At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead an all-female team in a luxury portrait studio, ensuring exceptional guest experiences.
- Company: Join Body & Soul, a pioneering all-female intimate portrait studio in Hackney.
- Benefits: Competitive salary with performance bonuses and opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by transforming how women see themselves through art.
- Qualifications: Experience in high-emotion environments and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with potential to expand into multi-room studios across cities.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Base: £55,000–£65,000
OTE: £75,000–£95,000 for top performers
About Body & Soul
We're an all-female intimate portrait studio in Hackney. We've helped 1,900+ women transform how they see themselves through luxury portrait experiences and artwork they keep for life. We're now turning our East London studio into a multi-room flagship we can copy to other cities (starting with the US).
Your job: make sure what we promise in our ads is exactly what happens in the room, every single day – without the founders needing to be there. You will be our first layer of middle management inside the studio. Until now, everyone has effectively reported to the founder. We have strong demand and a great team, but the way we run the studio day-to-day needs to grow up. You'll help finish building that operating system and then run it.
The role
You own everything from "she's booked" to "her artwork is delivered" inside the four walls. Abbey (founder) currently owns sales and will be stepping into a Sales Manager role while you take over operations and experience. If the founders leave the country for a month and guests can't tell, you're winning.
- Rough split (Year 1):
50–60% leading & coaching on the floor
40–50% running the studio (hiring, rotas, dashboards, improvements)
You will:
- Lead an 8–10 person all-female team (photographers, HMUAs, Guest Experience, ops/production) with daily huddles and weekly 1:1s.
- Be on the floor most days in your first year: protect emotional safety, keep the studio on time, and run short, consent-based guest check-ins.
- Hire, onboard, and, when needed, fire to keep the team high-performing.
- Get on the phone with the rare angry guest, calm them down, and protect the brand.
- Run role-plays and game-tape reviews so service standards keep improving.
- Keep the studio running like a luxury hotel meets high-end clinic: immaculate space, smooth handovers, no chaos, artwork on time.
- Run the studio off a simple dashboard: spot issues early, fix them with checklists and rhythms, not heroics.
- Co-own finishing and hardening our ClickUp / Slack / Notion systems with the founder, then run them.
- Report directly to the CEO with clear numbers and clear plans.
As the flagship becomes boringly consistent, your time will naturally tilt more toward systems, hiring, and multi-room throughput.
How we measure success
Your bonus is tied to a small handful of numbers you directly control:
- On-time sessions
- On-time artwork
- Guest experience (5-star rate / CSAT ≥ 4.8)
- Throughput vs plan at target margin
- Operational reliability (guest / safety incidents, staff reliability)
You only earn top-of-range if the founders are not being dragged into fires you should own.
You might be a fit if...
- You've run a busy, high-emotion environment (luxury hotel front-of-house / guest experience, spa, clinic, med spa, salon, boutique fitness, fine dining) with 5–15 people.
- You're comfortable hiring, holding people to standards, and letting them go when needed.
- You actually enjoy coaching: huddles, 1:1s, feedback, practice.
- You're calm with upset clients and confident handling difficult calls.
- You think in checklists, flows, and dashboards, not "I'll just wing it."
- You notice tiny luxury details and can teach younger creatives to see them.
- The idea of taking a strong studio, doubling throughput cleanly, and helping copy-paste that model to the US excites you.
Not a fit if...
- You want to sit in an office doing rotas instead of being on the floor.
- You avoid confrontation or need everyone to like you.
- You want £80k+ guaranteed in Year 1 just for turning up, rather than earning it by building a machine.
Compensation & logistics
Base: £55,000–£65,000 (experience dependent)
Performance bonus: Target £15,000–£20,000/year, paid quarterly, based on the scorecard above
As the flagship grows into a multi-room, high-throughput studio and you keep it founder-out, total comp can reach £75,000–£95,000+
In-studio, full-time role in Hackney
Weekends are a normal part of your pattern. Early starts and late finishes on busy days.
You must be able to reliably commute, commit for 2+ years, and be comfortable in an all-female, intimate portraiture environment.
Due to the intimate nature of our work with nude female clients, this role has a genuine occupational requirement for female staff under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010, to ensure privacy and decency.
Studio Manager [GM‐track] Flagship All‐Female Portrait Studio in London employer: Body & Soul Studios
Contact Detail:
Body & Soul Studios Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Studio Manager [GM‐track] Flagship All‐Female Portrait Studio in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the studio vibe! Before your interview, spend some time researching Body & Soul. Check out their social media and website to understand their mission and values. This will help you connect with the team and show that you're genuinely interested in what they do.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Role-play common interview questions with a friend or in front of the mirror. Focus on how you would lead a team, handle guest experiences, and maintain high standards. The more comfortable you are, the better you'll come across during the real deal.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your leadership skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully managed teams in high-pressure environments. Highlight your coaching style and how you keep morale high while ensuring everything runs smoothly.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to ask questions! Prepare thoughtful questions about the studio's operations and future plans. This shows you're not just interested in the role but also in contributing to the studio's growth. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
We think you need these skills to ace Studio Manager [GM‐track] Flagship All‐Female Portrait Studio in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic: When you're writing your application, let your true self shine through. We want to see your personality and passion for the role, so don’t hold back on sharing what makes you unique!
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to fit the Studio Manager role. Highlight your experience in high-emotion environments and how you've successfully led teams before. Show us why you're the perfect fit!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share your successes! Use specific examples of how you've improved guest experiences or streamlined operations in previous roles. Numbers and results speak volumes!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Body & Soul Studios
✨Know the Studio Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you understand Body & Soul's mission and values. Familiarise yourself with their approach to luxury portrait experiences and how they empower women. This will help you align your answers with their ethos and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading a team, be prepared to discuss your previous experiences in managing people. Share specific examples of how you've coached teams, handled difficult situations, or improved guest experiences. Highlight your ability to maintain a calm environment, especially in high-pressure scenarios.
✨Showcase Your Organisational Skills
The studio manager role requires strong organisational abilities. Bring examples of how you've successfully implemented systems or processes in past roles. Discuss your experience with checklists, dashboards, and any tools like ClickUp or Notion that you've used to streamline operations.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think about how you would handle an upset client or manage a chaotic day in the studio. Practising these scenarios can help you articulate your thought process clearly and demonstrate your readiness for the challenges of the role.