Photographer

About This Role

This hybrid role supports a federal client environment, capturing real people, environments, and experiences to strengthen audience engagement, enhance brand presence, and advance mission objectives. The role suits an accomplished photographer with a distinctive creative eye and deep technical knowledge, who can make strong creative and technical decisions independently and adapt to different subjects and environments.

Responsibilities

• Independently capture high-quality, publication-ready photography at public locations, workplaces, leadership engagements, live events, and other on-location assignments
• Plan and execute photography across environmental and formal portraiture, documentary and editorial photography, live events, campaign and lifestyle imagery, and promotional content
• Translate creative and communications briefs into an appropriate photographic approach, including shot lists, location and equipment requirements, lighting plans and practical production considerations
• Select and operate appropriate professional camera bodies, lenses, lighting, grip and supporting equipment, adapting exposure, focus, composition, color and lighting decisions to each subject, location and intended use
• Use photography to communicate complex ideas, document impact and create coherent visual narratives that support audience and communications objectives
• Collaborate with communications, creative, strategy, and stakeholder engagement teams to identify visual storytelling opportunities and support content development efforts
• Edit, retouch, and optimize imagery for digital, print, social media, presentation, and multimedia applications
• Ensure photography aligns with creative and brand standards, technical and quality standards, and provide accurate captions, contextual information and image descriptions where needed to support accessible publication
• Prepare photography assets for publication and distribution across multiple channels and platforms
• Ingest, back up, catalogue and archive photography using agreed folder structures, file-naming conventions, metadata, captions, keywords, version control and usage information, ensuring assets can be located and reused
• Manage photography equipment, memory cards, file transfers and on-location backups to protect captured material and reduce the risk of data loss
• Support rapid-turn photography requests and high-priority communications initiatives while maintaining creative quality and consistency
• Work as part of a wider production team on more complex shoots, collaborating with producers, creatives, art directors, and other specialists where required
• Collaborate with designers, videographers, and multimedia teams to integrate photography into wider campaigns and communications products
• Advise internal teams on photographic approaches, equipment, lighting, locations, schedules, and other factors affecting the feasibility, quality and cost of a shoot
• Stay current on photography trends, editing technologies, AI-enabled creative tools, and evolving visual communications practices

Requirements

• Substantial professional photography with a strong portfolio demonstrating consistently high standards of visual storytelling and technical execution across a range of subjects and shooting conditions
• Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in photography, visual storytelling, composition, lighting, and image creation
• Advanced knowledge of professional camera systems, lenses, exposure, metering, focus, depth of field, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, RAW capture and color-managed photography workflows
• Confident use of available light, on-camera and off-camera flash, continuous lighting, modifiers, stands, grip and other equipment required for professional location photography
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Capture One, or comparable professional software, including image selection, RAW processing, color correction, retouching, batch processing, esport and archive preparation
• Experience utilizing AI-assisted content development, research, and optimization tools to enhance content quality, audience engagement, and workflow efficiency
• Curiosity in technology landscape and how AI is changing communications
• Experience producing photography for use across campaigns, print, websites, social media, events, presentations, publications, internal communications, and online and offline channels
• Ability to translate communications objectives and audience needs into compelling visual content
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to creative quality, consistency, and technical excellence
• Ability to work effectively both as a self-sufficient location photographer and as part of a multidisciplinary production team on larger or more complex shoots
• Excellent communication, organizational, and project management skills
• Ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously while meeting deadlines in fast-paced environments
• Experience using digital asset management systems and applying professional standards for file ingest, backup, metadata, captioning, keywording, archiving, and retrieval
• Ability to travel, work on location, transport and safely handle photography equipment, and work outside standard office hours where required for events or assignments
• Minimum of 5 years experience
• U.S. Citizenship: Must be a United States Citizen (required by government contract)
• Clearance Eligibility: Must be able and willing to obtain a U.S. Government Secret or Top Secret security clearance immediately upon employment
• Background Screening: Must be willing to submit to a rigorous federal background investigation, which includes an in-depth review of personal finances, criminal history, employment history, and drug use

Nice to have:

• Experience supporting federal government, public affairs, international development, or mission-driven communications programs is preferred
• Additional experience capturing short-form video is advantageous but not essential
• BA/BS or equivalent qualification in Photography, Photojournalism, Fine Arts, Visual Communications, Multimedia Production, or a related creative field preferred

Benefits

• 12 weeks of full pay for primary caregivers and 6 weeks for secondary caregivers
• Choice of three medical plans (HSA at $0 cost; EPO 75% employer funded; PPO 65% employer funded)
• 70% employer-funded dental and vision coverage
• Generous paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, including an office closure between Christmas & New Year's
• 401(k) with 5% employer match
• Gym membership reimbursement and/or Wellhub subscription
• Mental health support through EAP and Self Space services
• Work from anywhere for up to 2 weeks per year (subject to approval)
• Social events, happy hours, professional development trainings, etc.

Important Details

• Work format: Hybrid, able to commute regularly to Rosslyn, VA/DC Metro Area
• Travel: Must be available to travel domestically for photography assignments

Why You'll Love It Here

• Work on impactful programs supporting federal and defense-related initiatives
• Collaborate with high-performing cross-functional teams across communications, digital and analytics disciplines
• Opportunity to shape strategic public engagement initiatives at enterprise scale
• Flexible hybrid working environment
• Exposure to complex, mission-driven stakeholder engagement challenges
• Career development opportunities within a fast-growing global organization

About the Company

M&C Saatchi World Services is a full-service marketing company that uses commercial advertising to solve the world's toughest challenges. World Services is a specialty branch of M&C Saatchi Group, providing strategic communications, behavior change, and marketing support to Public Sector clients, with a special emphasis on the US Federal Government and State, Local, Tribal, & Territorial leaders. M+C Saatchi Group was founded in 1995 and is now the biggest Independent creative agency group in the World.