Advanced Photographer with The Village Company in Eden Prairie, MN

Job Description

Job Description

The Village Company, headquartered in Eden Prairie, MN, creates bath, shower, hair, and body care products for the whole family under America's favorite brands.

We are currently seeking an Advanced Photographer to join our team . Reporting to our Sr. Creative Director, this role will lead and execute photography for beauty product campaigns, lifestyle shoots, and brand content.

This role requires a strong eye for beauty, product styling, lighting, composition, and visual storytelling, as well as the ability to conceptualize and build sets, source materials and props, and manage model-based photoshoots from planning through final delivery. The ideal candidate is a visual storyteller with refined taste, strong technical photography skills, and hands-on production experience. They can take a beauty product concept and bring it to life through thoughtful lighting, elevated set design, beautiful model direction, and carefully sourced materials. They are proactive, resourceful, detail-oriented, and comfortable owning the creative and logistical aspects of a shoot.

In addition, this position demands close attention to detail in both digital and physical executions, including photo retouching, color accuracy, and the ability to work within brand guidelines, while remaining attuned to evolving design, social, and content trends. The ideal candidate balances creativity with technical precision, understands the nuances.

Key Responsibilities

Photography Planning and Execution

• Develop and photograph high-quality product, lifestyle, editorial, and model-based imagery for beauty brands and campaigns.
• Possess the ability to work with organic materials including water, bubbles, suds and formulas
• Translate marketing direction into compelling, consumer-centric creative photography solutions
• Ensure beauty products are presented accurately, attractively, and consistently across all images.
• Oversee pre-production planning, including shoot schedules, casting needs, prop lists, location or studio requirements, and production timelines.

Brand Storytelling

• Demonstrate ability to tell a story through photography, including lifestyle, product, and beauty-centric image work
• Conceptualize creative shoot ideas, including mood boards, lighting direction, set design, prop styling, backgrounds, textures, color palettes, and shot lists.

Lighting/Styling

• Demonstrate an ability to manage lighting, showcasing a range of controlled executions
• Possess the ability to style the set, as well as photograph independently
• Proficiency with professional camera systems, studio lighting, grip equipment, tethered shooting, and color management.

Set Design

• Design and build compelling sets that enhance the product story, brand identity, and campaign objective.
• Source materials, props, surfaces, florals, fabrics, backdrops, beauty tools, and other visual elements needed for photoshoots.
• Source and secure new spaces for photoshoots
• Ability to be resourceful and work within a tight budget

Model Sourcing and Management

• Hire, book, and coordinate with models, makeup artists, hair stylists, prop stylists, assistants, and other production partners as needed.
• Direct models on set to achieve natural, polished, brand-appropriate poses and expressions.

Cater Photography to a Wide Range of Media

• Serve as a visual brand steward, maintaining and evolving digital brand expression across channels

Design digital marketing assets, including:

• Website and landing page graphics
• E-commerce content (Amazon, DTC, retailer PDPs, enhanced brand content)
• Paid and organic social media content
• Email marketing templates and campaigns

Digital advertising assets

• Optimize creative for performance, platform requirements, and evolving digital best practices Image Library Management
• Maintain an organized workflow for image capture, file management, selects, retouching notes, and final asset delivery.
• Organize and maintain a library of all visual assets for universal use

Campaign and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Marketing to support campaign launches, new product introductions, and seasonal initiatives
• Present creative concepts and final work to internal stakeholders with confidence and clarity
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines
• Collaborate with creative, marketing, brand, and social teams to understand campaign goals and translate them into strong visual assets.

Production and Execution

• Utilize Photoshop to retouch and prepare final photography files for digital platforms and vendors
• Ensure accuracy, quality control, and technical compliance across all deliverables
• Establish and maintain color standards across all photographed packaging
• Contribute to process improvements that enhance efficiency and creative consistency

Video, Social, and Emerging Media

• Design and execute video and motion-based content to support digital campaigns, social media, and ecommerce initiatives
• Edit and produce short-form video content using tools such as CapCut, Adobe Premiere Pro, or similar platforms, with a focus on performance-driven creative
• Leverage AI tools and software integrations to enhance creative workflows, improve efficiency, and support content ideation and production
• Develop platform-appropriate creative for TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and other social channels, with a clear understanding of brand voice, format requirements, and audience behavior
• Collaborate with marketing and social teams to ensure creative aligns with channel strategy and campaign objectives

Trend Monitoring and Innovation

• Stay current on digital media, social, design, and content trends, including emerging platforms, formats, and creative best practices
• Apply trend insights thoughtfully and strategically to brand work, balancing innovation with brand consistency and commercial goals
• Proactively identify opportunities to evolve brand expression through new tools, formats, and creative approaches

Qualification and Skill Requirements

• Demonstrates strong initiative and can manage photo assignments independently from concept through delivery.
• Self-driven, organized, and able to prioritize tasks without constant direction.
• Confident making creative and technical decisions in fast-paced or changing environments.
• Proactive communicator who anticipates needs, solves problems, and follows through reliably.
• Ability to source and manage equipment needs

Professional Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of professional photography experience in a fast-paced environment
• At least 3 years of hands-on commercial execution experience, delivering consumer-facing creative
• Prior experience within consumer-packaged goods (CPG) strongly preferred; experience in personal care, beauty, wellness, or illustration is a plus
• Demonstrated experience supporting brand campaigns, product launches, and e-commerce initiatives from concept through execution is a plus

Technical and Creative Skills

• Proficiency in Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Capture One, or similar editing and production software.
• Working knowledge of video editing software (e.g., CapCut, Premiere Pro) and social media platforms for brand use, including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with cross-functional collaboration tools
• Photography and video background required, including content capture and post-production for digital and social channels
• Expert-level experience working on Mac hardware and software environments
• Must have a cell phone capable of recording video.

Design and Brand Execution Capabilities

• Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in product photography, beauty lighting, model direction, set design, and creative campaign imagery.
• Proficiency with professional camera systems, studio lighting, grip equipment, tethered shooting, and color management.
• Strong understanding of composition, texture, color theory, product styling, skin tones, and beauty aesthetics.
• Experience in planning and executing photoshoots from concept through final delivery.
• Ability to source props, materials, models, and production partners independently.
• Experience working with models, makeup artists, hair stylists, stylists, assistants, and creative teams.
• Experience in maintaining color accuracy, quality standards, and attention to detail across a photographed portfolio
• Ability to apply creative thinking in a commercial, performance-driven environment

Project and Workflow Management

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects concurrently while meeting deadlines in a dynamic, high-volume environment
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and follow-up skills, with exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to multitask effectively while maintaining creative quality and consistency

Communication and Collaboration

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively across multiple levels of the organization
• Collaborative, proactive, and solutions-oriented working style, with experience partnering cross-functionally with marketing, sales, and production teams

Education and Professional Development

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Photography or a related field (or equivalent professional experience)
• Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) or Master Photographer a plus

To Apply: Please submit your resume, portfolio, and examples of beauty, product, lifestyle, and model-based photography work.

Work Requirement: This role requires on-site work at our Eden Prairie offices Monday through Friday.

The Village Company is committed to diversity, inclusion, and accessibility and is an equal-opportunity employer.

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