Photo Studio Art Director

WANTABLE PHOTO STUDIO SUPPORTS: WANTABLE, 4 PRIVATE BRANDS and WANTABLE CAFE

MISSION: 

Help lead our in-house photo & eCommerce team. We're seeking a visionary with an exceptional eye and outstanding leadership skills to oversee our photo team, including photographers, art directors, and stylists. This role involves executing the photo art direction for our highly successful marketing channels, elevating brand identity, ensuring consistency across all visual content, and driving customer engagement through innovative and high-quality imagery and video. The ideal candidate will have a passion for creating incredible content and the ability to inspire and motivate the team to achieve excellence.

Job Description: 

As the Photo Art Director at Wantable, you will oversee art direction for all photo shoots, ensuring each image aligns with the brand’s aesthetics, vision, and marketing objectives. This role demands a data-centric approach and involves collaborating closely with the Creative, Photo, and Merchandising teams. You will help create a cohesive vision for ecommerce and lifestyle photography and video assets each season, maintain style guides, and produce content that resonates with our target audience.

The ideal candidate has an elevated, fashion-oriented eye for photography, lighting, retouching and artistic vision. You will have an innate ability to work nimbly and efficiently, staying ahead of trends, possess an understanding of retail/apparel and digital marketing and will deliver top-quality visual content across all marketing channels. You will also utilize data-driven insights to integrate and iterate new and innovative ideas.

Responsibilities:

Creative Leadership:

• Develop and implement the artistic vision for all photography and video projects.
• Collaborate with the creative team to conceptualize and execute photo shoots that align with brand guidelines and meet marketing performance objectives. 
• Can-do positive attitude and a roll-up-your-sleeves approach; personable and flexible with demands and changes in business.

Photo Shoot Management:

• Oversee photographers, stylists, models, crew members, and freelance support during shoots.
• Manage the building, setup and arrangement of props and set designs to enhance the visual appeal of the shoots.
• Ensure that all photo shoots are efficiently planned and executed, adhering to timelines and budgets.

Technical Oversight:

• Ensure the proper use of lighting and photo techniques to achieve desired visual effects.
• Provide direction on camera settings, angles, and compositions.
• Oversee post-production processes, including photo editing and retouching.

Quality Control:

• Oversee the selection and editing of images to ensure high standards of quality and brand consistency.
• Provide constructive feedback to photographers and retouchers to enhance final outputs.
• Exceptional organizational skills; highly detail-oriented.

Collaboration:

• Work closely with marketing, product, agencies and DTC teams to align photography with overall brand strategy.
• Ensure seamless integration of visual content across all digital and print platforms.
• Collaborate with producer and Creative Director on model casting.
• Attend strategy meetings and partner with merchandising and creative teams to align business initiatives with creative concepts and compelling content.
• Collaborate with the social media team on social content as needed.

Innovation:

• Stay updated with industry trends and incorporate innovative photography techniques to keep Wantable's visual content fresh and engaging.
• Experiment with new concepts and styles to push the creative boundaries.

Expected Outcomes:

Brand Consistency: Achieve a cohesive and visually appealing representation of the Wantable brand across all photography.

Elevated Aesthetic: Elevate and evolve the brand aesthetic while supporting the overall brand direction.

Engagement Metrics: Drive increased customer engagement and sales through compelling visual content.

Process Efficiency: Streamline the photo shoot process to maximize productivity and creativity while maintaining quality.

Requirements

Location: Based in Milwaukee with the ability to travel to various shoot locations as needed. Will report in and work from the Photo Studio at (address) M-F during normal business hours. 

Experience: Proven track record in art direction within the fashion or retail industry.

Technical Skills: Proficiency in photography, photo editing software, and lighting techniques.

Soft Skills: Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills.

Skills:

Creative Vision: Ability to develop and articulate a clear artistic vision for photography and video projects.

Project Management: Strong project management skills to oversee multiple shoots simultaneously.

Technical Proficiency: Deep understanding of photography and lo-fi video techniques, lighting, and composition.

Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.

Qualifications:

Experience: Minimum 3 years of experience in a similar role, preferably in the fashion retail sector.

Portfolio: Demonstrable experience in producing high-quality visual content.

This role reports to the Creative Director.

About Wantable:

Wantable is a next-generation fashion brand delivering high-quality products through personalized experiences. Founded in 2012, we believe in empowering customers to look and feel their best.

Benefits

Wantable team members enjoy free food, coffee, and drinks in our HQ's beautiful new Wantable Cafe. We have a laid-back, casual environment in a state-of-the-art new HQ in Walkers Point.

We offer flexible schedules, paid parental leave (mothers AND fathers), and a private room for nursing mothers.

Even more exciting: paid vacation and seven paid holidays per year, plus a 50% discount on all merchandise. You’ll be eligible for the discount on your first day.

Important, but maybe less thrilling: we have ample parking, we offer medical (traditional and high deductible), dental, and vision insurance, as well as a 401K (both pre-tax and Roth options).