The Candidate is delighted to be partnering with a fast-growing retail business to recruit an experienced Ecommerce Photography Studio Manager to lead its busy in-house ecommerce photography studio.
This is far more than a traditional studio management role. We're looking for someone who has built their career within a high-volume ecommerce photography environment—someone who understands what it takes to deliver thousands of commercially effective product images, whilst leading creative teams, improving processes and ensuring products get online quickly and accurately.
You may have started your career as a photographer before progressing into studio leadership, or perhaps you've managed a large-scale ecommerce photography operation for a major retailer or consumer brand. Either way, you'll have credibility with photographers, stylists and retouchers because you've lived the process yourself.
If you've worked within homeware, fashion, interiors, lifestyle or food photography, we'd love to hear from you.
The Opportunity
As Studio Manager, you'll take ownership of a busy in-house photography operation responsible for producing the imagery that powers the company's ecommerce business.
You'll lead a talented studio team comprising photographers, retouchers, stylists, studio coordination and support staff, ensuring every image meets the highest standards whilst maintaining exceptional throughput.
This role sits right at the heart of the business, working closely with Buying, Ecommerce and senior leadership to ensure products move efficiently from sample arrival through to final imagery being published online.
No image means no product launch, so you'll play a critical role in keeping the commercial engine moving.
What You'll Be Doing
You'll oversee the complete studio workflow from start to finish, ensuring every stage runs smoothly and efficiently.
Responsibilities include:
- Managing the day-to-day operation of a high-volume ecommerce photography studio.
- Leading and developing a team of photographers, retouchers, stylists and studio support colleagues.
- Planning studio schedules around seasonal launches, product priorities and commercial deadlines.
- Managing the flow of incoming product samples, ensuring work is prioritised correctly and bottlenecks are removed.
- Reviewing photography before retouching begins, maintaining quality standards and reducing unnecessary rework.
- Overseeing product, lifestyle and campaign photography.
- Coordinating model and pet photography where required.
- Working closely with Buying, Ecommerce and other key stakeholders to understand priorities and manage expectations.
- Developing robust studio processes that improve efficiency, quality and consistency.
- Monitoring studio productivity, identifying opportunities to improve workflow and maximise output.
- Using data and reporting to prioritise workloads and ensure products are photographed in the right order.
- Supporting the continued evolution of AI-enhanced imagery and digital background creation.
- Driving continuous improvement across studio operations as the business continues to scale.
About You
We're looking for someone who genuinely understands ecommerce photography from the inside out.
You'll almost certainly have worked within an in-house retail photography studio where volume, pace and quality are equally important.
You'll bring:
- Previous experience managing an ecommerce photography studio.
- A background as a photographer or senior photographic professional.
- Experience within retail, homeware, interiors, fashion, lifestyle or food photography.
- A thorough understanding of the complete photography lifecycle—from sample management through to final assets being delivered to ecommerce teams.
- Strong leadership experience managing creative teams.
- The ability to mentor photographers and improve standards across every stage of production.
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to juggle multiple priorities.
- Confidence working with senior stakeholders across Buying, Ecommerce and Commercial teams.
- Experience implementing processes that improve productivity and studio efficiency.
- A calm, structured approach when working under pressure and managing changing priorities.
This is a fast-paced retail environment where planning, organisation and communication are just as important as creativity.
You'll be joining the business during an exciting period of growth, helping shape the future of the studio as volumes continue to increase.
You'll have the opportunity to improve existing workflows, implement new processes and build a studio capable of supporting continued business expansion.
We're looking for someone who enjoys bringing structure to complexity, inspiring creative teams and ensuring operational excellence sits alongside outstanding photography.
Why Apply?
This is an opportunity to join a growing retailer where your influence will be seen across the entire ecommerce operation.
You'll have the autonomy to improve processes, develop your team and shape how the studio operates as the business scales.
If you're passionate about ecommerce photography, thrive in a busy studio environment and enjoy leading talented creative professionals, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today or contact The Candidate for a confidential conversation
Please note due to high volumes of applications unfortunately we are not always able to respond to all unsuccessful applicants. However we wish everyone who applies the very best with their job search.
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