Lead Photographer/Videographer

The University Relations division at the University of Denver speaks with a unified, authentic and resonant voice to strategically advance the university’s brand with four goals in mind:

• To promote and protect DU’s reputation
• To inspire students to enroll and engage
• To increase inclusion
• To strengthen the University

The University Relations (UR) team aims to strengthen DU’s strategic position locally, regionally and nationally through data-driven and authentic storytelling across multiple channels with focused support on the university’s value drivers: academics and research; enrollment and admissions, athletics and advancement. Whether through public or media relations, digital strategies, social media, print, podcast, issues or crisis management, community relations or thought leadership and training, UR drives results through narratives that involve words, pictures and design. With true understanding of and connection with our diverse audiences, we aim to foster collaborative problem solving, creativity and innovation.

Position Summary

The Lead Photographer/Videographer serves as a principal creator of the University’s photo and video content while guiding the craft and creative direction of the photo and video team. Reporting to the Director of Creative and Design Services, this is first and foremost a hands-on production role: the Lead spends the majority of their time behind the camera—planning, shooting, and editing high-quality photography and video that brings the DU brand to life across advertising, social media, content marketing, print, and web.
In partnership with the Director, the Lead helps set the University’s photographic and cinematic style—establishing the visual language, standards, and creative benchmarks that define how DU looks and feels. The Lead also provides day-to-day creative and technical leadership to the multimedia team, supervising photographer/videographers and the video editor/motion designer, mentoring student employees and interns, and coordinating the University’s freelance and vendor bench.

The ideal candidate is an accomplished visual storyteller who leads by example—an expert shooter and editor who can run a shoot, elevate the work of those around them, and translate strategic goals into compelling imagery. This position is required to make sound decisions independently and/or under minimal supervision and thrives in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Essential Functions

Photography & Videography Production 

• Serve as a primary photographer and videographer for the University, capturing and producing high-quality photo, video, audio, and motion-oriented content for advertising, social media, content marketing, print, and web.
• Independently plan and execute photo and video shoots end to end—concepting, storyboarding, scouting and reserving locations, coordinating and communicating expectations to participants, obtaining releases and permits, and conducting discovery calls and interviews.
• Provide coverage of major campus events, celebrations, and accomplishments, as well as academics and research, campus life, athletics, arts and performance, and advancement/donor and executive-leadership moments.
• Edit, color, cull, and retouch to finish photo and video assets to a professional standard, ensuring narrative flow, technical quality, and brand alignment.
• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot professional camera, lighting, audio, and grip equipment in field and studio settings; manage gear inventory and recommend equipment purchases.
• Proactively identify and develop visual story opportunities that advance University and unit goals.

Creative Direction & Visual Style 

• Partner with the Director of Creative and Design Services to define and evolve DU’s photographic and cinematic style, visual standards, and creative benchmarks.
• Provide creative direction on shoots led by others—reviewing selects, guiding the culling of shots/footage, annotating transcripts and recording time codes for editors, and giving clear, actionable creative feedback.
• Understand the University’s various audiences and the creative styles that resonate with each, incorporating these nuances into every project.
• Collaborate with creative team on multi-channel campaigns to weave visual themes into scripts and on-screen graphics.

Team Leadership & Supervision 

• Supervise the multimedia team—photographer/videographers, the video editor/motion designer, and student interns—including directing daily activities, assigning and balancing workloads, scheduling, hiring, onboarding, training, and performance evaluation.
• Manage and grow the University’s freelance and vendor bench, ensuring contractors are onboarded, briefed, and equipped to deliver work that meets the creative vision and brand standards.
• Manage production schedules, timelines, budgets, and resource allocation across concurrent projects; oversee the approval process for multimedia content to ensure compliance and timely delivery.

Operations, Accessibility & Asset Management 

• Ensure video and photo content meets accessibility requirements, including captions and alt text.
• Ensure final deliverables are accessible, searchable, and available in the University’s digital asset management (DAM) system, and maintain the unit’s multimedia content tracker.
• Stay abreast of developments in production resources, pricing, technology, and industry trends in photography and videography to advise on adoption and mid-cycle adjustments.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Mastery of photographic and cinematic craft—composition, lighting, color, and visual storytelling—demonstrated through a strong portfolio and reel.
• Expert proficiency with professional camera systems (DSLR/mirrorless), studio and on-location lighting, and audio capture.
• Advanced skills in professional editing and post-production software (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, Lightroom; Final Cut Pro).
• Working knowledge of motion graphics and the ability to direct and collaborate with a motion designer.
• Understanding of photo and video best practices across platforms, including display sizes, safe areas, and asset specifications for social, web, broadcast, and print.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and inspire creative staff and to direct shoots and creative teams.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, budgets, and resource allocation simultaneously in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with peers, students, senior leaders, campus partners, and interview subjects; ability to give and accept constructive creative feedback.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Familiarity with digital asset management systems and accessibility standards for multimedia content.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (film, photography, multimedia production, journalism, visual arts, or communications) plus 6–8 years of professional experience in photography and videography (both shooting and editing), which includes 2–3 years leading, supervising, or directing creative staff and/or vendors; OR any equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.
• Demonstrated experience operating and maintaining professional camera, lighting, and audio equipment in field and studio environments.
• A portfolio and/or reel demonstrating professional-level photography and videography is required with application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a higher education setting or other complex organization.
• Experience providing art direction on both photo and video shoots.
• Proficiency with motion graphics and design.
• Experience with drone/UAV videography and applicable certification (e.g., FAA Part 107).
• Familiarity with a project management system (e.g., Wrike) and a digital asset management (DAM) system.

Working Environment

• The successful incumbent must live or be willing to relocate to the Denver metro area. In accordance with the University’s flexible work policy, this position is eligible to be considered for a hybrid work schedule, typically with 3 days per week in office and 2 days per week remotely. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team specific needs.
• Some travel as well as occasional weekend or after-hours work will be required to fulfill duties, especially related to on-campus event support.
• Activities are primarily performed in an environmentally-controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding and manipulating a computer mouse (70%); frequently required to move for varying lengths of time and travel moderate distances to perform work (30%).
• Regular activities require ability to quickly change priorities which may include and/or are subject to resolution of conflicts.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) September 17, 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 11.

Salary Rate:
The salary rate for this position is $80,021

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history and National Sex Offender Registry background check.