Graphic Designer & Photographer

Salary: $42,000–$45,000 per year, based on experience and portfolio Reports To: Creative Operations Manager About the Role J29 Creative Group is looking for an early-career Graphic Designer and Photographer with strong design fundamentals, a creative eye behind the camera and a clear understanding of social media culture. Graphic design and photography are the priorities of this position: Approximately 65% graphic design Approximately 25% photography Approximately 10% supporting creative work, including website layouts, short-form content and AI-assisted workflows You will design social media content, campaign assets, print materials and brand applications while capturing professional photography for businesses throughout the Kansas City area. The right person understands that designing for social media is different from designing a traditional brochure or advertisement. Social content must earn attention quickly, communicate clearly on a mobile screen and feel natural to the platform where it appears. Because this position includes client-site photography and collaborative content creation, you should be comfortable communicating directly with clients and occasionally appearing on camera. You do not need to be a professional on-camera personality, but you should be willing to participate when the creative concept calls for it. This is an opportunity to build a diverse portfolio, work with real clients and grow alongside an experienced creative team. About J29 Creative Group J29 Creative Group is a boutique, digital-first marketing agency serving growing small and mid-sized businesses. Our in-house team combines strategy, social media, branding, graphic design, photography and video to help businesses communicate clearly and grow. We believe marketing should feel human. Our values are Give, Love, Team and Transform. We care about producing strong creative work, but we also care about the people behind the work, the clients we serve and the business objectives we are helping them accomplish. Responsibilities Graphic Design Design social media graphics, carousels, digital advertisements, thumbnails and campaign assets. Create brochures, flyers, signage, presentations and other print and digital materials. Support branding projects through research, concept exploration, layouts and brand applications. Extend approved brand identities across social media, websites and marketing materials. Work within established brand guidelines while keeping creative work fresh and engaging. Prepare organized, accurate and production-ready files. Incorporate internal and client feedback efficiently. Balance creative quality with client goals, budgets, platforms and timelines. Manage multiple assignments while meeting deadlines. Social Media Design Design content for the intended platform, audience and desired action. Create visuals that capture attention quickly and remain clear on mobile devices. Understand how hooks, visual hierarchy, pacing, readability and format influence whether someone stops, watches, swipes or engages. Stay current on social media culture, visual trends, platform changes and emerging content formats. Maintain a working understanding of how factors such as retention, watch time, saves, shares, comments and meaningful engagement affect content performance. Adapt creative work across Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube instead of simply resizing the same asset for every platform. Recognize when a trend fits a client’s brand and when it does not. Collaborate with the Social Media Manager to translate content strategies, client priorities and performance insights into stronger visual content. Use available performance data and team feedback to improve future creative work. Photography Photograph people, products, businesses, workplaces, events and behind-the-scenes content. Capture images for websites, social media, advertising and other marketing uses. Help develop shot lists based on creative briefs and client priorities. Use composition, lighting, exposure and visual storytelling to create effective images. Provide basic direction to help clients feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. Select, organize, color-correct and perform basic retouching on photographs. Prepare, organize and care for photography equipment and files. Travel to client locations throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area as assignments require. Represent J29 professionally while working with clients and community partners. Client and On-Camera participation. Communicate professionally and confidently with clients during meetings, photography sessions and content shoots. Ask thoughtful questions to understand the client’s goals, audience and creative preferences. Share ideas and explain creative recommendations in clear, approachable language. Participate in selected client meetings, creative reviews and project discussions. Be willing to appear in occasional behind-the-scenes, educational, promotional or social media content for J29 or its clients. Contribute naturally to collaborative content without needing to serve as a primary spokesperson or influencer. Additional Creative Support Create basic website layouts or landing-page mockups in Figma or similar tools. Apply brand systems consistently across desktop and mobile designs. Capture basic vertical video, talking-head content and supporting b-roll when needed. Assist with straightforward short-form video editing. Use AI tools responsibly to support research, brainstorming, concept development and production efficiency. Collaborate with J29’s designers, videographers, social media professionals and agency leadership. Graphic design and photography are the priorities. Experience with UX design, video or AI-assisted creative tools is valuable, but we do not expect you to be an expert in every discipline. Required Qualifications Strong fundamentals in typography, layout, color and visual hierarchy. A portfolio demonstrating thoughtful and polished graphic design work. A photography portfolio demonstrating composition, lighting and visual storytelling. Experience designing specifically for social media and mobile audiences. Strong awareness of social media culture, content formats, visual trends and platform behavior. Proficiency with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign. Familiarity with Lightroom or other photography-editing software. Basic understanding of branding and visual identity systems. Strong organization, communication and attention to detail. Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines. Comfortable interacting directly with clients in meetings and on location. Willing to appear on camera for occasional social media, behind-the-scenes or promotional content. Open to feedback and motivated to continue developing professionally. Willing and able to travel to client locations throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, visual communication or a related field. Zero to three years of professional experience, including internships, freelance work or relevant project experience. Familiarity with Figma, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Canva or similar creative tools. Experience creating website layouts or landing pages. Experience capturing vertical video or editing short-form content. Familiarity with AI-assisted creative tools and workflows. You May Be a Strong Fit If You... Are a trained designer who also enjoys getting behind a camera. Care about why something is being created, not only how it looks. Understand the difference between polished creative and social content that earns attention. Follow social media culture and understand why certain formats connect with audiences. Enjoy meeting clients and learning about their businesses. Can help people feel comfortable when they are being photographed or filmed. Are comfortable contributing both behind and occasionally in front of the camera. Can receive feedback without becoming defensive. Ask thoughtful questions when something is unclear. Follow through on commitments and communicate before a deadline becomes a problem. Work well with a team while taking ownership of your assignments. Want your work and professional growth to be visible within a small agency. What Success Looks Like Within your first 90 days, you should be able to: Consistently produce social and digital designs that meet J29’s standards. Create visual content that is mobile-friendly and appropriate for the intended platform. Work effectively from creative briefs and established brand guidelines. Capture professional photography for straightforward client assignments. Prepare for shoots and maintain organized photography files and equipment. Incorporate feedback with decreasing levels of oversight. Communicate professionally with teammates and clients. Keep assignments, deadlines and working files organized. Demonstrate growth in confidence, consistency and creative judgment. As you develop, you will have opportunities to take on greater responsibility in branding, campaign design, photography, website design and client communication. J29 Creative Group is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law. #J-18808-Ljbffr J29 Creative Group