Senior Photographer

Home Chef; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Candid promo code PEOPLE30 discount

Medical, dental, vision, life and disa

Paid holidays, sick time and vacation

401k program

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

Home Chef seeks a Senior Photographer to own the photo style and assets for Home Chef and Tempo, leading the studio and ensuring brand-coherent, high-quality imagery of meals and products. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to support campaigns and product launches.

The role requires a two-year photography program, expert Adobe skills, and studio lighting expertise (Nikon preferred, Profoto equipment).

Qualifications

• Two-year photography/creative program required.
• Strong shooting and lighting of food products.
• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and Capture One Pro.
• Proficient with Full-Frame DSLR, Nikon preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develops and maintains Home Chef photo style and studio lighting.
• Collaborates with marketing to align campaigns and brand initiatives.
• Manages photo studio space, equipment, and budgeting with Content Team Manager.
• Shoots eight completed recipes per week across Home Chef and Tempo lines.
• Directs editing and post-shoot decisions using Photoshop and related tools.
• Trains team members on equipment and editing workflows.

Skills

Food photography lighting

Adobe Creative Suite

Full-Frame DSLR shooting

Studio lighting

Profoto equipment

Strobe/flash lighting

Continuous lighting

Education

Associate degree or two-year photography program

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

Lightroom

InDesign

Illustrator

Capture One Pro

Profoto equipment

Nikon DSLR gear

Job description

Founded in 2013, Home Chef is the leading meal solutions company with both a retail and online presence. Available online at homechef.com and in retail at more than 2,100 Kroger grocery stores, Home Chef is committed to inspiring and enabling more people to cook simple, delicious meals, no matter how busy they are.

In 2023, Home Chef introduced a new brand, Tempo ! Tempo features a rotating selection of ready-to-heat meals delivered directly to your door. These meals are better-for-you versions of familiar favorites, designed to save you time and reduce stress while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Our Tempo menu includes options that are protein-packed, fiber-rich, calorie and carb conscious, keto-friendly, and dietitian-approved.

Similar to our recipes, we recognize that variety is the spice of life, and therefore, our employees also bring their uniqueness and color to our fantastic team. We’re eager to work with humble team players and pragmatic next-level thinkers to innovate on Home Chef’s offerings.

The Senior Photographer is responsible for the photo style, direction, and asset management of all Home Chef and Tempo photo assets. The Senior Photographer owns the Home Chef Style and the Photo Studio, and is responsible for upkeep, training, and general management. They work closely with cross-functional teams to assure brand coherence and high standards.

Detailed Responsibilities

Style Direction

• Develops and maintains the Home Chef final and step shot photography style, in collaboration and consultation with cross-functional partners.


• Meet and report back regularly with cross-functional teams to stay current on marketing campaigns and other brand initiatives that may impact Culinary or the Photo Team


• Works closely with marketing to ensure brand coherence when possible and identify areas of collaboration and mutual need


• Organizes and owns physical space of photo studio, including, but not limited to: setting up stations, marking equipment positions, developing and executing lighting strategies, and adjusting space as needed


• Ensure all equipment is maintained and kept in excellent working condition, including having backup materials as needed


• Works with Content Team Manager on annual photo budget and inventory management


• Ensures other team members are properly trained on equipment usage]


• Cook, plate, and style recipes from all Home Chef product lines, at least eight completed shots per week, with primary focus on new product lines, more challenging lines, and new styling.


• Collaborates with Content Team Manager, Photography Team, and other culinary partners to manage the photo workstreams and achieve high quality shots

Post Shooting Process

• Directs style decisions for all photography assets owned by culinary, including finals and step shots, and owns all editing decisions and directions. This can include, but is not limited to, sharpening, cloning, spot removal, removal of ingredients, rearranging of ingredients, color brightening, color cloning, stamping and erasing


• Utilizes professional editing software to edit and/or photoshop photography assets, owning the R&D photos


• Ensures other team members are properly trained on editing, photoshop and other post shooting process needs

General Culinary Work

• Taste and provide feedback on new meals


• Participate in Culinary Team meetings such as Performance Board


• Complete Recipe Development improvement projects as needed and as time allows

This position requires 0% travel

Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed for this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities.

• Completion of a two-year program such as an Associate degree


• Competency in shooting and lighting food


• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite programs - Photoshop, Lightroom, Indesign and Illustrator, and Capture one Pro


• Proficient in shooting with a Full-Frame DSLR Camera, Nikon products preferred


• Experience shooting under dark lighting conditions and in a closed studio


• Proficient knowledge of Profoto equipment


• Experience with strobe and flash lighting preferred


• Experience with continuous lighting preferred

More About Us

Perks and Benefits

• Candidates can experience Home Chef as a customer - enter promo code PEOPLE30 for $30 off your first order!


• Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance available


• Paid holidays, sick time and vacation time


• 401k program


• Flexible spending accounts for qualified medical, dependent care, parking, or transit expenses

How We Work Together

We are humble team players.
We are warm and gracious with team members and customers. We seek feedback to improve ourselves - and respectfully listen to and accept input.

We are pragmatic next-level thinkers.
We come up with novel and unique ideas. We explore new strategies to avoid being constrained by conventional thinking.

We take ownership.
We approach ambiguous problems, prepared to dive in, get curious, and learn more. We are results-driven, always challenging ourselves to exceed goals.

We all show up authentically at Home Chef. Our team includes individuals with a variety of identities, backgrounds, and perspectives. You can trust that you’ll be able to bring your whole self to an inclusive and enjoyable workplace.

We welcome people of all races, colors, religions, national origin or ancestry, sex (including sexual identity), age, physical or mental disabilities, pregnancy, veteran or military status, unfavorable discharge from military service, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, order of protection status, citizenship status, arrest record or expunged/sealed convictions, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local law.

Home Chef is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Home Chef will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact our People team at [e-mail] .

Home Chef offers the base salary range as posted below, with the exact offer depending on factors such as geographic location, experience, skills, and internal equity. While compensation is within the provided range, it is not typical for offers to be made at the upper end. In addition to base salary, Home Chef provides a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare coverage, 401k match, and paid time off.