Lead Photographer [The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO]

Lead Photographer

Purpose

The Lead Photographer creates professional quality images of collection items, events, exhibits and staff for use throughout the institution. The photographer is responsible for maintaining the studio and labs. He/she is responsible for ensuring color management, large format printing, sustaining effective production and workflow and for following the museum’s imaging and digital archiving standards.

This position requires five or more years of work experience for a cultural heritage institution.  Experience should include icc color management and other best practices of reproduction of works of art; handling of rare and fragile artwork; medium format digital photography; IR photography of artworks; studio lighting of art using strobe and on-camera flash; Photoshop, Lightroom and strong background in event photography.

Accountabilities

Technical photography

Under minimum supervision, photograph artworks, gallery installations, the building and sculpture park, and staff. Scan black and white and color film and transparencies from the museum’s archive. Review images for quality and perform post-processing on images in order to meet the museum’s expectations. Stay current with industry best practices and developments. Provide multi-spectrum and IR imaging to support Conservation.

Event photography

Provide succinct visual storytelling through compelling and professional images of events. Work with clients in order to set and understand expectations. Receive and share constructive feedback.

Printing

Produce archival inkjet reproduction prints of artwork.

Quality Assurance

Review images and perform some routine cleanup.

Cataloguing

Catalogue digital assets into the museums digital asset management system.

Photography Schedule

Work with staff to determine a weekly photography schedule.

Studio and Lab Management

Organize and maintain the photography studio to provide a safe and secure environment for personnel, artwork, and equipment. Ensure that equipment is in proper working order. Track and maintain equipment, software, and supply inventory.

Color Management

Maintain color management for the department and museum partners. Experience with Golden Thread or similar calibration system is desirable. Responsible for printer profiling, display profiling, and maintaining a color managed proofing environment.

Supervision

Direct assistant or contract staff, as needed, to accomplish photographic projects. Assist with or provide training and support as needed.

Scope

• Creates photography of the highest technical and creative quality, in digital format, for documentation, preservation, and publication purposes. Provides the images for the image database in accordance with museum guidelines.
• Maintains the photography studio and lab spaces as prescribed and all equipment, and aid the museum in all photographic matters.
• Holds full responsibility for employing, tracking and maintaining digital color management program in department in a precise and consistent manner.
• Participates in planning and maintaining the Image Archive.

Challenges and Opportunities

The Lead Photographer is challenged by the constant need to efficiently deliver the highest quality results. New responsibilities will challenge organizational and time management skills. The Lead Photographer will need to grow and adapt to the evolving technological landscape of the museum and industry. In supporting the museum’s program of exhibitions and events, the Lead Photographer will sometimes work with notable artists and community leaders. Occasional work on high-profile, complex projects will require the senior photographer to connect with colleagues throughout the library, archives, and museums imaging community.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Photography preferred; will consider degree in another area with equivalent photographic experience.
• Minimum of ten years of professional photographic experience, preferably five of those years in a fine art museum with the emphasis on object photography on tabletop and location, architecture and people.
• Expertise in digital 35mm, medium- and large-format photography, and studio flash photography systems.
• Significant computer experience using PC and Mac platforms, Medium format camera software (Phocus, Capture1, CaptureFlow, Flexcolor, etc.), Adobe PhotoShop, Lightroom, Silverfast, and Microsoft Office.
• Expertise in the application of sophisticated color management techniques and use of ICC profiles as applied to cameras, monitors and inkjet printers.
• Significant file management experience.
• Significant experience in high quality, wide format inkjet color and black and white printing.
• Significant experience in professional level, large format film scanning techniques.
• Knowledge of proper art handling techniques is preferable.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to details.
• Ability to be flexible.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team and individually.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the Lead Photographer is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell.  He/she  must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and color vision.