Photography and Digital Asset Associate

 

PHOTOGRAPHY & DIGITAL ASSET ASSOCIATE

Associate

Lake Forest, IL, US

Salary Range:$21.00 To $21.00 Hourly

Title: Photography & Digital Asset Associate  

Department: Content & Production  

Reports To: Manager of Content & Production  

About the Role 

The Associate Development Program is a paid full-time (temporary) experience designed for new or recent graduates who are looking to grow their professional sports experience. The format allows for structured professional development and hands-on learning. 

We are seeking a creative and detail-oriented associate to support both photography and digital asset management.

This hybrid role assists with capturing and editing compelling photography, as well as managing and organizing our visual media library.

The ideal candidate is a strong visual storyteller with excellent organizational skills, capable of supporting content needs across multiple platforms. This position is based at our headquarters in Lake Forest, IL (Halas Hall). 

Who We Are 

As one of the founding franchises of the NFL, family is the core of who we are. We believe every person matters and we can collectively achieve success through our values of respect, championship mindset, community, and perseverance.

We’re different from other companies, as our vision is to be “one of one”. We strive to be a championship football organization that consistently performs at a level of excellence on and off the field. Our people represent a vast array of cultural backgrounds, human experiences and perspectives and we believe they, collectively and as authentic individuals, are our greatest resource.

Our working environment is one where your talent and contributions are valued by the organization and the community.  

Responsibilities 

Digital Asset Management: 

• Assist in maintaining the team’s photo and video archive, ensuring all content is organized, properly tagged, and searchable
• Manage a Digital Asset Management (DAM) system
• Uphold consistent file naming conventions, metadata standards, and storage practices
• Tag and catalog new and historical assets for internal accessibility

Photography & Editing: 

• Capture high-quality images at practices, games, community events, and special team initiatives
• Assist the team photographer with game day coverage and real-time image delivery
• Edit and retouch photos for digital platforms, including social media, website, and other team properties
• Build and curate photo galleries for various uses
• Ensure all images are aligned with the Bears’ brand standards
• Apply metadata and captions to images to support efficient archiving and usage

Cross-Department Collaboration: 

• Partner with creative, production, digital, social media, marketing, communications, archives, and partnership teams to distribute media content
• Fulfill internal and external media asset requests, ensuring proper usage rights and clearances
• Assist with the delivery of B-roll, highlights, and imagery to key stakeholders

Event Coverage & Real-Time Support: 

• Support live content ingestion during games, practices, and events
• Facilitate rapid turnaround of high-priority images during live coverage
• Aid in real-time workflow management between photographers, editors, and social teams

Quality Control & Compliance: 

• Ensure content meets brand guidelines and adheres to copyright and licensing regulations
• Maintain proper file backups and follow protocols to prevent asset loss
• Monitor and manage image rights and licensing agreements

Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in Photography, Media Management, Digital Media, Communications, or a related field
• Prior experience in photography and digital asset management (sports industry experience preferred)
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro)
• Strong understanding of metadata, archiving, and DAM best practices
• Experience with ingest and file management tools (e.g., Photo Mechanic, Adobe Bridge, Photoshelter)
• Familiarity with social media platforms and current visual trends
• Understanding of image rights, licensing, and copyright law
• Ability to multitask, meet deadlines, and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to travel locally and work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed

What We Offer 

We remain committed to upholding the standard of being a first-class organization and employer of choice. Our goal is to provide quality support and a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for our most important resource, our people.  

COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY PAY 

The Photography & Digital Asset Associate is a full-time temporary position. This position is an HOURLY role. The expected hourly rate for this role is $21/per hour. Please note, due to job function, regular overtime (paid as time-and-a-half) may be expected. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and other job-related factors. 

BENEFITS & PERKS 

Our Associate offerings include but are not limited to:  

• Core Coverage: Optional medical coverage (employer paid premium + employee paid deductible) 
• Flexible Work Location: Up to 2 days a week of remote work (role dependent) 
• Time to Recharge: 5 days of paid vacation time, 3 paid sick/mental health days plus 10 paid holidays, paid time off to volunteer 
• Experiences: complimentary preseason tickets for one game, ability to buy additional tickets for home & away games 
• Gear: yearly Bears gear package plus 50% off at the Bears Pro Shop 
• Wellness: FREE breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks, access to onsite fitness facilities and BearsFit, complimentary Calm app access 
• Connection: Social events for staff and their families, Employee Resource Groups, and more 
• Professional Development: complimentary LinkedIn Learning access, professional development sessions, guest speakers, mentorship