Photo Studio Director

The Photo Studio Director is responsible for the development, presentation and creation of visual assets that will be used across all digital properties for JD Sports, Finish Line and Finish Line at Macy’s. This role drives the look and feel and overall strategy for our digital product photography and video. This role will lead the strategy, people, processes and tools to manage and optimize photography and video content including on set production, styling, inventory management, end to end workflows, resources, budgets and measurement of defined KPIs to meet business demands. This individual will effectively exhibit JD Finish Line’s core values of Customer, People, Winning, Community, and Financial Responsibility in everything they do by performing the following main duties:

• Leads, inspires and develops the Photo Studio team consisting of photographers, stylists, videographers, retouchers, image specialists and producers.
• Lead a process driven, highly efficient team, focused on creating digital photography and video of products both on-model and off.
• Ability to lead and inspire a dedicated production team with the goal of delivering quality imagery that enhances the customer experience, ensuring daily product goals are met.
• Serve as the expert for the Studio production pipeline including planning and prioritization from assignment of creative briefs to delivery of final assets.
• Manages resources in the creative and technical execution of product focused content overseeing studio schedules, personnel, facilities, technical needs, product flow, outsourcing agency and other various tasks.
• Leads, collaborates and clearly communicates with Stylists and Photographers to ensure concepts are on brand.
• Develops and maintains positive, collaborative and productive relationships with internal and external core functional partners to ensure seamless execution and collaboration at scale.
• Collaborates with Art Directors to create photography for websites, social and marketing channels; aligns on creative objectives and art direction that results in best-in-class, brand-right imagery.
• Communicates clear vision and champions change when needed.
• Identifies and removes obstacles, adjusts workload and assignments, adapting to new priorities and changing business needs.
• Develops and maintains digital photography style guide, ensuring flawless execution, consistency and adherence to brand standards.
• Manages photo studio budget, owning internal processing for each shoot. Ability to summarize quarterly financial and forecast opportunities for cost efficiencies without compromising creative direction
• Maintains expert level knowledge in photography trends and emerging techniques. Stays current on all technical aspects of equipment, software applications and innovation in the industry.
• Stays current on fashion, style, design, popular culture and social trends in the competitive landscape.
• Oversees external vendor management, inclusive of sourcing, casting and talent selection process.
• Additional duties and projects as required.

Required Education and/or Experience

Bachelor’s degree in photography or equivalent from a four-year college or university and at least 8-10 years experience in an ecommerce photography studio. 3-4 years experience leading a team. Experience managing budgets. JD Finish Line experience preferred.

Required Computer and/or Technical Skills

Expert knowledge of Capture One, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom. Expertise working with Canon/Nikon professional camera equipment and have expert knowledge of studio lighting techniques both strobe and continuous light. Experience with product video. Google Suite experience preferred.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sit for more than 6 hours per shift
• Use hands to finger, handle and feel
• Reach with hands and arms
• Talk and/or hear
• Stand for up to 2 hours at a time regularly
• Walk or move from one location to another regularly
• Periodically may need to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, or crouch
• Lift and/or move up to 10 pounds regularly and up to 50 pounds occasionally
• Punctuality and regular attendance consistent with the company’s policies are required for the position.
• Average work week is (40-50) hours, which can vary depending on business need.
• The work environment for this position is a moderately noisy office setting.

JD Finish Line