Photo Production Manager

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in New Jersey.

📋 Description

• Convert upcoming releases into specified image requirements based on athlete, subject, style, and deadlines.

• Research and acquire images from photo agencies, image firms, photographer archives, athlete representatives, and other validated sources.

• Choose images with strong composition, suitable resolution, and compatibility for trading card designs.

• Assess missing images and decide whether to source existing photography or arrange new shoots.

• Coordinate athlete access and availability with the athlete partnerships team, agents, and representatives.

• Source, hire, and manage local photographers.

• Collaborate with the creative team to develop briefs and shot lists.

• Oversee locations, schedules, wardrobe, equipment, budgets, agreements, permissions, and deliverables.

• Organize photography sessions involving multiple athletes at tournaments, showcases, camps, signing events, and other gatherings.

• Manage event access, venues, session timings, photographers, lighting, backdrops, staffing, and file delivery.

• Cultivate and sustain relationships with photographers, agencies, and image firms.

• Negotiate project scope, pricing, turnaround times, and deliverables within the defined budgets.

• Acquire and monitor photography usage permissions and document restrictions, credits, expiration dates, and reporting obligations.

• Highlight ambiguous rights or additional permissions for leadership and legal evaluation.

• Brief external retouching partners, oversee deadlines and revisions, and review final assets.

• Coordinate final approvals and deliver production-ready files to the design team.

• Keep organized image libraries, file naming conventions, athlete identification, metadata, folder structures, version control, and rights records.

• Monitor image usage, deadlines, costs, missing images, and pending approvals.

• Identify and address delays before they impact design or production timelines.

• Collaborate with creative, athlete partnerships, product, and New Jersey-based teams.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 3 years of relevant experience in photo production, photo research, photo editing, art buying, or creative production.

• Proven experience sourcing photography from agencies, image companies, independent photographers, or other professional resources.

• Demonstrated experience coordinating photo shoots, including booking photographers, scheduling talent, preparing briefs and shot lists, managing budgets, and tracking deliverables.

• Practical knowledge of photography licensing and usage rights, including documenting permissions and restrictions.

• Strong visual judgment with the ability to evaluate image quality, composition, resolution, and suitability for trading card layouts.

• Familiarity with retouching and post-production processes, including briefing external partners, consolidating feedback, and reviewing final files.

• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with experience maintaining image libraries, file naming conventions, metadata, and version control.

• Strong communication and negotiation skills with the ability to manage photographers, agencies, athlete representatives, and other external partners confidently.

• Proficient in spreadsheets, project-management tools, and digital asset-management platforms.

• Capability to work independently in a remote setting, manage multiple deadlines, and maintain regular collaboration with our New Jersey-based team.

• Willingness to travel occasionally for athlete shoots and events, including selected evenings or weekends.

• Preferred: experience in sports photography, sports media, trading cards, collectibles, or licensed consumer products.

• Preferred: established network of photographers, photo agencies, or image providers.

• Preferred: experience coordinating athletes or other talent and organizing multi-person photo sessions at events.

• Preferred: familiarity with preparing images for print production.

• Advanced hands-on photography or retouching skills are not mandatory.

🏝️ Benefits

• Remote work.

• Competitive compensation.

• Ownership and impact.

• Unique projects.

• Travel opportunities.

• Professional growth.

• Direct collaboration.

• PTO.

• Healthcare.