Experienced Photographer – Children's Photography | $50/hr + Super

1405 Photography; Melbourne; On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid training

Photography assistant

Lead photographer path

Weekday work (no weekends)

Job summary

1405 Photography is seeking an experienced photographer to join our team, specializing in children's photography at childcare centres and kindergartens. The role starts with 2 days per week (Thu & Fri) and training, with potential to grow to 3 days and to a Lead Photographer position.

You'll work across Melbourne's northern and western suburbs, using natural light to capture playful, genuine images while coordinating with a photography assistant and centre staff.

Qualifications

• Professional photography experience.
• Excellent communication and people skills.
• Strong photography portfolio.
• Experience using Adobe Lightroom.

Responsibilities

• Photograph children using natural light in childcare and kindergarten environments.
• Create genuine expressions while keeping sessions fun and relaxed.
• Communicate professionally with centre directors and educators.
• Manage the flow of children and rooms during the photography day.
• Direct and work with your photography assistant.
• Adapt to centre routines, weather and unexpected changes.
• Follow privacy, image-handling and child-safety procedures.
• Post-production editing after training using Lightroom.

Skills

Professional photography experience

People skills

Portfolio confidence

Adobe Lightroom

Tools

Adobe Lightroom

Job description

Experienced Photographer – Children's Photography | $50/hr + Super

Experienced Photographer – Children's Photography

Children's Photography at Pre-School childcare services

Melbourne Northern & Western Suburbs | Thursday & Friday with room to grow | $50/hr + Super

Join the 1405 Photography Team

1405 Photography is looking for an experienced, confident and energetic photographer to join our team now.

For over 16 years, we have specialised in natural, fun and genuine photography within childcare centres and kindergartens across Melbourne.

We’re looking for someone who is already confident behind the camera, loves working with people and children, and is looking for a long‑term photography role with great work‑life balance.

You’ll begin with paid, hands‑on training alongside our experienced photography team, learning the 1405 Photography style, systems and centre workflow.

As you become confident in the role as Lead Photographer you will be running your own photography days with the support of a photography assistant.

The Role

This position will initially be 2 days per week – Thursday and Friday, photographing at childcare centres and kindergartens throughout Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs.

You must be available every Thursday and Friday with room to grow, some flexibility available.

Typical photography days begin at approximately 8:15am and generally finish between 12:00pm and 3:00pm, depending on the size of the centre and the number of children being photographed.

We are recruiting now, with paid training commencing as soon as possible.

You’ll train alongside our team during the remainder of our current photography season before our scheduled summer closure.

When our photography season resumes in February, you’ll return with the team and continue in your regular Thursday and Friday role.

Once fully trained in our photography and editing workflow, there is also the opportunity to add an additional weekday working from our office on editing and post‑production, growing the position to approximately 3 days per week.

What You’ll Be Doing

Your photography days will involve working with children from babies through to kindergarten age, creating the natural, playful and genuine images 1405 Photography is known for.

As you progress within the role, your responsibilities will include:

• Photographing children using natural light in childcare and kindergarten environments
• Creating genuine expressions while keeping sessions fun and relaxed
• Working confidently with babies, toddlers and young children
• Communicating professionally with centre directors and educators
• Managing the flow of children and rooms throughout the photography day
• Directing and working alongside your photography assistant
• Adapting to centre routines, weather and unexpected changes
• Making confident decisions and problem‑solving independently
• Photographing staff and other required images
• Maintaining the consistent style and quality of 1405 Photography
• Following our privacy, image‑handling and child‑safety procedures

Once trained in our post‑production workflow, you’ll also have the opportunity to cull and edit your own photography from our office using Adobe Lightroom.

About You

We’re looking for someone who is an experienced photographer first and foremost.

You don’t need to have previously worked as a childcare photographer or held the title of Lead Photographer.

Experience in family, portrait, wedding, event, school or other people‑focused photography is highly regarded.

What matters to us is that you are confident behind the camera and have the personality and people skills needed to work in a fast‑paced environment.

You’ll be:

• Warm, friendly and energetic
• Naturally great with young children
• Patient and able to connect with different personalities
• Confident communicating with adults as well as children
• Organised and reliable
• Calm when things don’t go exactly to plan
• Comfortable taking initiative
• Able to work independently without needing constant direction
• Confident working as part of a small team
• Interested in growing into a senior/lead position
• Looking for a long‑term role

You need to be just as comfortable getting down on the floor to make a toddler laugh as you are speaking professionally with a centre director and organising how the photography day will run.

Requirements

To be considered for this position, you will need:

• Professional photography experience
• Availability every Thursday and Friday
• Confidence shooting in full manual mode
• Your own professional photography equipment
• Experience using Adobe Lightroom
• A strong photography portfolio
• A current driver’s licence and reliable vehicle
• Ability to travel throughout Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs
• Current Victorian Working with Children Check, or willingness to obtain one
• Excellent communication and people skills
• Confidence working with young children
• A genuine interest in a long‑term position with 1405 Photography

Pay

Photography: $50 per hour + superannuation

The photography rate includes the use of your own professional photography equipment and travel to centres.

Once trained and an office‑based editing/post‑production day is added to your role, this work will be paid separately at the applicable post‑production rate.

A Photography Role With Balance

We know that photography can often mean weekends, late nights and unpredictable hours. This role is a little different.

At 1405 Photography, you’ll enjoy:

• Regular weekday photography work
• No weekend photography
• Paid training
• A photography assistant when running centre days
• An established client base and organised centre bookings
• Progressing into a Lead Photographer role
• Opportunity to grow from 2 days to approximately 3 days per week
• Scheduled summer holiday closure
• Scheduled July winter break
• A small, friendly and supportive team environment

Ready to Join Us?

If you’re an experienced photographer looking for regular weekday work and would love to build a long‑term role within an established children’s photography business, we’d love to hear from you.

We're looking for someone who wants more than an occasional photography shift — someone who would love to become a valued, long‑term member of 1405 Photography.