Director Photography

Toronto, ON
$140,000-150,000 per year
Permanent
Full-time

7 days ago

Description :Marks, part of the Propelis Group, Marks is a consumer experience agency creating engaging moments across the entire brand spectrum—from brand design and packaging, to content and consumer connections. We are a collaborative global network of 1,900+ team members across 25+ studios and 20+ countries, partnering with some of the world’s most recognized brands to solve complex business challenges through design, strategy, and craft.Position SummaryThe Director of Photography is responsible for leading the studio’s photography function, creating high level content themselves as well as overseeing daily operations, and managing a high-performing team of creative professionals in the designated area. This role drives creative excellence by fostering team development, encouraging innovation, and delivering elevated, trend-forward visual solutions tailored to client needs.The Director of Photography collaborates cross-functionally with Design, Account Management, Retouching, and Production teams to ensure all content meets the highest creative and technical standards. With strong leadership and communication skills, this role builds trusted client relationships while continuously advancing the studio’s creative capabilities and operational performance.Key Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of photography professionals, ensuring consistently high creative and technical standards.
Lead on-set direction for photography and video shoots, ensuring alignment with creative vision and client expectations.
Oversee lighting, composition, styling collaboration, and overall image execution during production.
Lead by example as a hands-on creative, delivering best-in-class photography for key projects while providing oversight and direction to ensure all studio output meets established creative standards.
Establish and maintain best practices within the studio to optimize workflow efficiency and creative output.
Oversee all photography projects within the region, ensuring quality, consistency, and continuous improvement.
Deliver exceptional visual content that meets and exceeds client expectations across all channels.
Evaluate team capabilities and strategically allocate resources to maximize project success.
Manage freelance talent, including sourcing, booking, and maintaining a balance between quality and cost efficiency.
Contribute to business growth by identifying new opportunities, services, and revenue streams within photography and content production.
Track and report on studio performance, including quality, efficiency, utilization, and client satisfaction metrics.
Partner with senior leadership on forecasting, budgeting, and long-term studio planning.
Ensure projects are delivered within scope, timeline, and budget while maintaining creative excellence.
Partner with Design and Account Management teams to develop innovative, client-focused creative concepts.
Define and uphold the overall photographic vision and visual standards for the studio and client brands.
Ensure brand consistency across all visual outputs and channels.
Participate in client meetings and briefings, translating objectives into clear photographic direction and solutions.
Collaborate with Traffic/Production teams to effectively manage scheduling and studio capacity.
Lead pre-production meetings, providing direction on photography, styling, and execution strategies.
Engage with Creative Leadership and broader teams to stay aligned on ongoing and upcoming projects.
Conduct research on industry trends, sharing insights to enhance creative output and client value.
Identify and implement new technologies, tools, and equipment to improve efficiency and production quality.
Oversee team performance management, including coaching, training, and career development.
Lead hiring strategy and talent development planning for the photography team.
Build a diverse and future-ready team aligned with evolving client and industry needs.
Maintain strong expertise in both still photography and video production workflows.
Demonstrate advanced knowledge of food photography across multiple formats, including packaging, digital, social, advertising, and point-of-sale.
Stay at the forefront of industry trends, techniques, and emerging technologies in photography and content creation.
Champion innovation in visual storytelling, formats (e.g., motion, short-form content), and production methodologies.
Perform additional duties as required.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Photography, Fine Arts, or a related field (Master’s or MBA considered an asset).
10+ years of progressive experience in a photography studio, creative agency, or related environment.
8+ years of leadership experience managing creative teams.
Advanced proficiency in Capture One and Microsoft Office Suite.
Strong understanding of both still and motion production.
Proven expertise in food photography across multiple platforms and formats.
Exceptional project management skills, with the ability to lead projects from concept to completion.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, prioritize workloads, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Self-motivated with a high level of attention to detail.
Willingness to travel as required (locally, nationally, or internationally).

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

Ability to work in a studio environment, including standing, walking, and sitting for extended periods.
Occasional lifting of equipment (up to 10 lbs).
Visual acuity required for detailed creative work, including color accuracy and focus.

Equal Opportunity StatementWe are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to support individuals in performing essential job functions.About Propelis: Propelis is a portfolio of global marketing services and technology companies with a combined legacy of 150+ years, 2,000+ clients, 9,000 employees, and operations across 30 countries. Propelis provides the scale and support of a global organization while preserving the unique culture and identity of each company in its portfolio. For more information visit: www.MakeMarks.comEEO Statement: We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. We offer equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, age, disability or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled.We strive to make our employment website and application process accessible to all users and applicants. In doing so, we provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation or assistance completing the application process, please contact a member of our Human Resource Team.The Ontario pay range for this position is $140,000 CAD to $150,000 CAD annually. Ultimately, in determining pay, we will consider the successful candidate's experience, skills, knowledge, and other job-related factors.
We remain committed to ensuring equal opportunity in all aspects of employment, including recruitment. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, particularly those who may contribute to the further diversification of our organization. If you require any form of accommodation during the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to let us know. Together, we strive to foster an environment where everyone can thrive and be their authentic selves.#LI-SM1Education : BachelorsExperience : 0 years: Advanced proficiency in Capture One and Microsoft Office Suite.
8 years: Years of leadership experience managing creative teams
10 years: Years of progressive experience in a photography studio, creative agency, or related environment.

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