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Airforce

Photographer

Photographer is a highly sought after role in the NZDF. You will go on operational deployments and exercises to document our activity, you will capture our military ceremonies and major events, and conduct studio photography tasks. You can expect to travel in all of our military aircraft and ships and work alongside our Defence Force personnel.

Mō te tūranga

About the role

  • Specialisations

    Education & Support roles

  • Entry type

    General entry

  • Under training

    $68,103

  • Location

    Varied

As an Air Force photographer you will be a passionate and skilled professional, as well as an artist and a story teller, determined to capture moments or people in the most captivating way, continually pushing for new angles or trying techniques not explored before.

Operating throughout New Zealand, and occasionally overseas, you will have access to unique occasions and outstanding people to produce extraordinary portrait, commercial, documentary, landscape, and technical photography.

The imagery you capture of military activities on local exercises or overseas deployments, photojournalism of major events and ceremonies, and studio photography will be published across the internet and social media, through press releases and print media, and in advertising campaigns.

Accepting Applications

  • Recruit 2/25, starts 19 May 2025 Apply by 20 Jan 2025

    Apply Now

Requirements

Basics

  • Must be 18 years old by the time you graduate from recruit course.
  • Eligible to meet national security clearance criteria, as stipulated by the Government's Protective Security Requirements.
  • Possess strong computer skills, with experience in photo-editing software.
  • Must hold a Restricted driver licence (Full Class 1 driver licence is preferred)
  • Pass a Selection Board.

Portfolio submissions

Once you've registered and applied online, your application will be reviewed by a Candidate Engagement Facilitator (CEF). If you meet the minimum entry requirements, you will then be required to submit a portfolio showcasing your recent work. View our portfolio submission guidance.

Education

A tertiary qualification (at least a level 6 diploma) in Photography.

Citizenship

There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required SV security clearance for this trade.
Find out if you’re eligible here.

Period of Service

There may be a return of service period for this trade.

Please contact our 0800 number or talk to your Candidate Experience Facilitator for more information.

We offer guidance on entry requirements in our eligibility section. Apply if you're uncertain, as we’ll work through the criteria with you to determine if you can proceed.

Life as a Defence Photographer

  • Job on base

    You will join a tight-knit team of highly skilled photographers and will work alongside the video and design teams within the creative department of Defence Public Affairs (DPA). Your tasks will mainly support public affairs activities by documenting real-time activity or setting up scenes to meet a specific brief (such as recruitment collateral). You will attend ceremonies, military parades and sporting events to capture images for use online, in our internal news publications or by external agencies.

     

    You’ll support digital media activity, processing your images quickly for use within our websites and social media channels. You will also be required to accurately caption and archive your work, recording detailed meta-data.

     

    At times, you may work on more technical projects with other Defence Force units capturing, processing and presenting images that document technical component defects, equipment repairs and specifications for component and equipment modification. Your technical skills are also required to record aircraft and vehicle incidents, document evidence at fire and crime scenes, and capture medical and dental information.

  • Job on deployment

    You will be tasked with capturing our operational activity, whether that be in the outdoors of NZ, travelling on a ship, in the air or overseas. As a result, you’ll need to maintain flexibility for frequent late night or early morning activity. You will respond at short notice to natural disasters and local emergencies showcasing the humanitarian aid and disaster relief provided by the NZDF. Photograph our personnel in the field and capture aerial images of the ground, other aircraft, ships and vehicles.

     

    You will have a unique opportunity to interact with members across the Defence Force, of all ranks, trades and units. You will be trained in how the many and varied parts of the wider Defence Force operate, and you will constantly need to effectively combine excellent communication, creative and technical skills in order to get the best results from within often very challenging environments.

     

    Operational images captured by Air Force Photographers are often released by the Defence Force to external media, so your work will be published both nationally and internationally.

Career progression and training

01Basic Training

02Job Training

03Ongoing Training

04Career Progression

Benefits & allowances

Earn a competitive salary while training or learning your trade, along with additional allowances for time spent in the field, at sea, overseas, or deployed on operations.

In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include:

  • Access to your Service marae or tūrangawaewae
  • Sponsored tertiary study programmes at all levels
  • Free access to gyms and swimming pools on camp and bases
  • Opportunities to travel
  • Free and subsidised medical and dental care
  • Subsidised food and accommodation on camps and bases
  • Free and subsidised insurance cover
  • Help to buy a home and save for retirement

Salary & benefits

Careers in the Air Force are well-rewarded, as well as being diverse and exciting. As you become more experienced and move up through the ranks, gaining additional skills and qualifications, you will see your salary rise accordingly.

  • Under training

    $68,103

  • Future potential earnings

    $98,000

20220909 NZDF R1055140 005

Am I fit enough?

If you want to be part of the NZ Defence Force you need to be medically and physically fit for military duties worldwide.

Medical & Fitness
Air Force Application Process 20240920

The application process

Your step-by-step guide on what to expect at various stages of the application process, specifically for military roles.

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