Student Photographer

Southern Utah University; Cedar City (UT); On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) seeks a Student Photographer to document artworks and museum activities with professional-quality photography. The role collaborates with staff to identify needs and produce images for marketing, social media, and publications.

The ideal candidate understands advanced camera functions, lighting, and visual storytelling, and can work independently in indoor, outdoor, event, and archival settings while meeting deadlines.

Qualifications

• Portfolio of photography work required.
• Understanding of manual camera operation.
• Ability to document artwork and events with strong color and exposure.

Responsibilities

• Exhibition photography of artworks and installations.
• Document artworks for records, marketing, and digital platforms.
• Capture images under varied lighting while maintaining color accuracy.
• Assist with documenting exhibition installations and rotations.
• Identify priority images with museum staff and maintain organized asset files.

Skills

Advanced camera functions

Lighting techniques

Composition and storytelling

Independent work

Public program photography

Photo editing basics

Education

Photography major

Museum Studies student

Graphic Design major

Tools

Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Photoshop

Image organization software

Job description

Under the direction of the Director of Learning and Visitor Experience, the Student Photographer will support the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) by documenting works of art in the collection and museum activities through professional-quality photography. The Student Photographer will work collaboratively with museum staff to identify photographic needs, create visual documentation, and produce images suitable for marketing, social media, publications, archival purposes, and other museum communications.

The ideal candidate is a creative and technically skilled photographer who understands advanced camera functions, composition, lighting, and visual storytelling. The photographer should be comfortable working independently, troubleshooting photographic challenges, and adapting to a variety of indoor, outdoor, low-light, event, and exhibition environments.

Responsibilities:

• Exhibition Photography - Photograph exhibitions, individual artworks, galleries, and installations.
• Produce high-quality documentation of artwork for museum records, marketing, publications, and digital platforms.
• Photograph exhibitions under a variety of lighting conditions while maintaining accurate color, focus, and exposure.
• Assist with documenting exhibition installations and rotations.
• Work with museum staff to identify priority images and photographic needs.
• Maintain organized files and appropriate naming conventions for photographic assets.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Must be eligible for work-study
• Must submit a portfolio of photography work
• Demonstrated understanding of advanced camera functions and manual camera operation
• Strong understanding of photographic composition, lighting, exposure, focus, and color
• Ability to identify and solve photographic and lighting problems independently
• Experience photographing people, artwork, events, and/or architectural spaces
• Ability to work effectively in a museum environment and around artwork
• Strong attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently while communicating effectively with museum staff
• Comfortable photographing public programs, events, students, artists, staff, and community members
• Familiarity with photo editing software such as Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or comparable programs preferred
• Experience with digital file organization, image selection, and basic post-production preferred
• Photography, Art, Graphic Design, Marketing, Communications, or Museum Studies students preferred