AI Artist & Retoucher - Visual Production

Aquent is partnering with a renowned leader in the luxury home furnishings and lifestyle industry, a brand celebrated globally for its uncompromising commitment to quality, design, and innovative presentation. This company sets the standard for aesthetic excellence, crafting timeless pieces and editorial content that inspire and captivate. Join a team where your expertise will directly shape the visual narrative and elevate the brand's iconic presence, leaving a significant mark on its visual legacy.

This is an unparalleled opportunity to step into a pivotal role where your artistic vision and technical prowess will converge to revolutionize visual production. We are seeking a creative force to blend artistic expertise with groundbreaking AI technology, directly impacting the aesthetic quality and innovative presentation of world-class products and editorial content. You will be at the intersection of generative AI, photorealistic image creation, and high-end retouching, seamlessly combining AI-generated and photographed assets to craft stunning imagery that adheres to the highest editorial and product standards. Your work will push the boundaries of visual artistry, influencing the visual identity of campaigns and sourcebooks, and setting new standards for photorealism and creative expression.

What You'll Do

• Build and execute cutting-edge AI image generation and editing workflows for furniture, interiors, and lifestyle imagery using modern generative platforms and sophisticated node-based AI systems.
• Craft and iterate on structured generative prompts across diverse AI platforms with precision and repeatability, adapting your approach to leverage each platform's unique strengths and behaviors.
• Perform meticulous high-end retouching on both AI-generated and traditionally photographed assets, encompassing precise color correction, intricate compositing, flawless surface correction, material enhancement, and sophisticated shadow work.
• Seamlessly integrate AI-generated elements into photographed environments and expertly composite photographic elements into AI-generated scenes.
• Elevate lifestyle and product photography through advanced retouching techniques to meet exacting luxury editorial standards.
• Prepare and deliver print-ready files that adhere to stringent production and prepress specifications, ensuring impeccable quality.
• Collaborate closely with creative directors and art directors to maintain visual consistency and uphold the brand's distinctive aesthetic across all campaigns and sourcebooks.
• Develop and document internal AI prompting protocols and comprehensive retouching Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), contributing to best practices and knowledge sharing.

What You Bring (Must-Have Qualifications)

• Demonstrable experience in high-end photo retouching, with a strong preference for lifestyle, product, or luxury goods.
• Hands-on experience applying generative AI tools in a production context, specifically with image generation platforms.
• Proven experience working within advanced node-based AI generation workflows such as Figma Weave or ComfyUI.
• Strong prompting fluency across multiple AI platforms, coupled with a practical understanding of how each model behaves differently and the ability to structure, iterate, and troubleshoot generative outputs at a production level.
• Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, including advanced compositing, precise masking, accurate color correction, prepress preparation, and efficient file management.
• A genuine and deep understanding of photorealism, encompassing lighting principles, material properties, perspective, and the nuanced elements that contribute to an image reading as authentically real.
• A compelling portfolio showcasing both exceptional retouching craft and innovative AI-generated or AI-assisted work.
• The discerning ability to distinguish between challenges that can be solved through prompting and those requiring manual retouching intervention, alongside the skill to execute both effectively.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Experience with advanced upscaling and enhancement tools (e.g., Magnific, Topaz Photo AI).
• Proficiency in video and motion generation (e.g., Runway, Kling, Veo).
• A strong photography background, including a comprehensive understanding of lens characteristics, lighting principles, and capture simulation.