Senior Studio Photographer

Slate Automotive•Troy, MI

About The Position

ABOUT SLATE At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them. | WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR Slate Auto is seeking a Senior Studio Photographer to help define and elevate the visual language of our brand. This is a senior individual contributor role for a photographer who thinks like an art director, someone who can originate a distinct look and feel, codify it into guides and systems, and lead its execution across current and future vehicle programs. You'll partner closely with creative and vehicle design teams to shape how Slate's vehicles, products, and lifestyle content are seen across e-commerce, brand campaigns, and marketing.

Requirements

15+ years of professional studio photography experience, with a strong portfolio in automotive, product, or high-end commercial work
Demonstrated experience developing a visual identity or "look" for a brand, campaign, or product line, not just executing someone else's direction
Experience building a studio from the ground up, equipment selection, workflow design, and space setup, rather than only working within an existing one
Expert command of both continuous and strobe lighting, including overhead lighting control systems, with the ability to design lighting from scratch to achieve a specific mood
Hands-on experience with turntable-based photography for automotive or product work
Proficient in tethered capture workflows and on-set file management
Working experience with DAM platforms (e.g., Brandfolder) for asset management and organization
Experience building e-commerce image standards or guides for physical products, ideally automotive or vehicles/accessories
Deep understanding of lensing and its effect on how a vehicle reads, able to set standards, not just follow them
Experience authoring style guides, brand books, or documented photographic systems for a team or organization
Experience developing visual standards ahead of a product launch, rather than only shooting post-launch
Advanced technical proficiency with professional camera systems (Canon, Sony, or Phase One preferred)
Expert-level retouching and color grading in Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Capture One
Strong track record working within collaborative, cross-functional teams, comfortable partnering with Creative, Marketing, and Production as a visual thought partner, not just an executor
Experience mentoring or directing other photographers, retouchers, or on-set crew
Portfolio required, with emphasis on visual development (mood boards, lighting/lensing tests, final image) and any e-commerce or brand guide work

Nice To Haves

Background in automotive turntables, rigs, or motion-control camera systems
Experience in a startup or fast-scaling in-house creative environment

Responsibilities

Own visual development for studio and automotive photography, establishing lighting language, lensing, color palette, composition style, and overall aesthetic direction for the brand
Develop and maintain the e-commerce image guide for vehicles and accessories, defining shot lists, angles, framing standards, and consistency requirements for product-level imagery
Provide art direction on all studio photography, ensuring every image reflects brand standards from concept through final retouch
Direct brand-level studio image production, hero imagery, campaign stills, and studio content that defines Slate's visual identity
Lead visual guideline development for future vehicle programs, establishing photographic treatment and standards ahead of launch
Develop lensing standards (focal lengths, perspective, distortion control) to ensure vehicles are represented accurately and consistently across all output
Design and operate continuous and strobe lighting setups, including overhead lighting control systems, for automotive and product photography
Operate and manage turntable systems for 360°/rotational vehicle and product capture
Shoot tethered on set, managing live capture review and file organization in collaboration with retouching and other production teams
Author and maintain the studio photography brand book, documenting lighting setups, lensing choices, color treatment, and shot recipes so looks can be replicated consistently by the wider team
Manage and organize photo assets within the DAM platform, ensuring consistent tagging, versioning, and accessibility for the broader team
Partner with the creative and design teams to develop new visual concepts, seasonal refreshes, and campaign-specific treatments
Provide art direction and technical guidance to junior photographers, retouchers, and on-set crew
Lead final image selection, retouching direction, and color grading to ensure brand and tonal consistency
Collaborate closely with Marketing, Creative Production, and Creative Operations team to plan shoot logistics and vehicle staging.