Freelance Photographer

Columbia, United States | Posted on 04/30/2026

ARK Products is a leading designer, manufacturer, and seller of innovative sensory tools and special needs products worldwide. Founded in 2000, the company provides a complete line of oral motor tools, sensory chews, feeding and drinking aids, speech therapy tools and other specialty products to customers in all 50 states and more than 50 countries. ARK designs and manufactures its differentiated, branded products in-house at its South Carolina headquarters with high-quality food and medical‑grade raw materials.

Job Description
ARK Products — Local Photographer Search
We’re looking for a local photographer in or near Columbia, SC to partner with on an ongoing basis for product and lifestyle photography. An independent photographer is likely a better fit than an agency.

Product photography

— clean hero shots from multiple angles, flat lays, and detail shots. Strong eye for color accuracy, focus, lighting, and texture. New product launches happen on an irregular cadence (driven by manufacturing timelines, so anywhere from monthly to every six months). Each launch is typically a few hours of shooting. We have an in‑house lightbox setup, so shoots can happen at our office or at yours — whichever produces the best result. Post‑production is handled separately on our end, so editing is required (and not built into your rate).

Lifestyle photography

— kids and adults using our products in home, clinic, or school settings on location (we’ll rent a space or use a home; no studio needed on your end). Comfort working with children is essential. Our audience is clinical and pays close attention to detail (hand position, posture, how a tool is being used), so an ARK team member will typically join lifestyle shoots — we need someone who can take direction on those details and pivot well on set. Baseline is two half‑day lifestyle shoots per year, often bundled with a product launch, plus occasional smaller shoots as needed.

1099/vendor relationship, not a hire

Reliable, organized, communicative — comfortable with a shot list and able to flag what’s working and what isn’t on set

Able to livestream or tether photos as they’re taken so an ARK team member can review in real time

Open to ongoing repeat work if it’s a good fit

Bonus:

video capability, or a videographer you regularly partner with

Practical

Based within about a 1.5‑hour drive of Columbia, SC

Bonus:

a network of models you can coordinate and schedule for lifestyle shoots

Reasonable rates for a small brand — we’re not a massive marketing budget, but we’ll be a steady, returning client working on fun, meaningful products

If interested, please send portfolio (especially product work and any work with kids), rates, and a quick background on capabilities.

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