Head Photographer

The Creative Agency | Fort Collins, CO | In-Person

Compensation: $22–$30 per hour, depending on experience and demonstrated skill.

The Creative Agency is hiring an in-house Head Photographer to lead the execution of high-quality visual assets across consumer products, campaigns, marketing content, people-focused shoots, events, and branded storytelling.

This is a hands-on production role for someone with strong command of lighting, editing, and photo manipulation, paired with a sharp understanding of what makes photography effective in modern marketing. We are looking for someone who can produce polished, commercially strong work, maintain a high creative standard, and help shape the visual quality of photography across a range of brands and projects.

The right candidate understands that commercial photography is not just about creating beautiful images. It is about producing imagery that supports strategy, strengthens brand perception, and performs across digital, print, advertising, social media, and campaign environments. This person should have a strong pulse on current visual trends in marketing photography and branded content, while also knowing how to apply those trends with taste, restraint, and commercial intent.

What You’ll Do

• Lead photography execution across consumer products, branded campaigns, people-focused shoots, events, and marketing content
• Execute studio and on-location shoots with strong technical command of lighting, composition, and consistency
• Create polished, brand-aligned imagery for websites, social media, digital ads, email campaigns, print collateral, and broader marketing use
• Photograph products for e-commerce, launches, promotions, and campaign storytelling
• Retouch, edit, and manipulate images with a high level of polish and professional judgment
• Help maintain and elevate the photographic quality bar across the agency’s client work
• Stay aware of shifts in marketing photography, advertising, composition, styling, and visual trends
• Bring fresh ideas forward that keep brand imagery relevant, elevated, and commercially effective
• Collaborate closely with creative leadership, designers, marketers, and production team members
• Support fast-moving content and campaign needs while maintaining a strong standard of quality
• Occasionally assist with light video editing or post-production support as needed
• Organize, manage, and deliver assets in a clean, professional, and reliable way

What We’re Looking For

• Strong experience in commercial photography, ideally in an agency, brand, e-commerce, or production environment
• Advanced understanding of studio lighting, environmental lighting, and photo manipulation
• Strong editing and retouching skills with the ability to produce polished final assets
• Confidence photographing products, people, branded scenes, and live environments with equal professionalism
• Strong understanding of how photography functions within modern marketing and advertising
• Clear awareness of current visual trends and the judgment to apply them appropriately across different brands
• Strong working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, especially Photoshop and Lightroom
• Strong taste, visual instincts, and a high bar for quality and consistency
• Ability to take direction while also contributing smart, strategic visual ideas
• Highly organized, dependable, efficient, and comfortable working in a collaborative in-house environment
• Ability to balance speed with quality and execute without constant hand-holding
• Bonus if you have experience with light video editing or hybrid photo/video workflows

Applicants must submit a portfolio that clearly demonstrates:

• Commercial product photography
• Strong lighting ability
• Editing, retouching, and photo manipulation
• Marketing or campaign-focused imagery
• People-focused photography
• Event or live environment photography
• Strong range, consistency, and overall commercial quality

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• Images are polished, strategic, and ready for real marketing use
• Product photography is clean, intentional, and commercially strong
• Lighting is thoughtful and technically sound
• Edited assets feel refined, not overworked
• Visual work stays current without becoming trend-chasing or messy
• Assets are delivered efficiently, organized well, and aligned with brand direction
• The photographer can move between product, people, campaign, and event work without a drop in quality