About the Photo Direction Team

Housed within Pottery Barn’s Creative department, the Photo Direction team translates the brand’s creative vision into compelling photography and videography that inspires our customers to decorate, entertain, and live beautifully in a home that reflects their individual style. Supporting Pottery Barn’s omni-channel business, the team concepts, develops and executes the photographic vision for each season, creating beautiful, distinctive and consistently on-brand imagery across digital, social, print, marketing, advertising and in-store channels.

We foster a highly collaborative, creative and positive environment and partner closely across Creative, Product Development, Merchandising, E-Commerce, Video and Social Media.

Overview of the Category Art Director Role

The Art Director, Category Photography is responsible for translating Pottery Barn’s seasonal creative vision into compelling photography and visual content at the product category level.

Working within the creative direction established by Creative leadership, you will own the style guide and photographic expression of specific product categories on potterybarn.com. You will develop visual concepts and bring them to life through set design, styling, composition, lighting, camera direction and on-set art direction.

You are a highly visual storyteller with a sophisticated eye and a passion for home décor, interiors and photography. You understand how the details of a room, the placement of a product, the quality of light and the framing of an image come together to tell a larger brand story.

You will collaborate closely with a combination of both in-house and freelance creatives: photographers, stylists, producers, set builders, digital technicians and cross-functional partners throughout pre-production, photography and post-production to create assets supporting Pottery Barn's website, email, and other marketing channels.

You will report to Creative leadership within the Photo Direction team.

Responsibilities

• With oversight from the Creative Leadership team, you will oversee style guides for specific product categories. These guides will reflect studying the home furnishings marketplace and competitors, as well as communicating decorating ideas, styling inspiration, camera angles, lighting, set concepts and the overall look and feel for asset deliverables.
• Responsible for owning the visual direction and execution for product photography for a defined set of product categories. Seasonally responsible for reviewing the product skus by category and planning out the most optimal way to achieve the sku level imagery either thru traditional photography, AI or retouching techniques.
• Manage the list of skus by category throughout the seasonal production timeline ensuring all assets are accounted and executed for and launch on time.
• Propose the image carousel for each product sku within the owned categories. Review, adjust, refine throughout prelaunch and testing phase prior to launch dates. Follow up on adjustments with the production team as needed to ensure standards are adhered to and executed to by category.
• Review older assets by category and identify opportunities to improve older assets when needed.
• Attend seasonal concept showroom walk-throughs and Product Development meetings to understand the creative direction, product stories and priorities for each season.
• Translate approved seasonal and campaign direction into actionable photographic concepts and visual storytelling.
• Present creative concepts and briefs by category to Creative leadership for review and approval prior to photography.
• Collaborate with Merchandising during pre-production to ensure alignment between the creative vision, product priorities and representation.
• Participate in photo planning with Creative leadership, including discussions around photographer and stylist selection, timing, workflow and production requirements. This photo planning will also determine which assets will be created with AI. You will partner with the AI Creative Manager to ensure an efficient creation of assets through this channel as well as through traditional photography.
• Design photographic sets by product category that reflect the approved creative direction, tie back to chapters shot on location by Brand Creative Art Directors and a strong Pottery Barn home furnishings point of view.
• Review set concepts with Creative leadership, incorporate feedback and clearly communicate approved direction to the set-building team.
• Initiate and lead photo pre-production meetings with stylists and producers to communicate the visual concept and creative expectations. Coordinate product and prop pairings that stay true to seasonal merchandising themes.
• Partner with Photo Producers to develop detailed shot lists and ensure daily, weekly and seasonal asset requirements can be delivered on schedule.
• Partner with the Pagination and Creative teams prior to photography to ensure planned imagery supports digital layouts, storytelling needs and required asset quantities.
• Keeping the Pottery Barn visual and photographic standards in mind, lead on-set art direction for assigned shoots, guiding lighting, lens choice, camera angle, composition, mood, tone, styling, interior design, styling and other elements contributing to the final image.
• Make thoughtful and decisive creative choices on set while maintaining the approved creative direction and meeting daily production schedules.
• Establish positive and productive working relationships with photographers, stylists, producers, digital technicians, assistants, merchandise coordinators, set builders and studio teams.
• Partner with Creative leadership and the Social and Video teams to support video content produced in conjunction with still photography when needed.
• Collaborate with digital technicians during photography to review imagery in real time and ensure assets meet the creative brief and brand standards.
• Review and select imagery for internal stakeholder and executive review. Ensure assets are presented and shared in final and intended crops.
• Provide detailed post-production direction on color accuracy, retouching, mood, background selection, cropping and layout as appropriate.
• Partner with Digital Tech and Production teams to move assets efficiently through post-production and meet agreed-upon timelines.
• Identify creative or production challenges and proactively develop solutions in partnership with Creative leadership including the Director, Photo Production and cross-functional teams.

Criteria

• Undergraduate or graduate degree in a visual or creative discipline such as advertising, interior design, interior architecture, graphic design, fine art or photography.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in Art Direction, Associate Art Direction or related creative roles such as Content Creation or Stylist.
• Significant photography and/or styling direction experience within retail home furnishings, lifestyle editorial, advertising or another visually sophisticated consumer brand.
• Strong experience directing photographers, stylists, producers, digital artists, set builders and other creative partners. Ability to lead a team through daily high-output asset creation, while also maintaining brand standards.
• Demonstrated ability to design compelling photographic sets, rooms and environments with a strong home furnishings and interiors point of view.
• Proven ability to translate established brand and seasonal concepts into consistent, compelling photographic assets.
• Exceptional visual judgment and a highly developed sense of taste, style, proportion, composition and detail.
• Strong understanding of lighting, camera angles, composition, styling and the elements required to create successful lifestyle and product photography.
• Ability to communicate visual ideas clearly and provide decisive, constructive art direction.
• Highly collaborative and comfortable partnering with Merchandising, Product Development, E-Commerce, Video, Social Media and other cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, exercise initiative and solve problems with flexibility and resourcefulness in a fast-paced creative environment.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple shoots, deliverables and timelines simultaneously. Responsible for creating detailed daily shot lists.
• Proven technological proficiency within a digital-first creative environment, including Adobe Creative Suite.
• Knowledge of the home furnishings and décor industry and awareness of current and emerging trends in interiors, design, photography and culture.

Our Culture & Values

We believe that taking care of our people is vital to our success, and we strive to offer equitable and transparent practices for all. We prioritize connection, growth, and wellbeing.

People First

Putting People First means investing in overall well-being and opportunities to grow and advance within the organization. Depending on the position and location, here are a few highlights of what benefits may be available:

Benefits

• A generous discount on all WSI brands
• A 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities
• Paid vacations, holidays, and time off to volunteer
• Health benefits, dental and vision insurance, including same-sex domestic partner benefits
• Tax-free commuter benefits
• A wellness program that supports your physical, financial and emotional health

Continued Learning

• In-person and online learning opportunities through WSI University
• Cross-brand and cross-function career opportunities
• Resources for self-development
• Advisor (Mentor) program
• Career development workshops, learning programs, and speaker series

WSI will not now or in the future commence an immigration case or "sponsor" an individual for this position (for example, H-1B or other employment-based immigration).

This role is not eligible for relocation assistance.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, or other applicable state or local laws and ordinances.

The expected starting pay range for this position is $129,000-$153,150. Applicable pay ranges may differ across markets. Actual pay will be determined based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. In addition to competitive pay, compensation may include a variety of other components like benefits, paid time off, merit, and bonus opportunities.

Our Company

Founded in 1956, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home in the United States. Our family of brands are Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, Rejuvenation, West Elm, Mark & Graham, Outward, and GreenRow. These brands are among the best known and most respected in the industry. We offer beautifully-designed, stylish and functional products for every area of the home, including the kitchen, living room, bedroom, home office, closet, laundry room and even outdoor spaces. We've seen some big changes since our first brick-and-mortar store opened more than half of a century ago. What hasn't changed is our passion for high-quality products, functional design, outstanding customer service, and enhancing the lives of our customers and the communities where we operate. Today, we're a multi-brand, multi-channel, global enterprise supported by state-of-the-art technology and some of the most talented teams in retailing - and we're always looking for new energy and ideas.