Photography Director, WSJ. Magazine and Style News

Job Description:

Photography Director, WSJ. Magazine & Style News in New York, NY

WSJ. Magazine and The Wall Street Journal’s Style section are seeking a dynamic and experienced Photography Director to lead an award-winning photo team, helping shape WSJ. Magazine’s visual identity across all contexts and platforms.

WSJ. Magazine and Style blend deep reporting, intelligent wit and good taste to create compulsively readable stories, analysis and features on the subjects of style, entertainment, celebrity, society, lifestyle and the arts. Photographically, style and magazine content at The Journal takes many forms—reported articles, celebrity profiles, photo essays, fashion editorials, social media, events and more. 

The ideal candidate is an expert visual storyteller with a deep understanding of the print and digital design process; of photography, video and print production; and of the best of what social and newsletters extensions can offer visually and creatively. They will thrive in a fast-paced but warm, highly collegial environment, and be ready to push a strong brand forward with infectious energy and enthusiasm. They will have a unique and irreverent eye for exciting new collaborators and industry trends, experience managing a detailed budget, and be a dynamic motivator, manager and mentor to staff. 

This is a full-time position based in our New York office and reporting to the magazine’s Head of Creative.

You will:

• Deliver energetic and relevant photographic direction for WSJ. Magazine and Journal style editorial across all channels, including digital, social and our flagship print edition. 

• Directly lead and manage the photo team, supervising and managing the entire production lifecycle for photo content.

• Conceptually develop and drive pitches for visual content for all platforms, from Instagram Stories to an 12-page print portfolio, with a discerning eye for what works best in each context. 

• As a leader, foster a supportive environment for the Photo Team that encourages creativity, learning and development.

• Have excellent communication and diplomacy skills to work with artists, celebrity talent, internal commercial teams and many other high-profile stakeholders on multi-month projects.

• Work closely with external production partners to ensure shoot costs are kept in line with budget.

• When applicable, travel to shoots or other major creative events, providing leadership on set and ensuring each project is captured with excellence to meet WSJ. goals.

• Help create visually compelling materials for new projects and pitch presentations (talent references, conceptual outlines, moodboards, etc.) and understand how to be visually persuasive.

• Ensure the top-tier execution and ethical standards of WSJ. Magazine and the wider Wall Street Journal are consistently met: that work is of impeccable quality across all platforms, and that The Journal’s codes of conduct and overall Standards & Ethics rules are scrupulously met.

You have:

• At least 7 to 10 years relevant experience photo-directing at a creative media brand or similar, and an ambitious portfolio of outstanding work. 

• Strong skills as a manager, and a proven track record of motivating teams and fostering new talent, as well as working collaboratively across departments to produce results.

• Excellent time-management and prioritization skills, deploying people and resources to meet a variety of goals across different deadlines, and juggling shoot logistics for productions taking place all over the world. 

• Meticulous budget management experience. 

• An audience-first and platform-agnostic mind.

• Exciting, clearly articulated creative taste and strong visual sensibility

• Passion and creativity for telling stories on digital platforms in innovative ways, and a desire to constantly push the creative envelope. Strong relationships with photographers, illustrators, artists that you bring to the table.

To apply, please submit your resume, a cover letter explaining how you would approach the job and a link to a portfolio of your relevant work. If necessary, include a very brief description of the role you played in each example. 

Reasonable accommodation: