What are the responsibilities and job description for the Seasonal Photographer position at Sporting Kansas City?
Job Description Summary
Job Description
The Seasonal Photographer for Sporting Kansas City is a key creative contributor responsible for capturing high-quality imagery that elevates the club’s storytelling across digital, social, in-stadium, editorial, community, and partnership channels. This role assists the Creative and Brand Team in documenting the year’s biggest moments, from gameday action to lifestyle content to behind-the-scenes access.
The ideal candidate brings strong technical photography skills, a quick eye for composition, and a passion for capturing authentic moments in a fast-paced sports setting. This role offers hands-on experience within a professional sports creative department, contributing directly to the imagery that shapes Sporting Kansas City’s brand presence.
Sporting Kansas City is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and equity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all associates. All associates are expected to positively collaborate with individuals of diverse backgrounds. We encourage all talented individuals looking for a challenge to apply.
Essential Functions
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:
Job Description
The Seasonal Photographer for Sporting Kansas City is a key creative contributor responsible for capturing high-quality imagery that elevates the club’s storytelling across digital, social, in-stadium, editorial, community, and partnership channels. This role assists the Creative and Brand Team in documenting the year’s biggest moments, from gameday action to lifestyle content to behind-the-scenes access.
The ideal candidate brings strong technical photography skills, a quick eye for composition, and a passion for capturing authentic moments in a fast-paced sports setting. This role offers hands-on experience within a professional sports creative department, contributing directly to the imagery that shapes Sporting Kansas City’s brand presence.
Sporting Kansas City is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and equity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all associates. All associates are expected to positively collaborate with individuals of diverse backgrounds. We encourage all talented individuals looking for a challenge to apply.
Essential Functions
- Photograph Sporting Kansas City games, training sessions, events, community appearances, partner activations, and internal initiatives.
- Capture a wide range of content styles including action, portrait, lifestyle, environmental, detail, and event photography.
- Deliver images optimized for social media, digital platforms, broadcast, print, and club archives.
- Collaborate with the Social, Video, Marketing, and Communications teams to meet content needs.
- Edit and color-correct images for consistency with Sporting Kansas City’s visual identity.
- Upload, tag, and organize images within the club’s Photoshelter archive system.
- Support photo needs for Sporting KC II, The Victory Project, Argyle Events, and stadium programming.
- Assist with preproduction planning including shot lists, location scouting, and equipment prep.
- Maintain and care for photography gear provided by the club, ensuring readiness for all assignments.
- Stay current on photography trends, sports imagery standards, and camera technologies.
- Photograph all Sporting Kansas City home games throughout the season.
- Capture fan atmosphere, in-game action, player features, pregame and postgame moments.
- Upload images quickly during games to support real-time social and editorial needs.
- Assist with remote or travel-based shoots as assigned.
- Support stadium events such as press conferences, community events, and partner activations.
- Strong eye for composition, color, and storytelling.
- Comfortable photographing in high-pressure, time-sensitive environments.
- Strong communicator with excellent organizational habits.
- Able to work independently while staying aligned with creative direction.
- Adaptable and resourceful with a proactive mindset.
- Energetic, detail oriented, and committed to producing top-tier imagery.
- Working toward or recently completed a degree in Photography, Visual Arts, Media Production, or related field.
- 1 to 2 years of photography experience through internships, freelance work, or academic projects preferred.
- Strong technical knowledge of DSLR or mirrorless systems, lenses, lighting, and workflows.
- Proficiency in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
- Experience working in fast-paced environments or capturing sports is a plus.
- Familiarity with content needs for social media, digital storytelling, and brand campaigns.
- Ability to meet tight deadlines and manage large batches of imagery.
- Spanish fluency is a plus, but not required.
- A portfolio showcasing photography work is required.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:
- Required to sit, stand, and walk.
- Use hands to operate tools, equipment, or controls.
- Ability to talk, hear, and see clearly.
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
- Must be able to work non-traditional hours including evenings, weekends, holidays, and all Sporting Kansas City home games.