Sr. Photography Job Opening...

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

Why would you say insane?? This is a full time position for the world's largest retailer of beauty supplies and products.

I know the word "insane" was a little overdramatic. I more or less mean that it isn't the norm and kind of odd for dallas. I assisted at many of the corporations in Dallas and had friends who did at others. Neimans catalog used all contract shooters. Neimans finally built an in house studio for all their web work, but I heard they had trouble keeping busy enough to maintain their staff the entire time.

JC Penny has staff shooters, but also brought in a lot of freelance shooters. Sam's Club, though not based in Dallas, used a DFW studio to do all their ad shots. Pier One and Fossil both use a lot of contract shooters, and there are/were several studios in the photo district that did nothing but freelance/contract catalog work for smaller corporations that didn't keep an in house studio.

I can see a reason to keep a shooter in house, but a lot of companies think otherwise. Maybe because you have health, 401k, and salary to pay even when there isn't anything to shoot.

Originally Posted by dminton

Having known a few people that have worked for Sally in Denton, I'll say this:

They do everything they can in-house, hire within the house, and this job will be a whole lot more than just taking catalog pictures.

This would make more sense. If they are going to make their shooter do more/other work, they won't have someone sitting for a week or two in between catalog and new product projects. I know of a company or two that keeps an in house studio, but the photographer has to keep busy with other non-traditional jobs when they are in-between catalogs.

[boldimagery]

Originally Posted by janikphoto

I know the word "insane" was a little overdramatic. I more or less mean that it isn't the norm and kind of odd for dallas. I assisted at many of the corporations in Dallas and had friends who did at others. Neimans catalog used all contract shooters. Neimans finally built an in house studio for all their web work, but I heard they had trouble keeping busy enough to maintain their staff the entire time.

JC Penny has staff shooters, but also brought in a lot of freelance shooters. Sam's Club, though not based in Dallas, used a DFW studio to do all their ad shots. Pier One and Fossil both use a lot of contract shooters, and there are/were several studios in the photo district that did nothing but freelance/contract catalog work for smaller corporations that didn't keep an in house studio.

I can see a reason to keep a shooter in house, but a lot of companies think otherwise. Maybe because you have health, 401k, and salary to pay even when there isn't anything to shoot.





This would make more sense. If they are going to make their shooter do more/other work, they won't have someone sitting for a week or two in between catalog and new product projects. I know of a company or two that keeps an in house studio, but the photographer has to keep busy with other non-traditional jobs when they are in-between catalogs.

Fossil just hired two in-house shooters this year. With e-commerce, and the regular needs of a marketing department for ads, in store signage, catalogs, mail pieces there is plenty of work. There is this little corporation down this way that employees eight shooters full-time called Academy, and they still have more work than they can handle.

Looking at their website, and the range of products I think they can keep a few folks busy.

[bondarnes]

Well, I sent them my resume'. Now we will wait and see.

[tukaniray]

Good luck with you and all of you who are applying ...

As for the person that asked about income ... I bet it would be a nice penny. I have a friend that does Still Photography for Academy and she makes some good bank now having been there for 3 years.

-Ray-

[epoh]

Good luck to y'all! And ditto ignoring the degree requirement. I never pay attention to that on a job opening.. and I've never not been offered a job I've interviewed for. :)

[bondarnes]

Good news. I got a call from them this morning requesting more information. But they haven't scheduled an interview yet. I actually did quite a bit of work for this company in the mid to late 90's. I photographed the CEO in 1998, but that was before they started an in-house photography department.

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

Good news. I got a call from them this morning requesting more information. But they haven't scheduled an interview yet. I actually did quite a bit of work for this company in the mid to late 90's. I photographed the CEO in 1998, but that was before they started an in-house photography department.

Well, that IS good news! I would've tried to contact them, but I don't really do tabletop, and I'm sure the job is a TON of tabletop. I used to assist a lot of commercial photogs who did tabletop, but I didn't care for it enough to pursue it myself.

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

Good news. I got a call from them this morning requesting more information. But they haven't scheduled an interview yet. I actually did quite a bit of work for this company in the mid to late 90's. I photographed the CEO in 1998, but that was before they started an in-house photography department.

Great! When you get hired on, and there's a photographers assistant position open, remember who started the thread!

[Jim Victory]

I did this type of work for over 20 years on a contractual basis. At that time most large corporation didn't have fulltime photogs so it sounds like a nice gig.

Good luck Don and anyone else going for it. It is good experience and a style of photography that can net you some good money even if you are not a staff photog.

[tukaniray]

Congrats Don ... and good luck reeling in the gig.

-Ray-

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by Jim Victory

I did this type of work for over 20 years on a contractual basis. At that time most large corporation didn't have fulltime photogs...

That's what I was saying earlier. It wasn't the norm for a company to keep a studio in-house, because you could get good contract shooters without all the healthcare, 401K, workers comp, vacation, etc. It made sense to just contact out. My guess is that the landscape is shifting as digital eliminates much of the in-house negatives. No more dealing with film storage, processing, scanning, etc...

[jkderby]

Originally Posted by janikphoto

That's what I was saying earlier. It wasn't the norm for a company to keep a studio in-house, because you could get good contract shooters without all the healthcare, 401K, workers comp, vacation, etc. It made sense to just contact out. My guess is that the landscape is shifting as digital eliminates much of the in-house negatives. No more dealing with film storage, processing, scanning, etc...

Used to work for Verizon. As of Jan 1, 2008, new hires do not get any benifits after leaving the company. Not sure if they still offer a 401K any more, no medical, annutiy when you "retire". Basically no legacy costs anymore. Only have a cash balance. Majority of companies are doing this.