Scientific Photographer

Spire Communications; Alexandria (VA); Hybrid; USD 48,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental plan

Vision plan

Wellness stipend

Life insurance

Disability insurance

PTO + holidays

Home office reimbursement

401(k) with 3% employer match

Training stipend

Job summary

Spire Communications in Alexandria, VA is seeking a full-time photographer to support NSF communications. This hybrid role focuses on capturing high-quality imagery for conferences, events, leadership communications, and storytelling across digital and print channels.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical photography skills with an eye for visual storytelling, brand alignment, and the ability to work with diverse audiences in government and academic settings.

Qualifications

• Strong technical photography skills and ability to tell visual stories.
• Experience photographing scientific, government, and executive environments.
• Ability to anticipate important moments and work with diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Capture high‑quality photography for conferences, events, and executive communications.
• Produce imagery for NSF's digital and print communications and storytelling.
• Ensure brand standards are met across all assets.

Job description

The position is hybrid, with potential for full-time at the client site in Alexandria, VA.

PORTFOLIO IS REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION.

Spire Communications is hiring a full-time photographer to support strategic communications for the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). This role captures high-quality photography that supports NSF’s mission, programs, leadership, and scientific community across digital and print communications. The photographer will produce professional imagery for conferences, events, executive communications, organizational storytelling, and internal and external engagement initiatives.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical photography skills with an understanding of visual storytelling, brand standards, and the unique requirements of photographing scientific, government, and executive environments. This role requires the ability to anticipate important moments, work effectively with diverse audiences, and deliver polished photography assets that accurately represent NSF’s people, mission, and impact.

Spire Communications is a woman-owned strategic communications and creative firm based in Alexandria, VA that supports science, technology, and engineering organizations within the government and private sectors.

Medical (United Healthcare), dental (CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield), and vision (United Concordia) plans paid at 100% (employee premium) plus 30% contribution to family premium

Monthly $50 “wellness” stipend for gym memberships, spa services, etc.

Life and disability insurance (short- and long-term)

18 days PTO and 8 federal holidays per year (+Veterans Day for those who have served)

Home office expense reimbursement

401(k) plan with automatic 3% of salary employer contribution

Annual stipend for employee and/or job-related training