Lead Real Estate Photographer

Rae Scott Photography, based in Denver, is a highly sought-after name in commercial and interior photography. Our work spans real estate, interior design, architecture, and other commercial photography, and we hold ourselves to an editorial standard — from process, to shoot, to final product. While interiors, architecture, and real estate are our specialty, we also take on events, headshots, branding, lifestyle, hospitality, retail, and high-end portraiture. Join a team known for outstanding work and creative vision.

Lead Real Estate Photographer

About the Role:

We're hiring a Lead Photographer to bring senior-level expertise to our real estate photography — our core, highest-volume service — working alongside our photography team. You'll also take on other project types as needed, including headshots, family sessions, product photography, and events. This is a role for someone who already shoots and edits at an expert level and is ready to operate with real autonomy: making sound creative and logistical calls on-site, on your own, with minimal day-to-day direction. As our team grows, this role has a clear path toward leading and mentoring other photographers.

Schedule: Part-Time Training, Then Full-Time Exempt

This is important, so we're stating it upfront: this role begins as a part-time, hourly training position and converts to full-time, salaried employment on January 1, 2027.

Training phase (roughly through December 31, 2026): part-time, paid hourly, approximately 20–25 hours per week, scheduled around confirmed shoots. Hours won't exceed this range without advance approval.
Full-time phase (starting approx January 1, 2027): full-time, salaried, exempt, on our standard full-time schedule.
At every phase: this isn't a 9-to-5 role. Editing sometimes means very early mornings and twilight and evening shoots are a core, year-round part of the job; occasional weekends come up based on client needs; and the mix of hours shifts with the season.

What You’ll Do:

Serve as a lead, senior-level real estate photographer, exercising independent judgment on lighting, composition, and shoot execution with minimal oversight.
Own the client experience on-site, including in-the-moment problem-solving tailored to each property and client.
As needed, shoot other project types outside our core real estate work, including headshots, family sessions, product photography, and events. This also often means assisting Rae on interior design, architecture and product shoots.
Edit and retouch to our brand standard, keeping our established style consistent across every shoot.
Stay current on techniques and tools, and help document our core methods: flambient, twilight, exterior, and neighborhood photography as needed.
As our team grows, help onboard and mentor other photographers.
Maintain equipment, manage and archive digital files, and support internal projects like social content and stock photography shoot days.

What We’re Looking For:

5–7+ years of professional photography experience, with a portfolio that shows range and technical mastery. We will consider photographers from all backgrounds, not just real estate.
A demonstrated ability to work independently and make sound, fast decisions with limited supervision.
Strong proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, and Lightroom. Capture One is a plus.
Excellent client-facing communication and the judgment to represent our brand unsupervised.
A desire to grow into a leadership role, including mentoring other photographers, as the team expands.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple ongoing deadlines without close oversight.
Flexibility for evening and occasional weekend work, and a flexible weekday calendar between 8am–8pm, when most shoots are scheduled.
Ability to lift and carry 50+ pounds, and to stand and move for 8+ hours per day.
A working, reliable personal vehicle and current auto insurance are required. Rideshares and similar services won't work for this role.
Familiarity with current photography trends and social media content creation.

Gear List:

Candidates should have all, or nearly all, of the gear below, or be prepared to purchase it as part of joining us. Because this role requires personal equipment from your first day, the monthly equipment stipend referenced below applies during training as well as after conversion to full-time.

Computer: a strong, capable Macbook with ample storage and processing power (32GB+ memory required; 1TB+ storage recommended).
External drive for storage.
Camera body: 1–2 full-frame bodies. Our team currently shoots Canon, which is preferred but not required.
Lenses:
16–35mm f/2.8 L-series lens required.
Long telephoto zoom required; 70–200mm recommended.
Low-aperture lens required: 50mm 1.4 or 24–70mm 2.8.
Tripod:
Tall tripod with a 3-way pan/tilt or geared head required; Manfrotto 190XPRO3 recommended.

Compensation + Benefits:

Training Phase (approximately through December 31, 2026) — Part-Time, Hourly
$19.29 per hour (Denver's 2026 minimum wage), paid hourly for approximately 20–25 hours per week.
No vacation-style paid time off or paid holidays during training. As required under Colorado's Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, paid sick leave still accrues from your first day, regardless of employment phase.
A monthly equipment stipend calculated from our standard equipment valuation schedule, based on the personal gear you provide relative to what the company supplies.
Mileage reimbursed at the current IRS standard rate, paid monthly.
Colorado FAMLI paid family and medical leave coverage.
Workers' compensation coverage from day one.
Full-Time Phase (starting approximately January 1, 2027) — Salaried, Exempt
$58,000–$62,000/year.
Standard full-time paid time off and paid holidays.
A monthly equipment stipend on the same basis as the training phase, subject to a written adjustment formula as company-owned gear is introduced.
Mileage reimbursed at the current IRS standard rate, paid monthly.
Colorado FAMLI paid family and medical leave coverage.
Workers' compensation coverage from day one.

How to Apply:

Please submit your resume, a cover letter detailing your experience and passion for photography, and a link to your portfolio to [email protected]. Please include your general availability in your application as well.

Applications close: This posting has no fixed deadline. We're accepting and reviewing applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Rae Scott Photography is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members.

Pay: $58,000.00 - $62,000.00 per year

Work Location: On the road