Photography & Visual Content Specialist

Howard University; Maryland; On-site; USD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Career advancement paths

Wellness programs

Job summary

Howard University seeks a Photography and Visual Content Specialist to lead the university’s visual storytelling. This role documents history, people, and daily life across campuses, and supports video production and content development.

The position requires advanced imaging skills, collaboration with the Office of University Communications, and the ability to manage multiple projects while meeting deadlines. Salary range reflects university compensation standards and benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in photography, film, video production, visual communications, or related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in photography, visual communications, or related environment.
• Demonstrated experience producing professional-quality photography and video content.
• Resume and digital portfolio required.
• Ability to work outside normal business hours and travel as required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the University’s lead photographer, visually illustrating Howard University across academic life, events, leadership engagements, and daily life.
• Capture and produce high-quality photography and video content for digital, print, social media, marketing, media relations, and archival purposes.
• Provide photojournalism coverage of high-visibility events under tight deadlines.
• Plan and execute photo and video shoots in studio and on location.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to maintain brand standards and storytelling consistency.

Skills

Lead photography

Video production

Adobe Creative Suite

Photojournalism

Environmental photography

Project management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in photography or visual communications

Equivalency: education & experience

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Nikon/Canon equipment

Video equipment

Job description

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission.

At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.

Here Is What We Offer

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match
• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
• Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

Join Howard University and thrive with us!

https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness

Basic Functions

The Photography and Visual Content Specialist will serve as the University’s lead photographer and a key visual storyteller within the Office of University Communications (OUC). Reporting primarily to the Assistant Vice President of Digital and Multi-media Communications, and secondarily to the Vice President of Communications and Chief Communications Officer, this position is responsible for capturing, producing, and curating high-quality photography content that documents Howard University’s history, people, milestones, and daily life across all campuses. Secondarily, this position will also support video production and content development, as needed.

Supervisory Authority

Manage and provide guidance to student workers and/or student interns.

Nature And Scope

This role combines advanced technical expertise with creative vision to support institutional storytelling, brand reputation, historical documentation, and digital archiving. The Specialist leverages the latest imaging, video, and emerging technologies to visually represent Howard University with excellence, authenticity, and consistency across platforms.

Principal Accountabilities

VISUAL STORYTELLING & CONTENT CREATION

• Serve as the University’s lead photographer, visually illustrating the many facets of Howard University, including academic life, campus environments, leadership engagements, ceremonies, athletic events, meetings, and special programs.
• Capture and produce high-quality photography and video content for use across digital, print, social media, marketing, media relations, and archival purposes.
• Provide photojournalism-style coverage of high-visibility and time-sensitive events, often under tight deadlines.
• Conceptualize, plan, direct, and execute photo and video shoots in studio and on location.
• Demonstrate adaptability in dynamic environments and capture both planned and unscripted moments.

VIDEO PRODUCTION & MULTIMEDIA

• Collaborate with OUC team members to conceptualize, capture, and produce video content aligned with institutional priorities and storytelling goals.
• Execute all phases of video production, including pre-production, filming, audio capture, editing, color grading, captioning, and final delivery.
• Ensure accessibility best practices, such as captioning and SRT file development.
• Stay current on emerging trends in video, streaming platforms, social media, and generative AI tools, integrating them into production workflows where appropriate.

BRAND STRATEGY & VISUAL IDENTITY

• Support the development and implementation of visual branding strategies that reinforce Howard University’s identity, mission, and reputation.
• Ensure all visual assets adhere to the University brand standards.
• Independently produce stylized, creative content while maintaining brand consistency.
• Collaborate with the Director of Creative Services and Graphic Design to develop and execute a University-wide environmental photography plan to strategically position compelling, high-quality imagery throughout campus buildings and facilities, ensuring that visual displays reflect Howard University’s people, academic excellence, history, culture, achievements, and evolving institutional story.
• Conduct an annual review of environmental photography displayed in key administrative, academic, student-facing, and other high-visibility campus buildings and develop and implement an annual refresh plan to replace, update, and curate imagery in coordination with University leadership and appropriate campus partners.
• Maintain an inventory of environmental photography installations across key University facilities, identifying opportunities for new or refreshed imagery and ensuring that photography displayed in University spaces remains current, visually compelling, representative of the Howard community, and aligned with institutional brand standards and priorities.

DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT & ARCHIVAL SERVICES

• Edit, tag, rename, catalogue, and archive photography and video assets within the University’s digital asset management system, supporting long-term digital archival services.
• Support the expansion of digital archival services, ensuring historical and institutional content is preserved, searchable, and accessible.
• Manage media files across multiple formats, codecs, and platforms with attention to detail and long-term usability.

COLLABORATION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Collaborate with faculty, staff, students, administrators, University leadership, facilities teams, and other campus partners to identify, curate, install, and periodically refresh environmental photography displayed throughout University buildings and public spaces.
• Coordinate and manage photo requests across the University, including portraiture shots of university leadership, Board of Trustees, faculty and staff.
• Lead and oversee freelance photographers, videographers, and vendors as needed.
• Successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and maintaining high-quality standards.
• Attend and contribute to regular meetings within the Office of University Communications.
• Manage, provide guidance to, and collaborate with student campus photographers, including student workers and interns who are assigned to work with the Office of University Communications in support of capturing and documenting high-quality photographs and other digital content to support storytelling, branding, and historical archives.

EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY

• Maintain, test, secure, and oversee photography and video equipment used in shooting and editing.
• Research and advise leadership on evolving industry practices, tools, and technologies.
• Transport equipment and travel to on- and off-campus locations as required.

Core Competencies

• Exceptional photography skills, including portraiture, live event coverage, and environmental photography.
• Strong video production and post-production skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Illustrator).
• Experience with professional camera ecosystems (Nikon and/or Canon preferred) and strong understanding of lighting techniques, including off-camera lighting.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively under pressure with excellent organizational, time management, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, cultural competence, and ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
• Familiarity with generative AI tools, workflows, and emerging media technologies.
• Positive, professional, and forward-thinking team player.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and harmonious work relations with faculty, staff, students and the public, and work effectively with people from a variety of culturally diverse backgrounds.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in photography, film, video production, visual communications, or a related field or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in photography, visual communications, or related environment. Demonstrated experience producing professional-quality photography and video content. Resume and digital portfolio is required to apply. Ability to work outside normal business hours and travel as required.

Compliance Salary Range Disclosure

Expected Salary Range: $80,000 - $85,000