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The Morton Arboretum is a world-renowned nonprofit with a unique opportunity for a creative self-starter with an interest in trees, nature, and conservation. We're seeking someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and has experience creating authentic and unique visual photographic stories. You'll be part of a talented Marketing and Communications team, working in a business casual office, with 1,700 acres of natureand beauty outside your office door. Position Summary: Serve as primary photographer by capturing and editing images that promote the mission, beauty, and activities of The Morton Arboretum. Work closely with team members in Design, Marketing, and Public Relations to develop ideas for images that will position the Arboretum as the leading center of tree expertise. Maintain photographic assets for marketing and communications purposes and contribute to organization-wide efforts to manage and share high-quality images.
Essential Functions:
Produce original ideas for engaging photographic images that communicate the Arboretum's mission in a wide variety of Arboretum communications channels and advertising. Apply creative and technical proficiency, composition skills, and ability to use lighting to produce images that tell a story and/or record an event within the Arboretum brand style.
Under the leadership of the Creative Director, collaborate with the design department staff on creative direction, align with team leaders to capture images based on an annual editorial calendar supporting the needs of the Marketing and Communications department spanning special events, lifestyle, scientific story subject matter, and overall beauty.
Oversee post production of new images from start to finish including digital optimization, color correction, file naming, tagging, and archiving. Maintain high-quality photographic digital assets on the Arboretum's PhotoShelter DAM platform; follow consistent file naming, keyword, and metadata standards to enable search and retrieval of images. Work with Knowledge Management / Library staff to develop, document, and share image management best practices with other Arboretum employees. Collaborate with cross-departmental teams to guide image use principles and procedures for the Arboretum.
Work with team members to curate high-quality image galleries for staff and public use. Collaborate with Knowledge Management staff to ingest and share images via the Arboretum's digital asset management system.
Maintain, inventory, and expand photography equipment.
Collaborate with Social Media Specialist in support of owned channel content creation.
Demonstrate alignment with the Arboretum's employee core values.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Photography or related field required. In lieu of Bachelor's degree, Associate degree plus equivalent professional experience may also suffice. 4+ years of professional digital photography experience required. Proven ability to tell a compelling story through photography, to engage a variety of audiences. Photographic portfolio demonstrating a "good eye," imagination, and composition required. Demonstrated ability to put people at ease in front of the camera. Proficient in Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Camera Raw, and Photo Mechanic, amongst other professional photography applications required. Experience and license for drone photography preferred, but not required. Understanding of best practices in digital asset management. Experience with Google applications beneficial.
Success Factors: Creative, innovative, and a self-starter. Effective time management skills, with the ability to meet deadlines, turn assets around quickly, and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Understanding of the Arboretum brand style and tone. Ability to work independently and cohesively with fellow colleagues as part of a team. Good communication skills, respecting others' points of view through engagement and interest, incorporating constructive feedback. Customer service oriented with the ability to relate effectively with people of various backgrounds and ages. Strong interest in acquiring a thorough understanding of the Arboretum, its mission, programs, and staff.
Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
Work Environment: Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in all seasons, weather, and lighting conditions.
Equipment: General office equipment, computer, digital camera, appropriate lenses, tripods, backdrops, hard drives, the use of artificial lights, bounce boards, reflectors, etc.
Schedule: Requires being on-site frequently to capture timely images in all conditions, including some early morning, evening, and weekend work for photo shoots and events.
The expected hiring range for this exempt position is annualized at $65,000 - $75,000 based on experience that will be evaluated during the candidate selection process. We believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity of our current team members as a part of the final offer. This position is also eligible for acompetitive benefits package. For full consideration, please include your resume and portfolio with your application. The Morton Arboretum is a champion for diversity, supporting a culture of inclusion that attracts, inspires, and engages people to achieve success. The Arboretum is committed to hire and develop employees based on job-related qualifications irrespective of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or veteran status. The Morton Arboretum is dedicated to complying with our obligations as an equal opportunity employer- disability/veteran. All applicants are guaranteed equal consideration for employment
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The Morton Arboretum
Jun 13, 2025