Senior Photographer

• Role: Senior Photographer
• Department: Collection Documentation and Registration
• Hours: Full-time, 41 hours per week (including one hour paid lunch break)
• Contract: Permanent
• Working Type: On-site
• Salary: £35,928 per annum
• Application deadline: 12pm (midday) on Monday, 1 December 2025

Important Information:

Please submit a link to a portfolio of 25 photographs or a website link to material that demonstrates professional skills, in your personal statement. We will not be able to consider your application if we do not receive this.

You may at times be required to work outside normal working hours, for example of weekends and evenings, in support of Museum business and public programmes, etc. You may also be required to work at various locations across the UK and abroad.

About the role:

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Photography and Imaging team as a Senior Photographer.

You will work to create high quality photographs of objects in the collection to meet client briefs and complete general photographic requests in support of the Museum.

Key areas of responsibility:

• Produce professional quality photography and deliver assignments to deadline
• Advanced operation of professional studio equipment and lighting
• Observe and employ best practice in all aspects of collections security and object handling
• Process images as per photography and imaging workflow procedures and apply professional digital standards
• Knowledge of 3D processes, infrared, ultraviolent and timelapse photography techniques are desirable

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, then we'd love to hear from you. A full job description is available below; this details the key dimensions of the role and the person specification.

About you:

• You will have excellent photographic and studio skills having gained relevant experience in similar studio environments and organisations.
• Planning and time management skills with a flexible approach and excellent communication skills, ideally with previous line management experience. You will also be able to evidence:
• A formal professional qualification in photography, degree or equivalent
• Advanced knowledge of photographic processes and technologies
• Practical understanding of digital capture and colour management
• Advanced Adobe Photoshop, Capture One and other industry standard software

Benefits

• Be a part of a world-renowned institution, where history, culture, and innovation come together!
• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 days after long service) plus 2.5 privilege days, in addition to bank holidays
• Generous civil service pension scheme (find out more here)
• Complimentary exhibition tickets
• Free entry at paid national museum and gallery exhibitions
• Free and discounted entry to international cultural organisations
• Interest-free travel loans and rental deposit loans
• Employee Assistance Programme for mental health support
• 1 hour paid lunch break
• Subsidised staff canteen
• Discounts on gift shop purchases

Our Values

Our values drive everything we do, from how we handle our objects to how we work in our team to fostering a culture where everyone feels heard and empowered. These are:

• Care Deeply
• Embrace the Unknown
• Spark Curiosity
• Value Many Voices

Additional details

If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details

The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all employees and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a museum which represents world culture. The Museum is committed to ensuring that no job applicant suffers unlawful discrimination because of any protected characteristics. Our recruitment procedures aim to ensure that individuals are treated in line with their relevant knowledge, skills and experience.

Unfortunately, for this role we are unable to offer Sponsorship to applicants

The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants