Food Photographer

Job description

Division/Dept.

Zest In-house creative Agency (production studios) / Marketing & Loyalty 

Location

Hybrid – Milton Keynes / Location

Reporting to

Creative Manager of Photography

In a nutshell
Joining Zest Creative Agency as a permeant full-time food photographer, you will be responsible for producing outstanding food photography content tailored to social media, campaigns, and PR. This role will involve creating visually engaging and high-quality food imagery that supports marketing strategies across our brands Sainsburys, Argos and Nectar. Additionally, you’ll collaborate in the development of the creative direction for our food content, ensuring that all shots convey our brand's values of freshness, quality, and convenience.

Our team values pushing creative boundaries, encouraging innovative ideas, and delivering quality that exceeds expectations. We prioritize collaboration and maintaining high standards, with a focus on fostering a positive and supportive team culture. We also believe that work-life balance is essential for sustained creativity and well-being, so we offer the flexibility you need to succeed both at work and beyond.

Who you are

The ideal candidate must have a strong portfolio of food photography, showcasing a blend of creative and technical expertise in food lighting, composition and retouch. 

You’re a skilled and versatile Photographer who thrives on creativity, innovation, and delivering exceptional results. With experience in both e-commerce and campaign photography, within product and food, you have a strong eye for detail and excel at translating briefs into striking images. You enjoy working in a fast-paced setting, navigating complex shoot schedules, and meeting tight deadlines without compromising on quality. Your organizational skills are matched by a collaborative spirit, and your excellent communication enables you to build strong relationships across teams and with clients. At Zest, you’ll fit right in with a team that values creativity, teamwork, and constant growth.

What you need to do

• As a photographer at Zest Creative Agency, you’ll be key in producing food photography and retouch for all platforms and channels including: e-commerce, campaign, and PR visuals.
• Working both in the studio, with studio flash, which may occasionally be supplemented with location work, you’ll assess and bring creative briefs to life through impactful photography that adheres to brand guidelines and client visions. 
• You will be required to organise workload to ensure KPIs are met and will need to record your production output daily. 
• You will build strong relationships and embody the values of Zest, you’ll contribute to a positive, innovative studio environment where every project is a chance to set new benchmarks.
• You will deliver results under pressure to a complex and fast turnaround shoot schedule, and achieve and work to improve performance against the studio KPI’s.
• You will champion innovation, constantly thinking forward, and looking for new and imaginative ideas, and to keep abreast of new industry trends. 

What you need to know and show

Food photography expertise & creative execution: 

• Food photography content for social media, campaigns and PR, evidenced within portfolio.
• Evidence of maintaining consistent visual standards. 
• Showcase of advanced knowledge of lighting, composition, and retouch.
• Evidence of aligning to brand guidelines, while bringing innovation and creativity to projects. 
• Knowledge of both studio flash and natural light is essential - Proven experience of both evidenced within portfolio. 
• Knowledge of studio equipment and photography software – Broncolor, Capture one, Adobe Photoshop
• Be constantly on the pulse of creative, production and tech trends.

Behavioural Competencies: 

• Confidence: Believing in one’s own expertise and capability to succeed and inspiring confidence in others with creative skillsets. 
• Curiosity: Always asking questions to really understand production challenges, seeking out new and inventive ways of managing and improving creative output.
• Adaptability: In an environment marked by frequent changes, flexibility and adaptability to shifting project demands is essential. 
• Energy and drive: Be able and willing to drive yourself forward with enthusiasm and positivity.
• Smart Decision Making: Sound judgment and confident ability to make quick and informed decisions - seeking out the right information fast.
• Resilience: Ability to always remain calm under pressure. Persistence and drive in ensuring excellent delivery.

Support we will provide/ Resources available to me:

• Fully suited production studios and extensive creative production teams (mix of internal and freelance)
• Operational & production leadership support – In form of Head of Studio and Studio Manager – GM & Food (MK)
• Sainsburys home hub, AskHR, MyHR, Health, Wellness, Finance support
   

Directly or indirectly manages

N/A

Date of last job evaluation

28/01/25

Hay rating Grade

C4