Photographer

Role summary

Photographer is a role at Culture Kings in Costa Mesa, California, United States (on-site). Posted 2026-09-01. Salary: USD 75,000–95,000 per year. Experience level: 2-5.

Job title

Photographer

Company

Culture Kings

Location

Costa Mesa, California, United States

Work arrangement

on-site

Category

Software Engineering

Salary

USD 75,000–95,000 per year

Experience level

2-5

Date posted

2026-09-01

Job description

Culture Kings is looking for an experienced In-House Photographer & Content Creator to lead photography across Culture Kings, our in-house brands including Loiter, Saint Morta, American Thrift and Carrè, and key third-party partners such as New Era and adidas.

This role will own photography across studio, campaign, editorial and brand content , combining a strong creative eye and elevated taste level with the technical and production experience needed to plan and execute shoots from start to finish.

We’re looking for someone who is equally comfortable developing visual concepts with the creative team, directing and shooting talent on location, building and lighting studio sets, and managing the logistics required to keep fast-paced productions running smoothly. A strong understanding of fashion, youth culture and contemporary brand photography is essential.

Key Responsibilities

Photography & Content Creation

● Lead photography across Culture Kings and its portfolio of in-house brands, spanning campaign, editorial, studio, lifestyle, product and brand content.

● Shoot content for Culture Kings' third-party brand partners and collaborations, including brands such as New Era, adidas and other global partners.

● Capture compelling imagery across both controlled studio environments and on-location shoots using natural and artificial lighting.

● Shoot talent, product and lifestyle content with a strong understanding of composition, lighting, movement, posing and storytelling.

● Bring an elevated creative eye and strong understanding of fashion, street style, music and youth culture to every project.

● Capture short-form video and motion content when needed for social, digital and campaign use.

● Maintain a consistently high visual standard while adapting photography to the distinct identity of each Culture Kings brand.

Shoot Planning & Execution

● Partner with Brand Creative lead on planning, setup and execution of shoots, ensuring each project is creatively strong and operationally organized.

● Partner closely with Creative, Brand and Social Media teams to translate creative concepts and briefs into executable shoot plans.

● Participate in pre-production, including location planning, casting considerations, shot lists, lighting plans, equipment requirements, schedules and overall shoot logistics.

● Identify what is required to successfully execute each shoot and proactively communicate production needs ahead of time.

● Lead photography execution on set, ensuring the team captures all required assets while maintaining the creative vision.

● Work effectively with models, talent, stylists, producers, creative directors and other members of the production team.

● Help establish efficient on-set workflows that allow the team to move quickly without sacrificing quality.

● Troubleshoot technical, lighting, equipment or production challenges in real time.

Creative Direction & Collaboration

● Partner with Creative leadership to help develop the visual language, photography style and overall approach for campaigns and brand storytelling.

● Contribute photography references, lighting approaches, compositions and visual ideas during campaign development and pre-production.

● Understand the creative nuances between Culture Kings and each in-house brand and ensure photography reflects the appropriate brand identity.

● Provide thoughtful creative input around casting, locations, lighting, framing, posing and overall visual execution.

● Stay connected to emerging photography, fashion, music, social and cultural trends and bring relevant ideas back to the team.

● Maintain a strong point of view while being highly collaborative and able to execute against established creative direction.

Studio & Equipment Management

● Own the day-to-day organization and readiness of Culture Kings' in-house photography studio and equipment.

● Set up and break down lighting, backdrops, sets and equipment for studio productions.

● Maintain cameras, lenses, lighting equipment, grip equipment and other photography tools.

● Ensure photography equipment is properly organized, maintained and ready for upcoming shoots.

● Support the development of consistent studio lighting setups and workflows that allow the team to execute efficiently.

● Identify equipment, studio or production needs and proactively recommend solutions.

Post-Production & Asset Management

● Manage image selects and ensure photography is properly organized and handed off for post-production.

● Perform image processing, color correction and editing when required.

● Maintain organized file structures and ensure assets are properly captured, named, backed up and delivered.

● Partner with Creative and Marketing teams to ensure final imagery meets the requirements of each channel and campaign.

● Work efficiently within fast-moving timelines and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Skills & Qualifications

● 4+ years of professional photography experience, ideally within fashion, lifestyle, retail, e-commerce or culturally relevant consumer brands.

● Strong portfolio demonstrating experience across campaign, editorial, studio and lifestyle photography.

● Proven experience independently planning and executing professional shoots from pre-production through final capture.

● Strong creative eye with an elevated understanding of composition, lighting, casting, posing, styling and visual storytelling.

● Strong technical knowledge of professional digital camera systems, lenses, lighting and studio equipment.

● Ex