Creative Director, Photo & Visual Storytelling

Pottery Barn; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous employee discount across WSI

401(k) plan with company match

Paid vacations and holidays

Health, dental and vision benefits

Tax‑free commuter benefits

Wellness program

Job summary

Pottery Barn, within Williams‑Sonoma, Inc., seeks a Creative Director to lead the seasonal photographic vision and maintain a distinct, inspiring look across digital, print, and in‑store channels. You will translate product direction into compelling visual storytelling and guide a team of Art Directors, photographers, stylists and producers.

You will oversee the development of creative briefs, set standards for the brand’s look, and collaborate with Merchandising, Product Development and channel

Qualifications

• Undergraduate or graduate degree in a visual or creative discipline such as advertising, interior design, interior architecture, graphic design, fine art or photography.
• Significant progressive creative leadership experience within photography, art direction, styling, editorial, advertising or related visual disciplines.
• Deep experience within home furnishings, lifestyle, interiors, retail, editorial or a similarly design‑driven industry strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and communicate an overarching creative vision and translate brand‑level concepts into compelling visual storytelling.
• Exceptional visual judgment with a sophisticated understanding of interiors, decorating, styling, composition, photography, color and design.
• Proven ability to lead, inspire and develop Art Directors and multidisciplinary creative teams.
• Experience directing photographers, stylists, producers, digital artists, set builders and other creative partners.
• Strong conceptual thinker who can move fluidly between high‑level creative strategy and detailed visual execution.
• Ability to articulate creative ideas clearly and persuasively to creative teams, cross‑functional partners and senior executives.
• Highly collaborative, with demonstrated success partnering across Product Development, Merchandising, E‑Commerce, Social, Video and other functions.
• Resourceful and solutions‑oriented, with the ability to manage multiple creative initiatives and changing priorities while maintaining a consistently high visual standard.
• Strong understanding of the home furnishings and décor landscape with knowledge of current and emerging trends in interiors, photography, design and culture.
• Proven proficiency working within a digital‑first creative environment, including familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite and contemporary creative workflows.
• Above all, you bring exceptional taste, strong creative instincts and a clear point of view, paired with the leadership skills to inspire others and translate Pottery Barn’s brand vision into imagery that feels relevant, beautiful and unmistakably Pottery Barn.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the SVP and VP of Creative to establish the overarching photographic and visual direction for seasonal campaigns, brand initiatives and key storytelling moments.
• Translate seasonal product and brand direction into a clear creative vision that establishes the overall mood, storytelling approach, visual language and photographic point of view.
• Lead the development and review of seasonal Creative Briefs, ensuring concepts reflect the intended brand vision and provide clear direction for Art Directors, photographers, stylists, producers and other creative partners.
• Establish and maintain Pottery Barn’s photographic standards and overall visual "look and feel," ensuring consistency while continually evolving the brand’s imagery.
• Provide creative leadership across multiple campaigns, shoots and seasonal chapters, maintaining a holistic view of how individual assets work together to create a cohesive customer experience.
• Guide Art Directors in developing decorating concepts, styling direction, camera approaches, lighting, set design and other visual elements that bring the approved creative direction to life.
• Partner with the VP Creative on photographer, stylist and creative talent selection based on the needs and visual objectives of each campaign.
• Review and guide set concepts and environmental storytelling to ensure rooms and spaces communicate a strong Pottery Barn point of view and appropriately showcase product.
• Provide senior‑level creative direction during key photography and video shoots, guiding mood, tone, composition, lighting, styling and overall visual execution.
• Inspire and develop Art Directors and broader creative teams, providing clear feedback, mentorship and creative guidance while fostering a collaborative and high‑performing environment.
• Build productive creative partnerships with photographers, stylists, producers, digital artists, set builders and other external and internal creative talent.
• Partner closely with Merchandising and Product Development to ensure creative storytelling and product representation are aligned while maintaining the integrity of the creative vision.
• Collaborate with E‑Commerce, Social, Video, Marketing and other channel partners to ensure the photographic vision translates effectively across customer touchpoints.
• Partner with Pagination and Creative teams to ensure imagery supports compelling layouts, storytelling and seasonal content needs.
• Review photography and video throughout the creative process, providing senior‑level direction on image selection, color, retouching, backgrounds, cropping, layouts and overall visual consistency.
• Anticipate creative challenges and proactively identify solutions that balance brand vision, product priorities, production realities and business needs.
• Champion a culture of creativity, collaboration, curiosity and excellence while helping evolve Pottery Barn’s visual expression and brand relevance.

Skills

Creative leadership

Visual storytelling

Photography direction

Interior design knowledge

Cross‑functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in visual/creative discipline

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Pottery Barn, within Williams‑Sonoma, Inc., seeks a Creative Director to lead the seasonal photographic vision and maintain a distinct, inspiring look across digital, print, and in‑store channels. You will translate product direction into compelling visual storytelling and guide a team of Art Directors, photographers, stylists and producers.

You will oversee the development of creative briefs, set standards for the brand’s look, and collaborate with Merchandising, Product Development and channel