Photo Art Director (Variable-Hour)

Designer Jobs; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

Straub Collaborative is seeking a Photo Art Director (Variable-Hour) to lead creative direction for retail and e-commerce visual deliverables. This onsite role in Baltimore, MD connects on-set leadership with image curation, post-production guidance, and client-facing presentations to ensure work ships on time and within scope.

The ideal candidate has 8–10 years of experience in visual concepts and creative strategies for retail/e‑commerce, with a strong portfolio and expertise in on-set

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8–10 years building visual concepts and creative strategies in retail/e‑commerce.
• Experience directing on‑set photography and video productions.
• Strong portfolio showing high‑quality art direction and visual storytelling.
• Deep knowledge of studio lighting and post-production workflows.
• Proficiency with design and presentation tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Keynote, PowerPoint).
• Excellent communication and leadership in fast-paced productions.

Responsibilities

• Lead creative direction from brief to delivery across photo and video.
• Create art layouts, storyboards, and style guides for visuals.
• Direct on-set photography and video production workflows.
• Oversee multiple productions, manage timelines, and delegate tasks.
• Present concepts to clients and internal teams with confidence.
• Maintain brand standards and production quality across projects.
• Collaborate with operations to optimize production workflows.
• Mentor and lead production teams to high performance.

Skills

Leadership

On-set directing

Creative direction

Adobe Creative Suite

Portfolio

Studio lighting

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art, Graphic Design, Photography, Video Production, or related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Keynote

PowerPoint

Capture One

Job description

Straub Collaborative is seeking a Photo Art Director (Variable-Hour) to lead creative direction for retail and e-commerce visual deliverables. This onsite role in Baltimore, MD connects on-set leadership with image curation, post-production guidance, and client-facing presentations to ensure work ships on time and within scope.

Role Overview

The Photo Art Director will partner with the Creative Director, retail clients, and production teams to conceptualize, design, and execute photo and video solutions. Responsibilities include leading production on set with minimal oversight, collaborating across departments to resolve roadblocks, and delivering polished final imagery through detailed retouching and post notes.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the Creative Director and retail clients to strategize, design, and direct creative solutions from original brief to delivery.
• Create art layouts, visual concepts, storyboards, and style guides for photo and video content across visual communications media.
• Assess market trends in retail, e-commerce, consumer behavior, and competitive landscapes to inform visual innovation.
• Develop presentation approaches, styles, and storytelling techniques that communicate client narratives effectively.
• Lead production teams on set with minimal oversight, maintaining team motivation and performance standards.
• Direct photography and video capture workflows, ensuring alignment with briefs and creative guidelines.
• Oversee multiple productions and pieces of business concurrently by managing timelines and delegating tasks efficiently.
• Collaborate with operations and cross-departmental leadership to remove barriers and strengthen production workflows.
• Establish and maintain creative department standards for production quality, productivity, and client service.
• Lead image curation, making final selects and providing detailed post-production and retouching notes.
• Review final imagery and video post-production assets to confirm adherence to style guides prior to delivery.
• Drive continuous quality improvement by evaluating, updating, and redesigning creative processes.
• Lead internal and client-facing presentations, communicating ideas clearly and confidently.
• Build and sustain client relationships grounded in trust, industry knowledge, and client business objectives.
• Interpret client feedback constructively, incorporating appropriate revisions while guiding creative boundaries professionally.
• Align creative priorities with business objectives and project budgets to deliver on time and within scope.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art, Graphic Design, Photography, Video Production, or related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• 8–10 years of experience developing visual concepts and creative strategies in retail/e-commerce, including 5+ years managing creative teams.
• Demonstrated experience directing on-set photography and video productions.
• Strong portfolio showing high-quality art direction, commercial imagery, and visual storytelling.
• Deep knowledge of studio lighting, capture technologies, and digital/post-production workflows.
• Proficiency with design and presentation tools, including Adobe Creative Suite, Keynote, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to operate effectively in fast-paced production environments.

Technologies

• Adobe Creative Suite
• Keynote
• PowerPoint
• Capture One

Physical Requirements

• Repetitive use of hands and fingers (including keyboarding, data entry, and sample tagging).
• Ability to see and hear to gather and input information and respond to face-to-face and telephone inquiries.
• Ability to walk throughout a warehouse and active studio floor following internal safety guidelines.

Work Environment

• Fast-paced commercial photography and e-commerce studio environment.
• Work performed under active production lighting and shoot conditions.

Additional Information

• Local candidates to the Baltimore area are strongly preferred.
• Flexible schedule based on production needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working directly with large retail/apparel client accounts.
• Experience building and maintaining production style guides and brand standards.
• Strong understanding of digital marketing trends and consumer visual engagement.

Compensation and Location

Location: Baltimore, MD (onsite). Pay: USD 80–90 per hour (variable-hour). Minimum Experience: 8 years.