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Freelance Photo Editor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Staff Editor

New York, NY · On-site

$80K - $105K/yr

... freelance contributors, and more. * Proactively seek out interesting, diverse voices who can help ... Coordinate with other WIRED teams on all aspects of the story process, partnering with photo/art on ...

Freelance Photographer

Fort Worth, TX · On-site

$60.25 - $68/hr

Strong portfolio showcasing both photo and short-form video work * Proficiency with camera ... Basic editing skills (preferred but not required) Deliverables: * High-resolution photos * Short ...

Plan, assign, and execute timely and comprehensive local news coverage using staff, freelancers ... photo sizes and headline sizes • Decide what articles will go on which pages and where on the ...

Plan, assign, and execute timely and comprehensive local news coverage using staff, freelancers ... photo sizes and headline sizes Decide what articles will go on which pages and where on the page ...

Assign staff and freelance photographers, illustrators and visual contributors for breaking news ... Art direct illustrations and create photo illustrations when needed. * Support the Director of ...

Assign staff and freelance photographers, illustrators and visual contributors for breaking news ... Art direct illustrations and create photo illustrations when needed. * Support the Director of ...

Direct photo and video shoots on set - lighting, composition, styling, props * Manage shoot ... Guide post-production: selects, editing notes, pacing, and final visual polish Social & Content ...

... photo editing, design, illustration direction, art direction, multimedia storytelling, or a closely related field. * Experience managing people, freelancers, projects, creative workflows, or cross ...

Direct photo and video shoots on set -- lighting, composition, styling, props * Manage shoot ... Guide post-production: selects, editing notes, pacing, and final visual polish Social & Content ...

... photo editing, design, illustration direction, art direction, multimedia storytelling, or a closely related field. * Experience managing people, freelancers, projects, creative workflows, or cross ...

Gulfshore Life Magazine -- Managing Editor Location: Bonita Springs, FL | Full-time, on-site ... Experience in developing and managing freelancers * Ability to collaborate with design, photo and ...

... and freelancers on their articles edits and to occasionally commission pieces. You will be ... Ensure that print headlines, RealTime data, and photo captions are in place prior to publication.

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Freelance Photo Editor information

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How much do freelance photo editor jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 3, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance photo editor in the United States is $22.10, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $29.81 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a freelance photo editor do?

A freelance photo editor is a professional who edits and enhances photographs for clients, often on a project or contract basis. Their tasks can include retouching images, adjusting color balance, cropping, removing imperfections, and preparing photos for print or digital publication. Freelance photo editors work with photographers, businesses, or media outlets to ensure that images meet the desired aesthetic and technical standards. They use software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom and may specialize in specific types of photography such as fashion, weddings, or commercial products.

What Does a Freelance Photo Editor Do?

As a freelance photo editor, you work as an independent contractor for photographers, advertising agencies, or other organizations in the photography industry. Your duties and responsibilities are to enhance, adjust, edit, or retouch digital or print images, using software, such as Photoshop or Gimp, or traditional darkroom tools. You typically work closely with your client to ensure that your work meets their standards or needs. Some photo editors may specialize in a specific area, such as fashion photography or web design.

What are some common challenges freelance photo editors face when working with multiple clients simultaneously?

Freelance photo editors often juggle projects from various clients, each with distinct styles, deadlines, and expectations. Managing clear communication and maintaining consistency across different editing requests can be challenging, especially when balancing urgent revisions or feedback. Effective organization, time management, and setting clear expectations with clients from the outset are crucial for delivering high-quality work while avoiding burnout. Additionally, freelancers must stay updated on editing software and industry trends to remain competitive and meet client needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Freelance Photo Editor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Freelance Photo Editor, you need a solid grasp of photographic composition, color correction, retouching techniques, and a portfolio demonstrating your editing abilities. Proficiency with editing software such as Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and familiarity with digital asset management tools is essential, and relevant certifications can be advantageous. Strong attention to detail, time management, and effective communication with clients are standout soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure high-quality, client-focused results and the ability to manage multiple projects efficiently in a competitive freelance environment.
What cities are hiring for Freelance Photo Editor jobs? Cities with the most Freelance Photo Editor job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Photo Editor jobs? The most popular types of Photo Editor jobs are:
What states have the most Freelance Photo Editor jobs? States with the most job openings for Freelance Photo Editor jobs include:
Infographic showing various Freelance Photo Editor job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 13% As Needed, 37% Full Time, 37% Part Time, and 13% Contract. Highlights an 75% In-person, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,978 per year, or $22.1 per hour.
Staff Editor

Staff Editor

Condé Nast

New York, NY • On-site

$80K - $105K/yr

Full-time

Posted 10 hours ago


Job description

WIRED is where a better future is imagined. For three decades, we have been the indispensable guide to a world in constant transformation. We cover humanity's biggest challenges, from climate change to global security, from pandemic preparedness to the future of democracy, and tell stories of the people trying to solve these challenges and the role science and technology can play-for good or ill. WIRED reaches more than 30 million people each month through WIRED.com, our digital edition, the magazine, social media, and live events.Job Description

Location:

San Francisco, CA

Staff Editor-WIRED

WIRED is seeking a staff editor for our newsroom. Reporting to WIRED's senior director, science, politics, and security, you'll work with an experienced team of reporters and editors to edit stories from multiple desks and manage syndications from international WIRED brands.

In this role, you'll be responsible for editing a variety of stories, anything from breaking news about a ransomware incident to an embargoed biotech breakthrough. We're looking for an editor with experience covering one of WIRED's core coverage areas and an interest in the broad range of what we report on. In this role you'll also be responsible for editing translated stories from WIRED's international counterparts and seeing them through our production process.

Our priority is ambitious, impactful work. That can take many forms: a major scoop, a deeply reported investigation, timely analysis, a special project. You should be comfortable with editing these types of stories, and especially the iterative news coverage that fuels them.

To be successful in this position you should have a good eye for surprising angles on stories and the ability to spot the wider significance of a new development. You should also be a sharp line editor, good at structuring an argument and eliminating jargon. You should be a polymath, not just able but eager to immerse yourself in a broad range of topics.

You'll need to be able to prioritize your time and collaborate with colleagues in San Francisco, New York, London, and points between. You'll work closely not only with the science, politics, and security desks, but also collaborate with other desks as coverage demands. You'll also collaborate frequently with WIRED's digital video team to execute cross-platform coverage that brings the best of WIRED to platforms including YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels.

This role can be based out of our New York City or San Francisco offices.

This is a Guild position.

Primary/Ongoing Responsibilities:

  • Edit stories from across the WIRED newsroom depending on need.

  • Edit stories syndicated from WIRED's international brands to make sure they align with our editorial style and standards.

  • Work with external partners to identify stories for syndication, and bring those through our production process.

  • Work with WIRED's director, science, politics, and security on various tasks that elevate our coverage, including but not limited to filing FOIA requests, coordinating with freelance contributors, and more.

  • Proactively seek out interesting, diverse voices who can help WIRED deliver differentiated business coverage.

  • Coordinate with other WIRED teams on all aspects of the story process, partnering with photo/art on visuals and design; answering fact-checking and copy queries; seeing stories through production processes; and partnering with social and/or video to ensure stories have maximum impact.

  • Contribute to brand extensions, social platforms, and additional projects as needed.

  • Represent the brand in a public-facing way as necessary, such as on social media, in press opportunities, panels and speaking engagements, and internal company presentations.

  • Additional projects/stories as assigned.

Desired Qualifications:

  • At least 2 years of experience as an editor in a fast paced, digital and news-driven environment

  • A past portfolio of work that reflects significant experience covering the tech industry, cybersecurity, science, or another core area of WIRED coverage, including a consistent record of breaking news

  • Experience overseeing multi-platform content from brainstorm to execution; the ability to balance daily deadlines with longer-lead projects

  • Experience and passion for delivering big, ambitious coverage, particularly around Big Tech, climate, and other core areas of focus

  • Highly collaborative with excellent communication skills; adept at working with a diverse team of fact checkers, copy editors, designers, photo editors, digital producers, social media producers and story editors

  • Excellent time management and prioritization skills

The expected base salary range for this position is from $80,000 - $105,000. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including but not limited to relevant skills, training, experience, and education.

What happens next?

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply below, and we will review your application as soon as possible. You can update your resume or upload a cover letter at any time by accessing your candidate profile.

Conde Nast is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, familial status and other legally protected characteristics.