Sr Photographer Beinecke Library

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Overview

The Senior Photographer will report to the Associate Director for Digital Content Services, Digital Special Collections and Access and will work within the Digital Special Collections and Access (DSCA) unit, part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library (BRBL). DSCA provides leadership, services and strategic direction that enables access to digitized and born digital special collections content across Yale Library.

This position will be part of a cohort of senior photographers within DSCA’s Digital Studio. The Digital Studio produces high quality preservation quality imaging for requests from patrons, exhibitions, and projects. These images are subsequently added to Yale Library’s digital preservation and digital access systems, for long term perseveration and online access.

• Serve as a high-level source of information to appropriate Beinecke staff regarding digital photographic and related computer hardware/software techniques.
• Complete photographic assignments of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional works using professional digital capture systems to produce high quality digital images
• Evaluate the technical requirements of complex projects. Resolve problems that are not necessarily governed by established procedures.
• Plan the composition of photographs; select the appropriate technical approach, equipment, and accessories to achieve the desired results as defined by the project manager.
• Relying on a thorough knowledge of color theory, judge and correct digital scans and proof of color, contrast and density when compared to original objects or transparencies. Use computer accessories and techniques to modify the color, color balance, contrast and background of photographic images.
• Relying on a thorough knowledge of color theory, provide high quality color and black and white digital prints using current imaging technology.
• Create, duplicate and manipulate digital media.
• From a daily operational standpoint, monitor and maintain specialized software applications to capture, manipulate, and save images.
• As appropriate during daily operations, work with hardware/software vendors to triage and troubleshoot problems related to equipment; immediately involve the Digital Content Services Librarian if problems threaten production goals.
• Perform additional functions incidental to photographic activities that may include the proper handling and movement of collections within the studio.
• Maintain clear and open communication with the Digital Content Services Librarian, Digital Metadata Team Lead, and Digital Operations Metadata Specialists regarding project status, issues, and/or problems as well as technical and/or workflow questions.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Strong collaboration, organizational, customer service, and interpersonal communications skills
• Experience in medium format studio photography
• Must be familiar with digital capture of two-dimensional work using a copy stand as well as three-dimensional work under studio lighting conditions.
• Demonstrated ability to work accurately in a detailed oriented production environment
• Thorough knowledge of color theory as it relates to digital capture and printing.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills

• Demonstrated experience in Art, Art History, Humanities, or special collections
• Experience in either color or darkroom or photographic printing
• BA in photography
• Three or more years’ experience as a photographer in a gallery, or library 5.Demonstrated ability to color calibrate monitors and create custom profiles

Candidates must submit a resume, cover letter, and either a link to an online portfolio or work samples demonstrating relevant photographic and/or digitization experience.

Principal Responsibilities

• Views subjects and settings and plans compositions, camera positions, and camera angles to produce desired effects. 2. Evaluates the technical requirements of complex projects. Determines the most appropriate techniques and methods as well as time needed to complete assignments or projects. (Assignments may require innovation to resolve problems that are not necessarily governed by established procedures.) 3. Selects and assembles equipment according to subject material, anticipated conditions, and knowledge of function of various types of cameras, lenses, films, and accessories. 4. Provides color management support; matches hues and tones of digital files to original objects. 5. Maintains and monitors condition of equipment and software used to capture, edit and view images. 6. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and two years of related work experience in the same job family; or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.

Job Posting Date

06/17/2026

Job Category

Technician

Bargaining Unit

L34

Compensation Grade

Labor Grade E

Compensation Grade Profile

Hourly Range

$0.00 - $0.00

Time Type

Full time

Duration Type

Staff

Work Model

Hybrid

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

The hiring rate of a role is determined in accordance with the provisions outlined in the respective collective bargaining agreement.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.