Photographer & Studio Lead
Full Time | Permanent
Up to £28,000 Per Year
Matlock, Derbyshire
Create world-class imagery for a British heritage brand
At John Smedley, photography is more than product imagery, its how we tell our story, honour our craftsmanship and connect with customers around the world. As a globally recognised British luxury knitwear brand, our visual standards are central to how we present ourselves across e-commerce, wholesale and brand channels.
We are now looking for an experienced Photographer & Studio Lead to take ownership of our photographic output and studio operations. This is a hands-on, creative and operational role, combining technical excellence with strong planning, collaboration and commercial awareness.
If you thrive in a fast-paced studio environment, care deeply about detail and quality, and enjoy seeing your work directly influence brand perception and sales, this could be the role for you.
The Role:
As Photographer & Studio Lead, you will be responsible for the creation, delivery and continuous evolution of photographic assets across our digital and marketing platforms. You will lead all aspects of studio photography from product flats and model shoots to still life, editorial and event imagery ensuring output is on-brand, commercially effective and delivered on time.
Reporting to the Head of Marketing, you will work closely with Marketing, Buying, Merchandising, Digital and E-Commerce teams to align creative execution with trading priorities, production timelines and seasonal launches. Alongside shooting and editing, you will manage studio operations, equipment and resources, ensuring the studio runs efficiently, safely and to the highest professional standards.
This is a role for someone who enjoys balancing creativity with structure, ownership and delivery.
What Youll Do
Photography & Creative Delivery
Lead the preparation, shooting and editing of all product imagery (flat and model) for web and wholesale platforms
Capture still life and editorial-style imagery for marketing, campaigns and brand storytelling
Photograph events, factory activity and key moments to support brand communications
Ensure all imagery aligns with brand guidelines and commercial objectives
Respond confidently to ad hoc photography requests as business needs evolve
Shoot Planning & Management
Plan and deliver product flat shoots in line with production schedules and web drop dates
Work with the Head of Marketing to plan and deliver seasonal model shoots on time and within budget
Lead on-site shoot execution, maintaining quality, efficiency and safety
Manage the studio calendar, resources and workflow to maximise productivity
Studio & Equipment Leadership
Own the day-to-day running of the photography studio
Maintain all equipment and facilities to the highest operational and safety standards
Identify opportunities to improve studio processes, workflows and technical capability
Quality, Assets & Team Support
Deliver all assets on time and in line with critical path deadlines
Maintain consistently high standards of image quality, retouching and file management
Ensure assets are correctly formatted, archived and accessible for multi-channel use
Support and guide interns or assistants where required
Who were looking for
Youll be a confident, experienced photographer with a strong commercial eye and the organisational skills to run a studio effectively. Youll care deeply about quality, take pride in ownership and enjoy collaborating with others to deliver outstanding results.
Youll bring:
Proven professional photography experience, ideally within fashion or lifestyle
A strong portfolio covering product, model and still-life photography
Advanced technical expertise across camera systems, lighting, set design and post-production
Strong working knowledge of Capture One and Photoshop
Excellent planning and organisational skills, with the ability to juggle multiple deadlines
A creative mindset balanced with the discipline to follow brand guidelines precisely
Clear communication skills and confidence working cross-functionally
A proactive, solutions-focused approach in a fast-paced studio environment
Why Join Us
Be part of a globally recognised British heritage brand
Take ownership of a key creative function within the business
See your work directly influence brand perception and commercial performance
Collaborate with passionate, skilled teams across the organisation
Work from our Derbyshire base, surrounded by craftsmanship and heritage
Competitive salary and benefits package
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