SAM seeks PT Staff Photographer
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OVERVIEW: Seattle Art Museum is searching for a Staff Photographer to join the Marketing & Communications team to help SAM capture and tell visual stories about the museum, collection, artists, exhibitions, events, institutional initiatives, and the community it serves. This position documents happenings at SAM’s three locations and collaborates with the in-house creative and content teams to market the museum and support the expression of SAM’s brand. The work of the staff photographer will be featured in SAM collateral, advertising, website, socials, emails, and more.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Work with Marketing & Communications colleagues to brainstorm and plan upcoming opportunities to capture images in the museum—in the galleries during exhibitions and events, and to document special projects, shop product, staff, new initiatives, and more.
- Edit and retouch images using Adobe Creative Cloud.
- Upload images to SAM’s digital asset management system (Canto) using standardized metadata and keywords/tags for efficient and appropriate access by colleagues. Organize files on server according to SAM’s filing conventions.
- Oversee and maintain equipment (cameras, lenses, lighting, external disk drives, etc.).
- Ensure that photography and visual assets follow SAM’s brand and image standards.
- Collaborate with designers, marketing, and project managers to prioritize scope of work and resources.
- As needed for each project, reach out to relevant cross-departmental stakeholders to determine approach, details, times, location access, subject availability, etc.
- Interact with the general public as a photojournalist and ensure individuals captured sign image release forms.
- Maintain positive customer relations (internal and external) by attending meetings to coordinate shoots/projects, presentations, and communication of work status.
- Be able to manage, prioritize, and track numerous projects and requests.
- Conform to the code of ethics governing the museum profession.
- Represent the Museum with a high level of integrity and professionalism.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
SAM seeks FT Museum Photographer
OVERVIEW: The Museum Photographer will be responsible for photographing two- and three-dimensional objects including but not limited to paintings, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, metals, lacquers, jades, and other objects from the museum’s encyclopedic collection of more than 23,000 artworks. Additionally, the Photographer will document in-gallery installations and special exhibitions across its three sites. The photographs will be used for purposes of print and electronic reproduction, research, study, and the collections database. The Photographer must exercise care and skill in handling artwork safely and expertly in accordance with museum guidelines. The incumbent will work closely with a wide range of museum professionals including curators, conservators, and registrars.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Coordinates shooting schedule with Assistant Registrar for Rights &
- Reproductions on behalf of outside clients and internal requestors.
- Prepares, sets up, arranges, and adjusts studio lighting and other professional photography equipment for the purposes of photographing both two- and three-dimensional artworks for print and electronic reproduction; plans composition and designs unique lighting scenarios for all types of objects to meet museum standards and assignment objectives.
- Photographs objects of varying sizes and surfaces from all curatorial collections; produces images of exceptional quality.
- Processes images adhering to the digital imaging workflow, including but not limited to file naming and metadata entry at point of capture; prepares color-accurate image files for archiving, print, and electronic reproduction.
- Assists with quality assurance, post-production, and records management.
- Assists with the photographic documentation of various art installations and exhibitions.
- Troubleshoots and solves complex technical problems associated with professional imaging.
- Researches advancements in digital technology for art documentation and image storage to maintain current best practices in cultural heritage imaging and preservation; keeps abreast of developments in camera systems, studio equipment, hardware, software, techniques, and industry-standard accepted best practices.
