators into the RNZAF and develop the necessary values, knowledge and military skills to enable them to fulfil their military responsibilities. This course will cover various subjects including:

• RNZAF culture, customs and protocol
• Organisation and administration
• Drill and parades
• Dress, grooming and hygiene standards
• Military law and the Military Justice system

Earn a competitive salary while training or learning your trade, along with additional allowances for time spent in the field, at sea, overseas, or deployed on operations.

Benefits

In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include:

• Access to your Service marae or tūrangawaewae
• Sponsored tertiary study programmes at all levels
• Free access to gyms and swimming pools on camp and bases
• Opportunities to travel
• Free and subsidised medical and dental care
• Subsidised food and accommodation on camps and bases
• Subsidised insurance cover

Careers in the Air Force are well‑rewarded, as well as being diverse and exciting. As you become more experienced and move up through the ranks, gaining additional skills and qualifications, you will see your salary rise accordingly.

Am I fit enough?

If you want to be part of the NZ Defence Force you need to be medically and physically fit for military duties worldwide.

Your step‑by‑step guide on what to expect at various stages of the application process, specifically for military roles.

Join New Zealand’s most versatile military musical organisation. Travel and work with this unique group of musicians throughout New Zealand and the world. The Royal New Zealand Navy band (RNZN band) is highly respected both within the Navy and musical circles. It includes some of the country’s finest musicians whose professional capability and versatility combine to deliver a wide range of ensembles to perform at a varied range of ceremonies and events.

General entry