Fine Art Photographer, Full-Time Start Date January 2020
A team member with high-level technical planning and oversight responsibilities in creating digital images that are compliant with preservation-quality museum standards in order to correctly represent the objects from the museums’ Collection(s).
Duties and Responsibilities
- Responsible for the actual digitization of the physical Collection(s) using industry-grade equipment and digitization workflows. This includes both acquisition and installation photography of fine art and final AK Public Art Initiative projects.
- Maintain and develop skills in the use of professional digital capture systems, both hardware and software, according to current museum best practices.
- Helps translate overall strategic digitization plans into specific imaging workflows for entire photography team for maximum productivity.
- Works with members of the team to produce written and visual documentation of studio projects and workflows as part of a standard operating procedural document.
- Along with the assistance of the Photography Studio Manager and Technician, manages the quality and control processes, and handles calibration and maintenance tasks.
- Tests new equipment and technologies. Make recommendations on equipment purchases and repairs to keep studio updated and functioning.
- Maintain and/or oversee maintenance of studio and imaging equipment.
- Consult with curatorial department to determine views, appropriate setup, and lighting for museum objects. Works with collections management staff to ensure safe handling of works of art.
- Process digital files to match original art objects, maintaining industry standards for color managed workflows. Conduct and/or supervise color correcting, retouching, and processing of raw digital files.
- Prepare Photoshop scripts to automate file processing and to develop efficient workflows tailored to specific projects.
- Provide technical guidance to other AK staff and collaborate with colleagues at other institutions on the production of images.
- Other related photography duties will be assigned as necessary.
- Under the direction of the Digital Assets Manager, basic management, organization, and ingestion of digital assets into the museum’s digital assets management system, Piction.
Basic Qualifications
- BA in photography or related field preferred;
- 5+ years of professional digital photography experience in a museum, library, archive, or similar setting required.
- Additional Qualifications
Experience with digital assets management systems preferred. - Proficiency with studio cameras, lenses, and other necessary equipment
- Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, other graphic arts applications, and museum software applications visual sensitivity to a wide range of 2D and 3D objects; demonstrated skill with color-correcting image files;
- Advanced knowledge of lighting techniques and sources; knowledge of large and medium format cameras; demonstrated ability to learn and to adapt to advancements in digital imaging technologies;
- Working knowledge of contemporary art and art history, excellent problem solving;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
- Ability to work under tight deadlines; strong time and project management skills;
- Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently;
- Experience handling art preferred.