Director of Photography/Producer

About the role

Mills James is seeking an experienced and visionary Director of Photography/Producer to join our Cincinnati creative team. This is a cinematography and visual production leadership role, with producer responsibilities supporting the planning and delivery of each project. This position leads the visual execution of video productions, including camera, lighting, grip, composition, movement, image quality, and on-set technical direction, while also coordinating key production details such as scheduling, budgeting, client communication, resource planning, and post-production follow-through. The ideal candidate is an organized visual storyteller with strong technical judgment, creative problem-solving skills, and the ability to interpret creative briefs, scripts, client messaging, production plans, and technical requirements while balancing visual quality with scope, schedule, budget, and client expectations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the visual approach for each project in collaboration with the Creative Director, directors, producers, and clients.
• Translate scripts, treatments, and creative briefs into shot lists, lighting plans, camera plans, lens choices, movement concepts, and visual references.
• Determine and operate the appropriate cameras, lenses, lighting, audio, and grip equipment, and technical workflows for each production.
• Direct camera, lighting, and grip teams through gear prep, setup, blocking, shot execution, and wrap.
• Shape composition, framing, camera movement, lighting design, contrast, color temperature, depth, and visual continuity to support the story and client objectives.
• Monitor focus, exposure, image quality, lighting consistency, media capture, and technical accuracy throughout production.
• Maintain ownership of the visual style from preproduction through production, edit, color, and final delivery.
• Coordinate camera tests, equipment checkouts, maintenance, data capture practices, and on-set safety protocols.
• Troubleshoot technical and creative challenges quickly while maintaining production momentum and visual standards.
• Stay current on cinematography, lighting, digital capture, camera systems, and production technology trends.
• Support video projects from concept through final delivery, ensuring scope, budget, schedule, and quality expectations are met.
• Assist with scripts, storyboards, budgets, production plans, timelines, schedules, and postproduction milestones.
• Coordinate crews, resources, locations, vendors, freelancers, logistics, and editing sessions as needed.
• Partner with clients, creative teams, and external collaborators to support effective multimedia content creation and file management.
• Manage client communication, feedback, approvals, and production updates in collaboration with internal teams.
• Maintain a professional, inclusive, and accessible production environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Ability to lift and carry camera, lighting, and production equipment up to