Jobs

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Type of Contract: Temporary/Project-Based 

Location: Dubai, UAE 

Salary: Competitive/Negotiable; send us your expected day rate 

Hours of work: 8-hour days, 5 days/week for 7-8 weeks 

Closing Date: 15 September 2025 (applications welcome ASAP) 

Date of Interview: No set date, online  

London-based fine art conservation & restoration firm Plowden & Smith is seeking an experienced Photographer based in any location who has expertise in photographing mixed-material museum collections for a project in Dubai.

The start date has not been finalised yet, but it may be in October or November (TBC). The project is expected to last 7-8 weeks.
 

Requirements:

• Good standard of written and verbal English
• Able to work well with others in a diverse international team

• Able to deliver the project on time and to the brief
• Demonstrable experience photographing museum collections to a high standard
• Proficient in lighting techniques for different types of objects

• Adept at imaging software, photo editing and file management
• Willing to stay in Dubai for the entire length of the project
• Previous international work experience (especially in the Middle East) is desirable but not essential

Plowden & Smith will take care of all travel logistics and cover associated costs (visa, flights, accommodation and subsistence).

If you are interested in this opportunity please send your day rate and CV, including a portfolio or link to an online portfolio, to Cym Storey: cym.storey@plowden-smith.com

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: South Kensington, London

Salary: £35,561 per annum, pro rata

Hours of work: 21 hours

Closing Date: 31/08/2025

Date of Interview: 

Interview round 1 (online): 16/09/2025 

Interview round 2 (in-person practical assessment): 24/09/2025

The V&A collection is varied and stored across several sites. We are looking for a brilliant photographer who will be able to respond quickly and efficiently to cope with photographing a wide variety of photography requests and deliver high-quality images to time and brief. The post will contribute to the photography of the collection for V&A publications, the museum’s programme, its website and for collections management systems. 

A suitable candidate will have extensive experience working as a professional photographer, a portfolio of professional work, and be able to demonstrate a full knowledge of imaging software and lighting techniques. They will be expected to become part of a team and to be able to work both under supervision and under their own initiative. 

The Photography and Digitisation department serves as a visual hub for the V&A, operating across multiple sites. The team undertakes imaging of the museum collections, its activities, people, and estate that are used for collections management, public access, exhibition catalogues, V&A publications, commercial sales and press and marketing activities. The team also covers work for external partnership publications commissioned by the V&A. It is responsible for the programme management and coordination of digitisation and cataloguing initiatives across the museum, as well as supporting the governance of this work. 

Please note: it is compulsory to upload a PDF portfolio or a CV that includes a link to your website.

For more information and to apply: https://vam.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/3927457?cid=3279&rsid=24732&js=0&LinkType=1&FromSearch=False

Type of Contract: Freelance fixed term

Location: Tello, Southern Iraq (Dhi Qar Province)

Salary: £585 per week, inclusive of any value added tax

Hours of work: 6 days per week

Closing Date: 05/09/2025

Date of Interview: 08/09/2025 - 10/09/2025 (Online)

We are looking for an Excavation Photographer to join the Girsu Project, a flagship heritage programme of the British Museum excavating the ancient city of Girsu (modern Tello), one of the earliest urban centers in southern Iraq. 

Our upcoming Autumn 2025 fieldwork season will run from 13 October to 4 December. We are looking for a photographer who can commit to at least the final five weeks of the season, and ideally the full period.

As Excavation Photographer, you will play a key role in documenting the excavation and its discoveries. Responsibilities will include: 

· Object photography of material recovered during excavation, with a particular focus on cuneiform tablets (training provided if required).

· Trench and site photography, including final trench shots at the close of the season and ambience photography.

· Post-production after the season to prepare images for archival and publication purposes as required.

The ideal candidate will bring: 

· Demonstrated experience in archaeological photography in field and/or museum conditions.

· Experience photographing small finds, with previous work on cuneiform tablets considered a strong desirable asset.

· The ability to work collaboratively as part of an international, multidisciplinary team.

· Attention to detail and a commitment to the highest documentation standards.

The projects will arrange travel logistics and cover all associated costs (flights, visas, security, insurance, accommodation and subsistence), and we offer a weekly fee of £585. A handover will be provided prior to travel, and all necessary photographic equipment will be supplied by the project. 

The role is open to candidates based in the UK and internationally.

This is a rare opportunity to contribute to a high-profile archaeological project in one of Mesopotamia’s most important sites, while producing work of lasting scholarly and cultural value. 

You can find more information on the project’s official page. If you would like to get a sense of the current phase of work, the project has recently been featured in the *Guardian/Observer* and *The Art Newspaper*.

For more information and to apply, please email:  agiannese@britishmuseum.org