Staff Photographer

Ilitch Sports + Entertainment•Detroit, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Photographer is a key creative contributor within Ilitch Sports + Entertainment’s in-house creative team. Reporting to and supporting the Lead Photographer, this role helps define and execute the visual storytelling strategy for the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers brands. The Staff Photographer leads planning, production, and post-production for assigned photo projects bringing creative vision, technical expertise, and independent judgment to every stage of the process. This position plays an integral role in advancing both teams’ brand narratives through compelling imagery that supports marketing, digital, community, and corporate initiatives. The position is based in Detroit, MI.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in photography, visual arts, media production, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
4+ years of professional photography experience in sports, media, or creative agency environments.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and Photo Mechanic.
Demonstrated creative ability and strong visual storytelling skills across multiple mediums.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to both give and receive constructive feedback.
Highly organized, deadline-driven, and adaptable in fast-paced, high-visibility environments.
Must present a professional portfolio showcasing relevant work.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Lead Photographer to develop and execute visual concepts that strengthen brand identity and engage fans across platforms.
Translate organizational goals into compelling photographic storytelling that supports marketing campaigns and digital initiatives.
Independently conceptualize and propose creative ideas for content that enhances each team’s visual presence.
Plan, photograph, and edit high-quality images for games, practices, studio sessions, and special events.
Manage assigned shoots from pre-production through delivery, including creative direction, lighting, composition, editing, and file management.
Serve as on-site creative lead when the Lead Photographer is not present—making decisions on shot selection, coverage, and creative priorities.
Provide input and oversight to freelance photographers and production assistants to ensure alignment with creative standards.
Curate and maintain photography assets in the company’s Digital Asset Management (DAM) system, ensuring organized, tagged, and accessible files.
Uphold visual quality standards across all deliverables, ensuring brand consistency and archival integrity.
Partner with creative, marketing, and content teams to provide photography that aligns with broader campaign objectives.
Collaborate closely with designers, videographers, and social media managers to deliver cohesive, visually impactful content.
Contribute to team discussions on process improvements, visual trends, and creative opportunities.
Exercises discretion and creative judgment in determining photographic style, lighting, and composition for assigned projects.
Makes independent on-site decisions regarding shoot logistics, creative direction, and quality control.
Recommends new approaches, techniques, and technologies to improve creative output and efficiency.