Freelance Lighting Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Men's Health and Women's Health is seeking a Temporary Director of Photography, Producer, and Editor to support our video team. This is a hands-on, doer role: you'll shoot, light, help produce, and edit in partnership with our Executive Producer and production team-bringing sharp visual taste while jumping in wherever the day needs coverage, problem-solving, or post support. This role reports to the Executive Producer.

• DP / camera experience in digital, documentary, branded, or studio environments
• Strong lighting + composition fundamentals with great taste
• Producer-minded execution: You're proactive, organized, calm under pressure, and you don't wait to be told what's broken
• Editing experience: You can confidently cut in a modern NLE (Premiere preferred; Avid/Resolve also great), build rough cuts and selects, and handle clean exports/versions for review
• Post fundamentals: Strong file organization, audio awareness, continuity discipline, and comfort working from notes in a collaborative edit workflow
• Schedule flexibility: Ability to support shoots as needed (including early calls and occasional travel, depending on production)

• Shoot the work: DP and operate camera on shoots across brands and formats (studio, field, talent-driven, documentary, social-first)
• Support production execution: Help with the practical's that keep shoots moving-run-of-show support, coordinating logistics, prepping gear, call sheet support, field problem-solving, and on-set coordination
• Bring strong visual craft: Light and compose with intention; elevate work through strong taste in camera, lighting, framing, and movement
• Pitch in on set: Keep sets organized and efficient-help the team stay on schedule, keep coverage clean, and communicate needs clearly
• Edit and finish deliverables: Cut selects and assemblies; build rough cuts to producer notes; apply pacing, music, and basic sound polish.
• Manage post camera workflow: Keep footage, audio, and project files organized; label cards/files; maintain continuity notes; prep clean handoffs (project organization, exports, and versioning)
• Help scale crews when needed: Assist with coordinating freelancers/vendors for specific shoots (camera, sound, g&e), with oversight from senior production leadership
• Contribute ideas: Bring references, visual approaches, and smart production solutions that keep formats fresh and push the envelope within brand

Be Part of What's Next
Shape the look and feel of premium health and wellness storytelling. As a Temporary Director of Photography, you'll bring ideas to life through camera, lighting, and edit-owning the craft while helping productions run seamlessly from start to finish.

About Hearst Magazines (Why Us?)
Hearst Magazines is one of the world's largest publishers of premium content, with a portfolio of more than 30 iconic brands, including Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Esquire, Harper's BAZAAR, Men's Health, Popular Mechanics, and Seventeen. We reach audiences across platforms-print, digital, video, and social-with storytelling that informs, entertains, and inspires. Our culture is collaborative, innovative, and committed to building an inclusive environment where creativity thrives.

Key Responsibilities (What You Are Doing)
Lead camera and lighting on shoots across Men's Health and Women's Health, spanning studio, field, documentary, and social-first formats
Operate as a hands-on production partner, supporting logistics, run-of-show execution, and on-set coordination to keep shoots moving efficiently
Bring a strong visual point of view, elevating content through thoughtful composition, lighting, and camera movement
Maintain organized, high-functioning sets by communicating clearly, managing time effectively, and ensuring clean coverage
Edit selects, assemblies, and rough cuts, applying pacing, music, and basic sound polish in line with creative direction
Manage post-production workflows, including media organization, file labeling, continuity tracking, and clean project handoffs
Assist in scaling production teams by coordinating freelancers and vendors (camera, sound, G&E) as needed
Contribute creative ideas, references, and production solutions that push formats forward while staying true to brand

Qualifications (What We're Looking For)
5+  years of experience in cinematography, video production, or a related field (or equivalent hands-on experience)
Demonstrated DP/camera experience across digital, documentary, branded, or studio environments
Strong lighting and composition fundamentals with a refined visual sensibility
Producer-minded approach: proactive, highly organized, and calm under pressure in fast-paced environments
Editing proficiency in a modern NLE (Premiere preferred; Avid or Resolve also welcome), including building rough cuts and managing versions
Solid post-production fundamentals, including file organization, audio awareness, and collaborative editing workflows
Ability to flex across multiple roles on set and in post, adapting to evolving production needs
Ability to work onsite Tuesday through Thursday in New York City, with flexibility for early calls and occasional travel as needed

The base salary for this role is $80/hr. The actual base pay offered is dependent upon many factors, such as: transferable skills, work experience, business needs and market demands. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.  

Hearst Magazines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.