The San Francisco Standard has a full-time opening for a staff photographer. The candidate will report to our Photography Editor and will be responsible for creating stunning and impactful visual photographic imagery for the San Francisco Standard news site and social media channels.
The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years of professional experience in the news industry and is comfortable working collaboratively in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment. The candidate should have outstanding visual skills, planning/management experience and excellent news judgment. A passion and knowledge for San Francisco news and stories is a strong plus.
A successful candidate should possess a wide-ranging portfolio that includes portraiture, breaking news, feature photography including food and still life as well as proficiency in traditional photojournalism and documentary photography. The photographer should think innovatively, be a self-starter and be willing to take photographic risks. They should possess a proven track record of juggling various projects, responsibilities and deadlines.
Still photography will be the candidate's primary medium, but they should have experience with videography and an eagerness to experiment with an array of new tools and formats including drone photography/videography and iPhone videography.
Responsibilities

• Execute a range of weekly photographic assignments from portraiture, food photography, photojournalism and quarterly long-term documentary projects.
• Contribute regularly to general story ideation within meetings and regularly identify visual opportunities when in the field.
• Commitment to telling personal and meaningful human-interest stories about San Franciscans and their city.
• Operate as a journalist in the field and assist with news reporting unprompted by gathering quotes, in-field reporting while simultaneously capturing visual assets.
• Ability to write accurate captions and process images while on deadline.
• Engage with editorial leadership, reporters, and the newsroom to fully understand the visual/photo needs for assignments and prioritize appropriately.
• Support and develop photo interns and junior staff photographers with their technical skills and approach to visual storytelling.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with colleagues, subjects, media / PR teams.

Requirements

• Portfolio of compelling and versatile photography including portraiture, food photography, photojournalism and quarterly long-term documentary projects.
• Experience as a staff photographer or photo internships at news organizations with at least 5 years experience in the field.
• High degree of confidence in photographing within any environment including but not limited to homeless encampments, disaster zones, and fire/emergency areas.
• Bachelor's degree in photography, photojournalism or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be acceptable.
• Expert level knowledge of mirrorless photographic equipment and proficiency with on-camera and off-camera flash photography.
• Demonstrated interest in innovation and ongoing development of the technical and aesthetic elements of photography.
• Professional knowledge of Photoshop, Photo Mechanic, Premiere and other photo editing software.
• A strong understanding of San Francisco Bay Area culture, history and political climate.
• Excellent journalism ethics and news judgment.
• Willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Report to the newsroom 4 days per week for meetings, reviews, presentations, etc.
• Working driver's license.
• Drone pilot license is strongly desired, but not required.

We are an in-office company and the role requires physical presence in the Bay Area. We offer very competitive salaries and excellent benefits. The salary for the position will range from $75,000 - $110,000 based on experience and expertise.
Interested candidates should submit a resume and a cover letter explaining why you are the best candidate for the position. Additionally, provide a link to an online portfolio that covers all the areas of photography required above.
About The Standard
Our mission is to help San Franciscans know their city. We aim to inspire readers to better understand, connect with and relate to the things that make SF tick. Whether it's an obscure permitting process or the mom 'n' pop store that opened down the street, we help people connect to San Francisco through high-quality, trustworthy coverage.
We encourage you to apply even if you don't fit the conventional requirements of the job.