Director of Photography

Description

NJI is an agency where creativity knows no borders. We navigate the complexities of public affairs, charting new paths across industries and continents to deliver work that sparks conversation, shifts perception, and inspires action.

The Role
We are seeking a Director of Photography who turns inspiration into execution. Someone who can build compelling visuals, deconstruct them, and drive a project from concept through post with intention.

This role demands both craft and vision. You can interpret creative direction, or originate it, and translate it into work that feels cinematic, deliberate, and elevated. You know the camera is only the starting point. Through editing, pacing, and visual treatment, you shape the full narrative arc.

On set, you bring clarity. In post, you bring discipline. You collaborate seamlessly with directors from varied backgrounds, clients on tight timelines, and crews of every scale. You maintain a clear creative throughline from pre-production to final delivery.

You do more than execute. You help shape the work. You develop storyboards, refine shot lists, explore graphical treatments, and push our video practice forward. You are curious about what is next, whether that is virtual production, emerging formats, or new ways to tell complex stories with precision.

You see the frame. You build the story. You deliver the standard.

Note: This is a hybrid position that requires being in our Georgetown office three days per week on a flexible schedule. Our team meets for lunch every Wednesday, and we encourage crew members to join us in person for two additional days of their choosing. This job requires ample seasons of travel. 

What You’ll Do

• Own the Visual Language: Define and elevate the visual identity of all productions, ensuring a distinct, cohesive, and premium aesthetic across platforms.
• Elite Creative Composition: Demonstrate an exceptional eye for framing, lighting, color, texture, and movement, crafting visually compelling imagery that enhances storytelling.
• Translate Creative Vision into Execution:  Collaborate closely with directors, producers, and creative leads to transform conceptual briefs into technically executable visual plans.
• Advanced Lighting Expertise: Design and execute sophisticated lighting setups across studio and on-location environments, adapting to narrative tone and brand requirements.
• Mastery of Camera Systems & Formats: Operate and oversee production across cinema-grade systems and emerging capture technologies, optimizing output for formats ranging from large-format publication to social-first vertical video.
• Multi-Platform Production Fluency: Shoot with intentionality for diverse distribution channels, including broadcast, branded content, documentary, digital campaigns, experiential installations, and short-form social media.
• Technical Precision for Desired Looks: Leverage deep knowledge of lenses, sensors, codecs, frame rates, color science, and filtration to achieve specific cinematic or branded visual styles.
• Color Pipeline & Post Collaboration: Work seamlessly with colorists and post-production teams, ensuring consistency from acquisition through final grade and delivery specifications.
• Production Leadership:  Lead camera and lighting crews with clarity and professionalism, setting standards for efficiency, safety, and creative excellence on set.
• Location & Environmental Adaptability: Rapidly assess environments and engineer high-impact visuals under variable lighting, space, weather, and time constraints.
• Equipment Strategy & Innovation: Guide gear selection, rental decisions, and technology investments to maintain a cutting-edge production toolkit.
• Creative Problem-Solving Under Pressure: Maintain composure and ingenuity in high-stakes environments, delivering exceptional results within tight timelines and budget parameters.

Diversity Commitment.

Authenticity is the foundation of boundless creativity. Rooted in diverse life experience, our team goes beyond  the status quo through our work and culture every day. We are committed to sustaining and improving NJI's inclusive workplace by actively expanding the diversity of our team. We encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please contact info@njimedia.com.

Cover Letter.

We think of cover letters more in the old-fashioned pen pal sense. So, keep the job summary and skills list in your resume, and write something that personally expresses who you are and what draws you to NJI and this role.