Creative Director of Photography & Visual Storytelling (Volunteer)

Creative Director of Photography & Visual Storytelling (Volunteer)
PromiseStories | Brand, Campaigns & Documentary Imaging
Organization:

Mentor A Promise (MAP)
Location:

Hybrid (NYC-based shoots required)
Type:

Founding Leadership (Volunteer Executive Track or Structured Contract Role)
Reports To:

Chief Brand & Product Officer
Works Closely With:

Creative Directors (Publishing, Fashion, Civic), PromisePublic, PromiseBridge, Communications & Media Team, Legal & Safeguarding Lead
About Mentor A Promise Visual Strategy
Mentor A Promise (MAP) operates across education, civic innovation, publishing, and community engagement. Our visual language must reflect the dignity, complexity, and humanity of the communities we serve.
Photography at MAP is not marketing decoration.
It is narrative infrastructure.
From children’s publishing campaigns to civic workwear launches, from community activations to policy briefings — visual documentation shapes perception, trust, and institutional credibility.
We believe in imagery that is ethical, consent-driven, culturally intelligent, and structurally powerful.
Role Overview
We are seeking a

Creative Director of Photography & Visual Storytelling

to define and lead MAP’s photographic vision across divisions.
This founding leadership role will establish visual standards, documentary ethics protocols, brand cohesion, and campaign-level art direction.
The Creative Director will oversee:
Concept development
Shot architecture
Visual narrative systems
Consent and safeguarding alignment
Editorial cohesion across platforms
This role requires artistic authority, documentary discipline, and strong ethical judgment.
Key Responsibilities
Define the visual identity and photographic direction for MAP across all divisions
Develop cohesive campaign aesthetics for publishing, fashion, civic, and community initiatives
Lead creative direction for photoshoots, field documentation, and brand storytelling
Establish visual style guides (lighting, tone, composition, color architecture)
Ensure all photography complies with youth safeguarding and consent protocols
Oversee photographer coordination, shot lists, mood boards, and post-production standards
Develop archival documentation systems for long-term institutional storytelling
Collaborate with communications and policy teams for public-facing materials
Guide ethical representation of students and families experiencing housing instability
Contribute to grant submissions and institutional reports requiring visual documentation
Maintain timely, professional responsiveness via email and chat in Google Workspace
Qualifications
Background in photography, visual arts, documentary storytelling, or creative direction
Demonstrated experience leading visual campaigns or documentary projects
Strong understanding of lighting, composition, and narrative sequencing
Experience working with vulnerable populations preferred
Knowledge of consent, release forms, and safeguarding best practices
Portfolio demonstrating visual coherence and storytelling depth
Preferred Skills
Experience with nonprofit or civic storytelling
Familiarity with brand systems and visual identity architecture
Experience leading multidisciplinary creative teams
Understanding of trauma-informed visual representation
Proficiency in post-production workflows and digital asset management
Commitment
Founding leadership role
Structured engagement (minimum 5–10 hours per week for executive volunteer track; scalable during campaign cycles)
NYC-based shoots required
6-month minimum commitment preferred
What You’ll Build
A cohesive visual identity system for MAP
Ethical photography standards embedded across programs
Campaign-level imagery for publishing, fashion, and civic initiatives
An archival visual narrative of MAP’s institutional growth
Images shape memory.
Memory shapes narrative.
Narrative shapes impact.
Help ensure that every image taken under MAP’s name reflects dignity, depth, and design excellence.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our organization. At this time, leadership volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, media release, and compliance requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these constraints.