We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. In the event that we receive a large number of applications, the position may be filled before the listed closing date. To avoid missing out, please submit your application at your earliest convenience.

JOB FUNCTION:

As Image Maker, your mission is to raise the standard of imagery across Chelsea Football Club.

You will create distinctive images for campaigns, merchandise, player portraiture, hospitality, events and matchday storytelling. Photography is a core part of the role, but you will also use advanced retouching, compositing, AI image generation and visual effects to create images that could not be achieved through photography alone.

Reporting to the Creative Lead, you will move confidently between shooting original work, transforming existing imagery and developing new visual concepts. You will bring a refined luxury lifestyle eye to every brief and act as the guardian of the club’s image guidelines, keeping them useful and up to date as image-making techniques evolve.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

Photography and Image Making

Plan and shoot photography across club campaigns, merchandise, player portraiture, hospitality, fans and events.
Create lifestyle imagery that captures the character and appeal of Chelsea’s hospitality experiences.
Produce merchandise imagery for campaigns, capsule collections, product communications and flat lays.
Create stylised match and fan imagery, including artful work for Club Chelsea communications.
Adapt your approach to controlled shoots, live environments and concepts that combine multiple image-making techniques.

Image Manipulation and AI

Use advanced retouching, compositing and image manipulation to transform photography into distinctive finished work.
Generate and develop imagery using AI, applying strong creative judgment to its concept, direction, realism and final execution.
Combine photography, AI-generated elements and visual effects where the brief calls for a more ambitious image.
Experiment with emerging techniques and identify where they can improve the originality, quality or efficiency of the studio’s work.
Prepare final assets to a high technical standard for use across print, digital, social and physical environments.

Image Guidelines and Creative Excellence

Own and maintain the club’s image guidelines documents, setting clear standards for photography, image manipulation and AI-generated imagery.
Evolve the guidelines as the club’s visual approach and image-making tools develop, and help colleagues and partners apply them consistently.
Develop visual concepts that respond to the brief and make imaginative use of the full range of image-making techniques.
Bring a consistent level of taste, originality and craft to work across different subjects, audiences and formats.
Work with designers and creatives to ensure imagery strengthens the wider campaign idea and reflects Chelsea’s brand.
Apply Chelsea Creative Studio’s Creative Scorecard to the development and review of imagery, aiming consistently for a “Win the Game” standard and identifying opportunities to “Change the Game”.

Production and Collaboration

Take ownership of image-making projects from initial concept through shooting, creation, post-production and delivery.
Bring together and direct specialists such as lighting, styling, hair and makeup, assistants, retouchers and other production partners where required.
Work confidently with players, talent and other subjects, helping them feel at ease and getting the best from each shoot.
Source and manage existing or externally commissioned photography when a brief requires it.
Communicate visual ideas clearly to stakeholders and collaborate closely with creative, design, marketing and production colleagues.

Creative Effectiveness

Understand the audience and purpose of each brief, creating imagery that builds desire, tells a clear story and supports campaign or commercial objectives.
Adapt and optimise imagery for different channels and uses without losing the strength of the original idea.
Learn from how imagery performs and apply those insights to future work.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

Image-making versatility - Significant experience creating images across photography, post-production and digital image making, with a portfolio that demonstrates breadth and a distinctive point of view.
Photography - Strong technical and creative skills across lighting, composition and directing subjects in both controlled and live environments.
AI image creation - Advanced practical ability to generate, direct and refine AI imagery, with the judgment to integrate it convincingly into professional creative work.
Retouching and compositing - Expertise in manipulating and combining images to achieve a polished result across a range of styles and formats.
Visual judgment - A refined luxury lifestyle eye and the ability to make familiar subjects feel distinctive, desirable and relevant to the audience.
Guidelines and communication - Able to define visual standards, turn them into clear guidance and help colleagues and partners put them into practice.
Production and collaboration - Experience planning shoots, directing specialists, presenting ideas and working constructively with stakeholders and creative teams.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE:

Chelsea’s imagery feels more distinctive, crafted and desirable across campaigns, merchandise, hospitality and matchday communications.
The studio can achieve a wider range of ambitious visual ideas through the Image Maker’s combined photographic, post-production and AI skills.
The club’s image guidelines are current, practical and consistently understood by the people creating and commissioning imagery.
Images are well conceived, expertly finished and effective in the channels where they appear.
Colleagues involve the Image Maker early in projects because their creative thinking improves the work, as well as its final execution.

OUR EXPECTATIONS:

To embody the club’s BLUE behaviours (Brave, Lead, Unity, Edge) in the approach to work and interaction with others
To adhere to the club’s policies and procedures, including Health & Safety, Financial Authorisation, Confidentiality and GDPR.
To act as an ambassador for diversity, equality, and inclusion, and demonstrate a positive commitment by treating others fairly in line with our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy and reporting any acts of discrimination through appropriate channels
To create a safe environment and act to protect all young people and vulnerable adults that are either in your care or attending club premises, and report any concerns to the Safeguarding Lead
To report any misconduct or suspected misconduct to the HR Department

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
At Chelsea we recognise that the diversity of our people is one of our greatest strengths and we are taking positive action to ensure our existing colleagues and job applicants can fully be themselves and bring their own unique experiences and perspectives to Chelsea FC. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. If you need reasonable adjustments made to the recruitment process, please reach out to your recruiter, who will be able to advise and support you.

Chelsea FC is fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children, young people and adults at risk (vulnerable groups). We therefore require all successful applicants to complete a DBS Check prior to starting employment. Depending on the role, successful applicants may also be required to undergo other child protection screening where appropriate.

This Job Description is not intended to be exhaustive; the duties and responsibilities may therefore vary over time according to the changing needs of the Club.

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This vacancy comes from the website of Chelsea. You apply directly with the club.