Lead Photographer for Campus Life & Editorial

Barnard College; New York (NY); On-site; USD 78,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Barnard College seeks a Principal Photographer to lead the College's visual brand and serve as a co‑owner of its editorial imagery. This role directs photography across events, lectures, portraits, and campus life, partnering with the Creative Director and Editorial Director to uphold Barnard's standards.

The successful candidate brings extensive editorial experience, thrives in both news coverage and artistic work, and takes ownership from capture through post-production and archiving, shaping

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in editorial, institutional, or newsroom photography.
• Demonstrated fluency in editorial photography with a strategic, message-driven lens.
• Strong post-production skills (Lightroom, Photoshop, or equivalent).
• Experience with digital asset management and a commitment to clean, searchable archives.
• The ability to write captions that are informative, accessible, and aligned with messaging goals.
• Sound judgment and strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Organizational skills to manage multiple shoots, priorities, and stakeholders.
• Self-direction, initiative, and genuine enthusiasm for documenting the life of a college campus.
• Proficiency with professional camera equipment, lighting kits, and stabilizing tools.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead photography for the College: capture high-quality, storytelling-driven images across campus (events, lectures, headshots, portraits, and editorial photography).
• Provide on-site coverage for high-impact College events, including evenings and weekends as needed, with occasional local travel for off-site events and portraits.
• Shape the visual brand by partnering with editorial, digital, and design teams to align visuals with messaging priorities.
• Participate in editorial planning meetings and contribute to content strategy and visual positioning for stories.
• Ensure all College imagery meets editorial and visual brand standards.
• Own post-production: edit, crop, color-correct, and retouch in line with the College's style using Adobe Creative Suite or equivalent tools.
• Write clear captions and alt text aligned with Barnard's editorial standards.
• Build and maintain the image library with a centralized library; keep files organized, tagged, and easily discoverable.
• Work with writers and team members to gather supporting imagery from story subjects.
• Handle production needs including lighting setups, tripods, monopods, and gear transport.
• Operate and help maintain the Communications Department's photography equipment.

Skills

5+ years experience

Editorial photography

Post-production skills

Digital asset management

Caption writing

Interpersonal collaboration

Organization

Self-direction

Camera equipment proficiency

Evenings/weekends availability

Tools

Lightroom

Photoshop

Job description

Barnard College seeks a Principal Photographer to lead the College's visual brand and serve as a co‑owner of its editorial imagery. This role directs photography across events, lectures, portraits, and campus life, partnering with the Creative Director and Editorial Director to uphold Barnard's standards.

The successful candidate brings extensive editorial experience, thrives in both news coverage and artistic work, and takes ownership from capture through post-production and archiving, shaping