AI Artist (Variable Hours) - NYC or Portland, OR

Create AI-generated images, video, and 3D content for the brands we serve.

We’re looking for an artist with deep, hands-on command of generative AI tools to turn studio photography and creative briefs into finished, brand-accurate content. If you have a trained eye for light, color, and detail and want to help build a studio-scale AI content operation, we want to see your work.

About Straub Collaborative

Straub Collaborative is a creative production studio specializing in e-commerce photography and visual content. We produce high-quality visual work while fostering a collaborative and inclusive workplace environment. With studios in Portland, New York, and Baltimore, we create content for leading apparel, footwear, accessories, home, and lifestyle brands.

Our AI team pairs studio craft with generative AI to help clients create more content, faster, without giving up quality or brand accuracy. We work by three values: thoughtful inclusion, integrity of purpose, and wholehearted investment.

About the Role

• As an AI Artist, you will turn studio photography, product references, and creative briefs into finished AI-generated imagery, motion, and 3D content. You’ll combine an artist’s eye with hands-on command of generative tools, and you’ll care about every detail being right for the brand.
• You’ll work across many clients and categories as part of our AI Content Production team, reporting to the AVP of Studio Operations and partnering with photographers, stylists, retouchers, and producers to deliver content at the volume and quality modern ecommerce demands.

What You’ll Do

Create AI Content

• Generate photoreal on-model, product, and lifestyle imagery from studio captures, flat lays, and reference images.
• Produce AI video, including product motion, on-model clips, and image-to-video content for ecommerce and social.
• Create 3D objects, product spins, and virtual environments using AI-assisted 3D generation and traditional 3D tools.
• Design AI backgrounds, sets, props, and scenes that bring seasonal creative concepts to life.
• Write, test, and refine prompts, reference inputs, and model settings to get consistent, repeatable results.

Finish and Protect Quality

• Composite, retouch, and color correct AI output so every asset is ready for client delivery.
• Check each asset for product accuracy, color fidelity, logos, anatomy, and brand guidelines before it ships.
• Turn client feedback into fast, precise revisions.

Collaborate and Improve

• Partner with photographers and stylists to capture source material that gives AI the best possible input.
• Document the techniques that work so the team can reuse them.
• Stay current on new image, video, and 3D models and share what you learn.

What You Bring

Required:

• Degree in fine arts, photography, digital media, design, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3+ years of professional experience in photography, retouching, digital art, motion design, or 3D.
• A portfolio showing production-quality AI-generated images, plus video or 3D work.
• Hands-on fluency with several generative image and video tools, and the judgment to pick the right one for the job.
• Advanced Photoshop skills, including compositing, masking, and color correction.
• A trained eye for light, color, materials, fabric, and human anatomy.
• Ability to deliver to a creative brief and brand guide at high volume and on deadline.
• Clear communication and the ability to take feedback and collaborate with creative and production teams.

Preferred:

• Experience with node-based workflows such as ComfyUI, or with LoRA and other custom model training.
• 3D skills in tools such as Blender or Cinema 4D, or experience with AI image-to-3D generation.
• Motion and editing skills in After Effects or Premiere Pro.
• Background in fashion, footwear, beauty, or product photography.
• Understanding of responsible AI use, usage rights, and content provenance standards such as C2PA.
• Experience with tools like Midjourney, Google Gemini, Adobe Firefly, Flux, Stable Diffusion, GPT Image, Runway, Google Veo, Kling, Luma, Sora, Tripo, Meshy, Lightroom, or Capture One. We care more about craft and judgment than any one tool.

Physical Requirements

This role involves extended computer work, including long periods of screen viewing and repetitive hand and finger use with a keyboard, mouse, and stylus. You’ll need to see fine detail and distinguish color accurately to evaluate image quality and product accuracy, and be able to see and hear to gather and input information and respond to face-to-face and studio inquiries. You’ll also need to walk throughout an active studio floor following internal safety guidelines and occasionally lift or carry up to 20 lbs.

Work Environment

This role works in a fast-paced commercial photography and e-commerce studio environment. Most of the work is done at a computer, with time on set under active production lighting and shoot conditions. Production is high-volume and deadline-driven, and client priorities can change quickly.

Additional Requirements

• This role can be based at our Portland, OR or New York, NY studio on a hybrid schedule, or remote. Hybrid and remote arrangements follow company policy.
• Occasional travel between studios.
• Part-time, variable-hours role. Hours go up and down with client workload and average 19 hours a week or less. Some weeks will be busier than others, and a set number of hours each week isn’t guaranteed.
• Please include a link to your portfolio with your application.

What We Offer

• Pay range: $52.00 – $65.25 per hour in New York, NY, and $44.00 – $54.00 per hour in Portland, OR. Final pay is based on experience, skills, and location.
• Paid sick time.
• A front-row seat building a studio-scale AI content operation.
• Access to leading generative AI tools and time to explore new ones.
• A collaborative team of photographers, stylists, and post-production artists.

EEO

Straub Collaborative is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Reasonable Accommodations

Straub Collaborative provides reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources.