OPT Photographer Jobs
Photographer jobs on OPT are available across commercial studios, media agencies, editorial outlets, and corporate clients. Your 12-month OPT window (or 24-month STEM extension if your program qualifies) must be directly tied to your photography or visual arts degree, so role alignment with your field of study matters.
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Corporate Headquarters
12575 Uline Drive, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158
Are you able to capture a story in a single snapshot? Uline's Creative department is an image-driven powerhouse of over 170 professionals who deliver with speed and excellence! As a Photographer, you will help capture compelling imagery for Uline’s marketing materials.
Careers Packed with Potential. Backed by 45+ years of success, Uline offers opportunities to grow your career with stability you can count on.
Position Responsibilities
- Produce high-quality images that capture the client’s vision while upholding Creative department goals and maintaining Uline brand consistency.
- Collaborate and contribute creative vision, technical skill and operational support to accomplish a variety of photo assignments.
- Explore trends and evolve photo ideation for collaboration with creative teams.
- Operate and maintain studio equipment, organize photo supplies and maintain storage areas.
- Ensure digital asset protocols are executed for all files.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in photography, commercial art, graphic design or related field.
- 4+ years of photography experience in a studio or corporate setting.
- Expertise in Capture One, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign.
- Available for occasional travel to Uline photo shoot assignments.
- Drone experience and certification a plus.
Benefits
- Complete health insurance coverage and 401(k) with 6% employer match that starts day one!
- Multiple bonus programs.
- Paid holidays and generous paid time off.
- Tuition Assistance Program that covers professional continuing education.
Employee Perks
- On-site café and first-class fitness center with complimentary personal trainers.
- Over four miles of beautifully maintained walking trails.
About Uline
Uline, a family-owned company, is North America’s leading distributor of shipping, industrial, and packaging materials with over 9,800 employees across 14 locations.
Uline is a drug-free workplace. All new hires must complete a pre-employment hair follicle drug screening. All positions are on-site.
EEO/AA Employer/Vet/Disabled
Photographer
Corporate Headquarters
12575 Uline Drive, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158
Are you able to capture a story in a single snapshot? Uline's Creative department is an image-driven powerhouse of over 170 professionals who deliver with speed and excellence! As a Photographer, you will help capture compelling imagery for Uline’s marketing materials.
Careers Packed with Potential. Backed by 45+ years of success, Uline offers opportunities to grow your career with stability you can count on.
Position Responsibilities
- Produce high-quality images that capture the client’s vision while upholding Creative department goals and maintaining Uline brand consistency.
- Collaborate and contribute creative vision, technical skill and operational support to accomplish a variety of photo assignments.
- Explore trends and evolve photo ideation for collaboration with creative teams.
- Operate and maintain studio equipment, organize photo supplies and maintain storage areas.
- Ensure digital asset protocols are executed for all files.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in photography, commercial art, graphic design or related field.
- 4+ years of photography experience in a studio or corporate setting.
- Expertise in Capture One, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign.
- Available for occasional travel to Uline photo shoot assignments.
- Drone experience and certification a plus.
Benefits
- Complete health insurance coverage and 401(k) with 6% employer match that starts day one!
- Multiple bonus programs.
- Paid holidays and generous paid time off.
- Tuition Assistance Program that covers professional continuing education.
Employee Perks
- On-site café and first-class fitness center with complimentary personal trainers.
- Over four miles of beautifully maintained walking trails.
About Uline
Uline, a family-owned company, is North America’s leading distributor of shipping, industrial, and packaging materials with over 9,800 employees across 14 locations.
Uline is a drug-free workplace. All new hires must complete a pre-employment hair follicle drug screening. All positions are on-site.
EEO/AA Employer/Vet/Disabled
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Photographer
Document your degree-to-role alignment clearly
USCIS requires OPT work to be directly related to your major. A degree in photography, visual arts, or media production maps cleanly to photographer roles. Be ready to explain the connection in writing if your employer or DSO asks.
Target employers who regularly hire creative professionals
Commercial studios, advertising agencies, news organizations, and e-commerce brands hire photographers on a recurring basis. These employers are more likely to understand OPT work authorization and have processes in place for onboarding international students.
Build a portfolio that does the visa conversation work for you
Employers who are genuinely excited about your work are far more willing to navigate OPT paperwork. A strong, specialized portfolio in product, editorial, or portrait photography signals professional value before sponsorship even comes up.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront with small studios
Smaller studios may not know what OPT is. Come prepared with a one-paragraph explanation covering your authorization period, who issues it, and what the employer needs to do, which is typically very little beyond verifying your EAD.
Consider freelance and contract roles carefully
Self-employment is not permitted on OPT. Photographer positions structured as W-2 employment are fine, but 1099 independent contractor arrangements are not. Confirm the employment classification before accepting any offer to protect your immigration status.
Start your H-1B conversation early if your role qualifies
Photography roles can qualify as specialty occupations if they require a specific bachelor's degree, such as commercial or technical photography. If your employer is open to long-term sponsorship, begin the H-1B visa discussion well before your OPT expiration approaches.
Photographer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a photographer on OPT?
Yes, as long as the photographer role is directly related to your field of study. If your degree is in photography, visual arts, film, or a related discipline, most full-time or part-time photographer positions will satisfy the OPT employment requirement. Your DSO can confirm whether a specific role qualifies before you accept an offer.
Does photography qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension?
Not typically. STEM OPT extensions require a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, and photography programs are generally not on the STEM designated degree list. Students with degrees in areas like computational media or digital imaging technology should verify their CIP code with their DSO, as some programs may qualify.
Can I work as a freelance photographer on OPT?
No. Self-employment and independent contractor arrangements are not permitted on OPT. You must work as a W-2 employee for a U.S. employer. Photographer roles at studios, agencies, media companies, or corporate employers structured as standard employment are fine, but accepting 1099 freelance work puts your OPT authorization at risk.
How do I find photographer jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers open to work authorization. Searching there saves you from applying to roles where OPT is a dealbreaker. When reaching out to employers, having a short explanation of your EAD and what it requires from them, which is typically nothing beyond I-9 verification, removes a major hesitation.
Can a photographer role lead to H-1B sponsorship?
It depends on how the role is defined. H-1B eligibility requires the position to be a specialty occupation, meaning it normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. A photographer role requiring a degree in photography, commercial imaging, or visual communication can qualify, but generalist roles where no specific degree is required typically do not. An immigration attorney can assess your specific situation.