Auto Photographer

Contract Automotive Photographer — Quality-Focused \| 1–3 Cars/Week \| Flexible

Location: Sussex / Lisbon, WI area (on-site at our lot)
Job type: Contract / 1099 Independent Contractor
Schedule: Low-volume, quality-first engagement — approximately 1–3 vehicles per week
Pay: $35–$50/hour (budget ≈1 hour per vehicle: \~30 min shooting, \~30 min editing); premium rates for video/drone work.

About the role

We're an independent used car dealership looking for a contract automotive photographer who treats vehicle photography as a craft, not a checklist. We're not looking for someone to fire off the same standard 20 shots and call it done—we want someone who knows cars, knows what makes a buyer stop scrolling and click, and shoots each vehicle to actually sell it.

This is a low-volume, quality-over-quantity engagement—roughly 1 to 3 vehicles per week. Because volume is light, we care far more about how good each vehicle looks than how fast you can churn through them. The rhythm runs about 30 minutes shooting and 30 minutes editing per vehicle, but the priority is getting it right, not getting it quick.

What you'll do

• Photograph our inventory on-site—exteriors, interiors, engine bays, wheels, and the details that matter to buyers
• Capture the features and selling points that go beyond the standard angles: the options, the condition highlights, the things a real enthusiast knows a buyer wants to see
• Edit and deliver clean, web-ready images on a reasonable turnaround
• Frame and light vehicles to look their best while staying honest to the actual condition
• Keep a consistent, professional look across the inventory

What we're looking for

• Multiple years of automotive photography experience (dealership, inventory, or enthusiast/freelance work with a portfolio that shows it)
• Genuine passion for and knowledge of vehicles—you understand the difference between trims, know where the value is on a given car, and know what features buyers look for
• An eye for what sells: composition, lighting, and the instinct to capture more than the obvious
• Your own camera equipment and editing capability
• Reliable transportation to our location

Bonus points / additional paid opportunity

• Drone work for aerial and 360° video walkarounds
• Creative and "viral" videography—short-form video that gets vehicles (and our dealership) noticed
• Social media marketing—if you can shoot and help us build a content/social presence, that's a real additional earning opportunity. For the right person, we're open to setting this up as a separate monthly retainer on top of the per-vehicle photography work—a steady add-on engagement to manage our social channels and content, not just occasional posts.

Why this works for the right person

This is flexible, low-pressure contract work that rewards skill over speed. If you're a car person with a camera who's tired of soulless inventory shoots, this is a chance to actually use your eye on a handful of vehicles a week. And if you bring video, drone, or social skills, the photography work is just the starting point—there's a real path to grow this into a larger, better-paying engagement, including an ongoing social media retainer, as we expand.

To apply, please include a link to your portfolio or sample automotive work. Applications without work samples will not be considered.

Pay: $35.00 - $50.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule

Work Location: In person