2027 Photographer

Journey Dance Competition; Freehold (NJ); On-site; USD 34,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid training

Travel

Double occupancy lodging

Event meals

Professional development

Team culture

Industry connections

Hands-on experience

Room to grow

Job summary

Journey Dance Competition in New Jersey is seeking a Photographer to capture dynamic performances on the Journey stage. You will shoot 50–80 photos per routine, with short intervals between shots, and ensure consistent quality with provided equipment.

The role requires stamina for long event days, ability to travel Thursday through Monday, and experience in action photography. You will work in a fast-paced live setting with no retouching and must lift up to 50 lbs.

Qualifications

• Experience in action/sports photography, especially in live events.
• Ability to consistently capture high‑quality shots under fast-paced conditions.
• Familiarity with camera settings and quick quality checks for live shoots.

Responsibilities

• Load in/out production equipment and set up your station.
• Capture performers in motion, selecting standout moments for highlights.
• Maintain branding and high quality across all photos.
• Travel with the team and meet early call times during event days.
• Attend to additional duties as directed by the Event Director.

Skills

Action photography

Sports photography

Low-light photography

Stamina

Photo timing

Tools

Canon DSLR cameras

Apple computers

Job description

About Us:

Journey Dance Competition takes pride in producing the industry's best dance competitions. We deliver exciting, world-class live events in a high-energy, feel-good atmosphere. Our team is made up of the friendliest and most dedicated professionals, who are driven by passion and have made the commitment to serve. Thanks to their extensive training, attention to detail, and our seamless, on-time events, we consistently surpass expectations, ensuring that each event leaves a lasting impression and creates unforgettable memories. Come work alongside a fired-up, passionate, and fun team that’s driven to do great work.

Our mission is to deliver the best dance competition experience, honoring every guest with care and detail—because everyone deserves to be recognized and celebrated.

What We Give Back

• Paid training, paid travel, double-occupancy lodging, and event meals
• Professional and self development — confidence, leadership, adaptability, communication, and real-world experience you’ll carry for the rest of your career.
• A team culture worth showing up for — passionate team members who care as much as you do, and friendships that outlast the season.
• Industry connections — dance educators, choreographers, studio owners, and professionals from across the country
• Hands‑on experience in live events, production, hospitality, customer service, and operations
• Room to grow — more responsibility, new skills, and a real path into leadership. A lot of our leads started exactly where you're about to.

About The Role:

The Photographer is responsible for capturing dynamic, perfectly timed and framed photos of every performance that takes the Journey stage. Additionally, Photographers will capture the spirit of our awards ceremonies, celebrating and acknowledging each performer. This role requires a keen eye for high‑quality shots, recognizing highlight moments as dancers execute their choreography. Working with us is similar to sports photography in terms of speed and action. Our photographers typically capture 50‑80 photos per routine, with just 15‑20 seconds between each for up to 5 hours straight. This requires maintaining consistent quality and focus from start to finish. Due to the fast‑paced nature of the event, there’s no time for retouching, so it’s crucial to ensure your camera settings are spot‑on and conduct quality checks before the event starts. A sharp eye for composition and the ability to anticipate the perfect shot timing are essential! This position requires attention to detail, a high level of stamina, and the ability to maintain emphasis on the task at hand throughout the entire event. This position is for high‑energy individuals who have a passion for action photography and thrive in a live‑event setting.
All necessary equipment is provided.

View Photo Examples: https://go.journeycompetition.com/4h8h82c

What a Weekend Actually Looks Like:

• Thursday — travel to the event city from your designated meeting point or airport
• Friday–Sunday — load in, early call times, long days, back‑to‑back sessions, awards ceremonies, load out
• Monday — travel home

What You Need to Know:

• Seasonal employment with Journey Dance Competition Tour, January - July
• Must be available for Mandatory Team Training; Virtual - December 11-13th, 2026; In Person - Jan. 8-10, 2027
• Must be willing to travel by road or air
• Must be 18 or older
• Must be available from Thursday to Monday for travel
• Travel from a specified meeting point or airport will be required
• Minimum commitment 6 events or more
• Paid training, travel, double occupancy lodging, and event meals
• Ability to drive is a plus
• Official government ID required
• Background check required

What Winning Looks Like:

• Load in and load out production equipment, as well as set up, organize, and breakdown your respective station
• Assists with stage lighting setup, cable runs, and securing cable for safe passage.
• Handles TV setup and teardown — mounting displays, running power and HDMI, taping cable, loading content, and confirming playback.
• Capture the performers in motion as they execute their choreography
• Select standout photos from a variety of ages and styles to be highlighted on social media
• Maintain branding guidelines and level of excellence when photographing the performers
• Be aware of appropriate angles when capturing the performers
• Remain committed to capturing excellent shots throughout the entire event
• Capture 50-80 plus photos per routine
• Attend to all other duties assigned by the Event Director(s) as needed

Skills Needed to Win:

• Must be familiar with action photography
• Able to capture quality photos from a stationary position throughout the entire event
• Stamina for shooting for long periods of time
• Experience shooting live‑action/sports in low‑light environments
• Experience and knowledge using sophisticated photo equipment (such as Canon DSLR cameras & Apple computers)
• Able to correctly adjust exposure, white balance, focus, ISO, and consistently be aware of your framing
• Ability to troubleshoot if technical issues arise
• Capable of lifting a min 30 lbs to 50 lbs without assistance
• Dance/ Entertainment industry background is a plus but not required

Who Thrives Here

Humble. You do the unglamorous work without being asked and without needing credit. You take feedback as a gift, not defensive. There's no job on site that’s beneath you.

Hungry. You see the problem before it lands. You move with urgency. You'd rather be trusted with more than coast through less. You're the one asking "what else can I grab?"

Smart with people. You read a room. You can talk to a shy 7-year-old, a stressed studio director, and a teammate running on four hours of sleep — and leave all three better than you found them.

Be Part of the Team:

The job isn’t always easy, but that’s what makes it rewarding. You’ll be challenged, trusted, and pushed to grow while working alongside a team that cares deeply about what we do and the people we do it for. Bring your energy, your work ethic, and your heart. We’ll take care of the rest.

It's a passion, and we're dedicated to making an impact in the dance world. Join Team Journey!

Equal Opportunity Employer

Journey Dance Competition is an equal‑opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace that is free from discrimination of any kind. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. We comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

What does all of this mean? We hire the best person for the job—regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, etc.

Click here to learn more about equal employment opportunity.