Right now, marketing and creative teams are embracing a fresh start.
In a year full of change, you adapted, found new ways to get creative, and created compelling content that brought us together. Now, we want to share some of our favorite stories to inspire you in the year ahead.
Check out these stories to learn about AI-powered creative workflows, expert tips for 2021, insights from brands you admire, behind the scenes looks into pro sports bubbles and virtual graduation ceremonies, and so much more.
We’re sure these stories will leave you ready to tackle 2021!
1. Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s AI-Powered Content Workflow
Check out this story to go behind the scenes with The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and learn how they used PhotoShelter’s artificial intelligence solution to revolutionize their remote workflow.
Top takeaway: “COVID hit, we were all at home, I saw PhotoShelter AI, and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is it, this is our time saver,’” says RBFF’s Marketing and Creative Manager Kendra Lee.
2. 21 Social Media Pros to Watch in 2021
We compiled a list of some of the best social media experts in the game — check out this story to learn who you should be following in the new year.
Top takeaway: In a time when followers are inundated with content, these Social Pros have figured out how to cut through the noise. Follow them to get ideas and be inspired daily!
3. Premier Lacrosse League’s AI-Powered Workflow
This is the story of how the Premier Lacrosse League used groundbreaking artificial intelligence to change the game for their creative team. Take a look to find out how your team can use new technology to revolutionize your workflow!
Top takeaway: “The AI recognition of our photos will help us save hundreds of hours tagging and organizing photos, enabling us to share content with our partners, players, and fans faster than ever before,” says Tyler Steinhardt, Director of Marketing for the Premier Lacrosse League.
4. The Best Content from Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary
Earth Day is an important moment to recognize the beauty of our natural world, and to give your followers an inside look at how your brand is advocating for the environment. Check out some of our favorite posts from Earth Day’s 50th anniversary to get ideas for 2021!
Top takeaway: Holidays like Earth Day create fantastic opportunities to engage your followers. Find authentic, on-brand ways to join the conversation.
5. Thank You, New York: Organizations Who Are Inspiring Us Right Now
2020 brought some tough times, but New Yorkers remained resilient. Earlier this year, we turned to organizations in our backyard for some inspiration. Let their powerful content be a guide for your team’s efforts to make a positive change in the new year.
Top takeaway: As the world changes and new challenges arise, look for meaningful ways your brand can make a difference – and capture the moment through powerful visual content.
6. I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying: Our Favorite Moments from #OpeningDayAtHome
This year’s Major League Baseball Opening Day was certainly unique as we enjoyed the action from our homes instead of our favorite ballpark. Check out this story to see how social media teams got creative, and find out how your team can get creative with content in 2021.
Top takeaway: As MLB Twitter wrote, “Even though we’re apart, we can come together.”
7. 21+ Social Media Tips for 2021 from the Pros
Everyone can use a few pointers as we head into 2021. Don’t worry – we’ve got your tips for the future from some of the best Social Pros we know.
Top takeaway: Be sure to give your brand a personality, create a social media plan, and be prepared to adapt for whatever the year might bring.
8. Inside the Bubble with the Houston Rockets
Want to know what it was like behind the scenes during this NBA season? Check out this story with the creative team from the Houston Rockets as they take us through life in the bubble.
Top takeaway: “Speed is key,” says Rockets Senior Creative Director Jose Lopez. “Everybody needs information right now, and the people who can get it out the fastest – I think that’s king.”
9. One Photo 2020: The Power OF A Moment
For this story, we asked members of our community to submit the one photo that captured 2020 through the lens of their organization. Check out this story to get inspired for the new year through some extremely powerful visual storytelling.
Top takeaway: One single photo has the power to capture an entire year. How will you tell your story in 2021?
10. Kawasaki’s Supercharged Media Relations Strategy
Kawasaki knows a thing or two about speed, and they’ve used PhotoShelter to bring that speed to their media relations. Read this story to learn how your team can supercharge your own workflow and media relations strategy.
Top takeaway: “It couldn’t be a better time to work with PhotoShelter,” says Martin Lambert, European PR Manager.
11. [COVID Report] Marketing Through Disruption
This year presented all sorts of unique challenges for marketers, and we wanted to find out what successful teams are doing differently. We surveyed hundreds of creatives and compiled the results in a free report full of workflow tips, solutions and strategies to help you overcome any obstacle you might face in 2021.
Top takeaway: Marketers are struggling to deliver content in the moment: 73% of respondents were not able to respond quickly with relevant visual content when a topic is trending.
12. Inside the NHL Bubble with Chase Agnello-Dean
Veteran NHL photographer Chase Agnello-Dean was tasked with running photo operations for the Toronto NHL bubble. He took us behind the scenes in a Slack AMA earlier this year to share what life was like inside the bubble. Read this story to learn workflow tips and tricks for your own remote creative team.
Top takeaway: Without the presence of fans in the arena, Chase and his team were able to get creative and bring the fans into the action like never before by using innovative techniques and building a high-speed photography workflow.
13. Introducing Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders
In this story, you’ll learn how Jackson State University Photographer Charles A. Smith was able to deliver eye-catching content to his team and other stakeholders from the newsworthy hiring of Deion Sanders earlier this year. You’ll also come away with his tips and tricks for getting the most out of your brand’s breaking news in 2021.
Top takeaway: PhotoShelter makes it easy for everyone to get the images they need in real time. “It’s kind of my lifeblood, without it I don’t know how I would be doing this,” says Charles. “I just drop it and I go.”
14. Utah Valley University’s Drive-In Commencement and Convocation
Read the story about how one university got creative this year by bringing their students together even as traditional ceremonies took on a whole new look and learn what your team can do with the power of a real-time workflow.
Top takeaway: UVU Director of Photography August Miller and his team were able to bring students together and strengthen community bonds through their innovative use of PhotoShelter’s real-time workflow.
15. How American Leather Streamlines Marketing and Creative Workflow
This story explains how the creative team at American Leather has been able to get creative and more efficient – even while working remotely. It’s full of information that you and your team can use to streamline workflows and stay efficient heading into 2021.
Top takeaway: Maggie and her team are finding new ways to streamline their workflow with PhotoShelter, like cutting out steps in their approval process for print ads and speeding up their day-to-day routines.
Bonus Content: 20/21 Vision On-Demand
Want access to more content inspiration? Check out 2021 Vision: The Strategy Summit by PhotoShelter to hear from top brands like TIME, ATP Tour, the NFL and more!
Bonus Content: [Summit On-Demand] 35 Creative Experts Share Their Secrets
At the PhotoShelter Summit for Brands, we spoke with some of the most talented creative people we know. Check out the sessions from a full day of creative inspiration and hear from brands like The Washington Post, KIND Snacks, PGA Tour and more!
We hope these stories leave you inspired and ready to take on the year ahead. We are thankful to all of the incredibly creative people who shared their stories with us this year and pulled back the curtain on their creative strategies.
Want more content inspiration? Check out this post with 11 of our favorite videos to fuel your 2021 marketing strategy!
