Lead Photographer

Cotopaxi; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading outdoor gear company in Salt Lake City is seeking a skilled Lead Photographer to join their Brand Creative team. In this full-time role, you'll capture inspiring imagery and oversee the management of the in-house photo studio. The ideal candidate possesses strong photography skills, technical expertise, and experience in both lifestyle and studio settings, contributing significantly to the brand's visual identity.

Benefits

Medical, dental and vision insurance

401(k) plan with employer match

Unlimited PTO

Deep product discounts

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional photography experience.
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Lightroom and Photoshop.
• Experience shooting in both studio and on-location settings.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate to support and execute photography across multiple media.
• Capture lifestyle and studio imagery with a focus on authenticity.
• Maintain and operate the in-house photo studio.

Skills

Team Leadership

Lifestyle Photography

Studio Photography

Visual Storytelling

Technical Expertise

Attention to Detail

Education

Undergraduate Degree in Photography

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Capture One

Professional Lighting Equipment

Job description

Job Title: Lead Photographer

Job Level: Senior-Level

Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Job Location: Cotopaxi HQ: Salt Lake City, Utah

Job Compensation:$70-90k

About Cotopaxi:

Cotopaxi is a B Corporation that makes adventure travel gear to empower people to see the world and make it better. Our Gear for Good^Ⓡ promise is to make our products as ethically, sustainably, and durably as possible, while having a positive social, environmental, and economic impact. We dedicate 1% of revenue to the Cotopaxi Foundation, which supports nonprofit partners with proven track records of alleviating poverty. Through our Foundation to date, we have helped more than 4.25 million individuals experiencing extreme poverty. For more information, visit www.cotopaxi.com.

Cotopaxi is a company that values people, innovation, and adventure and our work environment reflects just that. Whether you are working from one of ourretail stores, our headquarters, your couch at home, or even your van in the woods, you’ll feel the camaraderie of our amazing team of visionaries, builders and go-getters. We are a team of adventurous, mission-driven people looking to prove that business CAN be a force for good.

Job Overview (What You’ll Do):

Cotopaxi is seeking a skilled and creative Lead Photographer to join our in-house Brand Creative team. This role is ideal for someone who excels both behind the lens and as a team leader in a dynamic studio setting. The right candidate will bring a strong eye for capturing inspiring, story-driven lifestyle imagery on location, as well as producing polished, high-quality studio photography. With a blend of technical expertise and creative vision, you’ll play a key role in shaping and elevating our visual identity across all brand channels.

Job Responsibilities (How You’ll Do It):

• Collaborate with the Associate Art Director, Brand - Photo & Video to support and execute photography across e-commerce, stylized studio, and paid media content.
• Capture both lifestyle and studio imagery - ranging from tabletop and layflat to on-model and in-situation - with a focus on authenticity, strong composition, and compelling brand storytelling.
• Partner with fellow Photo team members to operate and maintain Cotopaxi’s in-house photo studio, including lighting setup, equipment upkeep, and workflow optimization.
• Leverage expert lighting techniques to shape the mood, clarity, and visual tone of each shoot.
• Help plan and execute on-location shoots that align with brand guidelines and campaign objectives.
• Collaborate closely with art directors, producers, stylists, models, and creatives to ensure visual consistency and excellence across all assets.
• Retouch and edit images - or manage the post-production process - to uphold Cotopaxi’s visual and quality standards.
• Maintain an organized internal asset library, manage our digital asset management (DAM) system, and ensure timely delivery of images to cross-functional teams.
• Stay current on visual and photography trends, contributing to creative concepting and campaign ideation.

The Ideal Candidate (What You Need to Succeed):

• Undergraduate Degree in Photography, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• 5+ years of professional photography experience with a strong portfolio showcasing both lifestyle and studio work.
• Proven experience shooting in both studio and on-location settings - travel for location shoots may be required 3–4 days per week based on production needs.
• Proficient in Capture One and Adobe Creative Suite (particularly Lightroom and Photoshop).
• Experienced with tethered shooting workflows and software.
• Proficient in Photoshop and able to perform moderate-level retouching.
• Familiarity with professional photography lighting, grip equipment, and safe handling protocols.
• Skilled in using various camera systems, including Canon, Nikon, and Sony.
• Solid understanding of digital asset management systems and best practices for organizing, tagging, and delivering visual content.
• Comfortable working in Mac OS environments.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, creative environment.
• Comfortable directing talent, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and delivering high-quality work under tight deadlines.
• Passion for visual storytelling, with a curious eye for new trends and a drive to constantly evolve your craft.
• Experience in the outdoor or lifestyle industry is a plus.
• Ability to lift and transport up to 35 lbs.
• Bonus: Familiarity with video production and a willingness to grow into hybrid (photo + video) capabilities over time.

Job Benefits (The Perks):

We deeply care about our employees and are proud of our commitment and investment in our team. We prioritize wages and benefits and always keep the employee experience in mind as we work to create a quality work-life balance for everyone.

Here is a snapshot of the benefits we provide:

Core Benefits:

• Medical, dental and vision benefits with HSA, FSA, and DCSA options.
• Company paid basic life insurance with the option to purchase additional coverage.
• Voluntary short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• Voluntary accident and critical illness insurance.
• Company paid employee assistance program.

Wellness Benefits:

• Company paid mental health benefits.
• Company paid volunteer time.
• 401(k) plan with employer match.
• Unlimited responsible PTO.
• In The Wild Days: Two company-wide days off to recharge, reconnect, and embrace what inspires you.

Uniquely Us:

• Enjoy deep product discounts with 60% off Cotopaxi gear—perfect for living out your next adventure in style.
• Gear up for the outdoors with exclusive discounts from partner outdoor and lifestyle brands.
• Grow personally and professionally through thoughtfully curated learning and development opportunities.
• Stay connected and celebrate often with regular in-person and virtual events that bring our team together, no matter where you work.
• Be part of a vibrant, values-driven culture that champions people, innovation, and adventure in everything we do.

As a mission-driven brand, Cotopaxi is not only hyper aware of but also deeply invested in putting people first and paving the way as a humanitarian brand. We welcome, embrace and celebrate all people regardless of gender, age, race, disability, nationality, ethnicity, faith, or sexual orientation. We believe in Doing Good, and how we’re involved with that has no limits.

No matter what experience you have within the outdoor industry we encourage you to apply. At Cotopaxi we believe that experience comes from a variety of places. We look for individuals who thrive on challenges, are passionate about doing good, and believe that collaboration and radical candor are necessary for success. Show us how your experiences have shaped you and how you can contribute to Cotopaxi in our mission to Do Good. We can’t wait for you to share with us your personal story!

Cotopaxi participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.