As AI continues to improve, sports marketers are tapping into the data to help them understand what fans really want.
Creating personalized content is becoming easier with machine learning, and organizing and sharing that content is becoming a seamless process.
On this episode of “On the Record with ‘Sports Professor’ Rick Horrow,” PhotoShelter CEO Andrew Fingerman sits down with Rick to discuss the ways artificial intelligence is transforming the industry, and how PhotoShelter is leaning into AI technology to maximize content ROI for teams, organizations, and their sponsors.
Here’s a recap:
AI is changing the game for sports marketing, brand building, and fan engagement.
Creative teams can now make educated adjustments to their strategies and their workflows with data and analytics, so their AI content makes a bigger impact. Metrics help teams understand the bigger story behind content distribution and make more data-driven decisions on their campaigns.
We are just scraping the tip of the iceberg when it comes to AI and how these tools can transform the way brands and organizations execute and amplify their work.
The next phase is automation.
Until now, photos needed to be tagged in order to be searchable and subsequently, the most useful to creative teams. In an ideal world, all of your content would be tagged to perfection and everyone in your organization would be able to find what they need when they need it.
However, this is not reality. 40% of the 5 billion assets housed on PhotoShelter are not being tagged. That means it would take more than 200 days for people to tag all of the assets uploaded to PhotoShelter each month.
For creatives using PhotoShelter, AI now automates this process, freeing up time for more innovative work, and removing the learning curve for new employees who once had to learn the typical tagging process.
“What our technology has done is, we’ve been able to take out the human element — which is the single biggest pain point of needing to tag and move this content around,” said Andrew Fingerman, PhotoShelter’s CEO. “And that is where we’re seeing a lot of next-generation difference-making in the market.”
Real-time + repetition = ROI.
These days, speed is essential for making an impact on social media. Countless organizations, sports teams and leading brands have told us about their workflows, sharing that with the right setup, they’re able to move assets from the camera to their social media feeds, websites, sponsors and key influencers in under 60 seconds.
PhotoShelter AI makes this a simple and repeatable process.
Plus, reaching your audience time and time again will hammer home the messages that are most important to you and your brand. Create quality content once, and leverage our AI tools to maximize the ROI of your library and tell your story again and again.
“We’ve reached a unique point in time where companies that regularly leverage AI are now prompted to take a solid stance on the future of our industries as they relate to this new technology,” said Kathy Carter, PhotoShelter’s CTO. Learn more about PhotoShelter’s AI solutions and our dedicated AI Ethics Board.
As spring’s warm weather invites us outside to enjoy nature’s new blooms, infinite new possibilities awaken around and within us. Waking up to warmer mornings reminds us that soaking up the summer sun on the weekends simply isn’t enough. Everyone deserves a vacation, including you!
There are so many beautiful cultures around the world to experience and witness, so where does your wanderlust take you first? A secluded, tropical island? A desert safari? A cool, mountainous countryside? A bustling metro city?
As you begin to plan for your dream vacation, besides picking a date, setting a budget, and choosing a companion (if you’re not going solo ✌️,) how and where does your travel research begin?
For us, breathtakingly beautiful images featuring a sprawling, natural landscape, animals in their natural habitat, and videos that show visitors having the time of their lives make us want to click ‘Book Trip’ ASAP!
Destination Marketing Organizations (or DMOs) are state-recognized non-profit agencies—and they all share the same mission: to grow the economic development of their respective cities, towns, and communities by attracting tourists and promoting the culture and experiences that make their locations unique.
Though nothing quite matches the awe-inspiring feeling of experiencing a new place like traveling somewhere for the first time, DMOs are some of the biggest and most innovative enthusiasts of using visual content to fill in the gaps.
Ready to plan for the best road trip of your life? Let’s GO!
Check out the list below to see how 10 domestic destinations use captivating content to remind visitors that their dreams of traveling can become a reality.
First stop? Spokane, Washington
Let’s start on the West Coast (as some say, the best coast!)
As the most Northern West state in America, Washington State is one of the best places to visit if you want to experience the varying terrain, weather, food, nature, and cultures of the Pacific Northwest. Spokane was originally inhabited by the Spokane people, the Native American tribe the city is named after, which means ‘children of the sun.’
Visit Spokane, the local DMO responsible for attracting visitors and promoting tourism to the city, beautifully balances sharing digital content that informs locals and visitors of the impact of the city’s economic development on the native peoples while also highlighting the PNW’s ecological wonders and new safe spaces.
The Visit Spokane website puts key city landmarks like Riverfront Park and Spokane Falls front and center. And, to make it easy on visitors who want an itinerary of must-visit spots to follow—they curate lists of seasonal activities and activities accessible for specific travel groups, like families. Browse Visit Spokane’s PhotoShelter Library to see the full range of landscapes, spaces, and activities you can explore when visiting
Fun facts to know about the city of Spokane, Washington:
While the city of Bend, Oregon might not be on your radar, once you check out Visit Bend’s website and social feeds, you’ll definitely add it to your Travel Bucket List!
How does the Visit Bend team use visual content to feed a traveler’s appetite for getting to know a city before they visit?
Justin Keyes Bundy, Visit Bend’s Digital Content Manager wrote and told us:
“We strive to amplify the experiences of those exploring Bend, Oregon daily. By using PhotoShelter, our local content contributors can submit their assets to our digital team at a moment’s notice. This workflow has led to more diverse, creative, and engaging content across our various publishing channels. At the end of the day, we all want to easily share and celebrate the wonderful outdoor recreational activities the area has to offer.”
Follow Visit Bend on Twitter and Facebook to see the city through a local’s eyes, and check out the Reels on their Instagram account to see all the coastal fronts and mountain peaks you can explore!
When most people think of traveling to Nevada, they envision a wild weekend in Las Vegas or a breezy getaway in Reno or Lake Tahoe. As the capital of Nevada since 1864, Carson City’s rich history and vast natural landscapes are two of the main city features that the Visit Carson City team focuses on highlighting in their website and digital content.
The Visit Carson City website homepage features a captivating video montage that showcases the region’s beautiful coastal views, vintage railway trains, and sensational eateries. If you love exploring your surroundings on foot or by bike, you can use Carson City’s trail system map to plan excursions. (Plus, check out the free interactive pass they created so visitors on a tight budget can explore more!) Fun fact: You can even visit the inventor of the Ferris Wheel’s home in Carson City!
How has using a digital asset management platform like PhotoShelter impacted this creative storytelling team?
“PhotoShelter has been essential for our team—not only for keeping our assets organized, but it’s also helped us get assets out quickly to partners to showcase Carson City as a beautiful place to visit.”
Lydia Beck, Visit Carson City’s Marketing and Public Relations Manager
P.S. Carson City just hosted the first-ever Mark Twain Days Festival, honoring the literary hero who spent time in and loved Nevada. Lydia said they didn’t have any new assets created to promote it ahead of time because it was their first time hosting and producing this event.
Instead, Lydia said that they were able to “search for photos in our old PhotoShelter galleries that matched the current event promotion needs, instead of spending time and money we didn’t have to create new assets. It was really helpful and saved us a lot of time because it was super easy to search for relevant assets using metadata and keywords.” Check out this beautifully produced Instagram reel to see how they used archived video assets to create a promotional video before the event!
Follow Visit Carson City on Twitter and Facebook, and check out their Instagram Reels to explore the city’s mountain peaks, city streets, and Trailways! We’re excited to see how the Visit Carson City team continues to innovatively use visual storytelling to promote their special city—and we can’t wait to visit Carson City soon!
Going to California? Please be sure to Visit Big Bear!
Picture this: You’re watching dawn break over the San Bernardino Mountains and the rock of tiny waves lapping against the lakeside dock underneath you shakes you out of a vacation daydream. With a map in one hand and warm tea in the other, you think: “What a life! What should I explore today?”
Big Bear, California is a small inland California city that sits along the shore of a manmade lake and right between the San Bernardino National Forest. The city’s high elevation and ideal year round weather conditions make it a perfect destination for travelers that want to experience the thrill of a snowsport getaway and for those who want to stroll and explore the leisurely lakeside community.
In fact, throughout the years, Big Bear has been a hot spot and host to Hollywood celebrities, famous film productions, and an annual Oktoberfest festival. The city also hosted the first Winter X games in 1997 and has since gained popularity with professional athletes as a training destination.
Their website homepage features sensational seasonal imagery to draw visitors in, and right now they’re featuring gorgeous mountain blooms you’d see if you were hiking around Big Bear.
According to a recently published Forbes.com article, travel experts say that Phoenix, Arizona is one of the best places to visit in the United States in 2023. If you want to know why you should visit, just head to their website homepage to see a stunning video montage of the incredible cultural experiences available to you.
To invite visitors to explore the city through their website first, Visit Phoenix also curates lists of seasonal activities, accommodation and restaurant deals, and local events. The website also features the city’s mission statement which acknowledges the native people who originally inhabited the land, and how the modern locals honor and celebrate their tribal traditions
It reads: “The story of Phoenix’s innovation began with the Hohokam people, who created canals through the Sonoran Desert that fed a civilization for over a thousand years. Today, this spirit inspires ideas that shape our future. An unbreakable brightness and vitality have brought an entire city to heights others never dreamed possible.
Phoenix’s culture impresses upon the locals and visitors beyond the boundaries of the city’s limits. If you want to see what lies beyond the city limits at a glance, look no further than the Visit Phoenix website and you’ll scroll down to see a beautifully designed map that highlights must-visit landmarks and cultural centers. Sports fans can also get their fix by checking out an NBA game. Go Phoenix Suns! NBA season!
How does Visit Phoenix like using PhotoShelter to speed up the content marketing team’s workflow? Kim Goins, Visit Phoenix’s Marketing Projects Manager said, “We love working with the PhotoShelter product and I’ve been singing its praises to other DMOs!”
Although Conde Nast Traveler listed Park City, Utah as one of 2023’s top domestic destinations to visit, we think Salt Lake City (or SLC as the locals call it,) should also be on your travel bucket list. Situated just 30 miles Southeast of Park City, Salt Lake City was originally founded and inhabited by the Ute Indians, then the Mormons, and now, according to a 2022 Realtor.com report, Salt Lake City has become a popular destination with tech startup companies, young professionals, and new retirees who are all looking to plant roots in an affordable, walkable city.
The first settlers and locals today still believe the lake is inhabited by a monster!
The Great Salt Lake is actually 3 to 10 times saltier than the ocean, and you can actually float (and eat the salt) in the Great Salt Lake! One of Morton Salt’s biggest plants is near SLC.
This popular Utah valley is known for The Greatest Snow on Earth, but the region is pleasant to visit during any season, making it popular with outdoor enthusiasts. That’s why the Visit Salt Lake City team mainly focuses its content on highlighting the natural beauty of the valley and the people who bring the community to life.
The city’s religious history also attracts thousands of faith-based visitors every day of the year. But interestingly enough, SLC is known to be one of the Gayest Cities in America! Can’t believe it? It’s true–and after reading this relatable statement, we know safe spaces and experiences are within reach in SLC.
The Visit SLC website reads: “We get it. When most people think of Salt Lake, a progressive queer scene probably isn’t the first… or second… or, um, even third thing that comes to mind. But almost any LGBTQ visitor who’s been here before, and nearly every LGBTQ local who calls the city home, will tell you, it’s an inclusive urban destination with tons of super gay stuff going on. In fact, Advocate magazine listed us as one of the Ten Queerest Cities in America. (Even gayer than L.A.!)”
If you’re into snow sports, Jackson Hole, Wyoming is probably already on your Travel Bucket List. If you’re not, it might not be—but Visit Jackson Hole’s digital content highlights a few reasons why it should be.
The mountain town of Jackson Hole sits between two mountain ranges and borders the state of Idaho, so the wintery terrain creates a thriving ecosystem for mountain animals (and ski bums!) to thrive in. In addition to sharing content that highlights nature’s beauty, Visit Jackson Hole’s content team also shares content that teaches sustainable lifestyle and traveling practices to visitors to ensure Jackson Hole Stays Wild, a motto they promote on the website’s homepage.
Not a skier or snowboarder? No worries! There are plenty of other ways to explore the city and Visit Jackson Hole’s website makes it easy to see all the options in one place. Click ‘ACTIVITIES’–the first navigation menu item on their website homepage. Once you’re there, you can filter by activities by appropriateness for certain age groups, the date range of your visit, or by the season you hope to travel in!
Also, it’s one of the richest counties in the United States (thanks to an influx of celebrities who have moved there due to beneficial tax policies,) but right now their website features a $400 flight promotion. Is a good deal enough to entice you to book without knowing more about a destination? Take the chance and do it now!
It’s not a city, it’s a state! It’s MI-SS-I-SS-I-PP-I!
Mississippi is a special southern state. From the very first moment you visit their website, you’ll feel the warm welcome of belonging. As you scroll and watch a 30-second video showing a young family exploring the great outdoors, the music-filled nightlife, and the cultural centers of the state, a designed text graphic lays over the video and reads: ‘Let’s Wander.’
This soft reminder to any person on a journey simply confirms that not all who wander, are lost, and as you keep scrolling, the next statement reads: “Mississippi is a state for all those who are wanderers at heart.” Honey, I’m home! ✈️
The Visit Mississippi marketing team invests heavily in developing narrative-based visual stories because the people and organizations that invest in communities better are the folks visitors really should meet. Watch the Wanderers Welcome YouTube Series to see how they created short, but impactful promotional videos to showcase landmarks, culturally important spaces, and the people that make the state of Mississippi the rich place it is.
Katie Hunter, Visit Myrtle Beach’s Content Manager wrote, “The VMB team uses PhotoShelter to share and collaborate with other teams and creators so that the best photo assets can be used to tell the story of The Beach. PhotoShelter makes it easy for us all to share large files, download images for our own projects, and upload new files from our team of content creators.”
What type of images does the Visit Myrtle Beach marketing team choose and use to tell and sell the story of Myrtle Beach? Let’s take a look!
The waterfront awaits your arrival in Myrtle Beach!
A mouthwatering bowl of comfort: Jambalaya Stew at the Sea Captain’s House in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina!
Cheers, to the best adventures being with friends!
Myrtle Beach is known to travelers for two things, mainly: Beaches and golf. With over 90 courses to tee up at, Myrtle Beach is a golfer’s paradise! The 60-mile-long beach known as The Grand Strand (click the link to watch a YouTube video showing the 60-mile stretch in under 60 seconds,) also offers visitors of all abilities tons of recreational options besides sunbathing. And the wide variety of bustling nightlife and restaurant options will satisfy all the good-time travelers!
This little slice of North Carolina is nicknamed ‘The Southern Part of Heaven.’ After finding out that 1950s writer, William Meade Prince coined the phrase in his memoir about growing up there, it all makes sense. Some other interesting facts about Chapel Hill: Since 1996, Chapel Hill’s fire engines have been painted blue. It’s home to America’s oldest public university, and the first planetarium that was built in the south—The Morehead Planetarium.
Their website’s homepage features a sliding carousel of images and simple one-word questions overlaid on top–that any visitor probably would emphatically answer, ‘YES!’ to like: ‘Thirsty? Hungry? Art-lover?’ And the mouth-watering images that accompany them feature southern barbecue plates, beer flights, local talent, botanical gardens, public parks, lively sporting arenas, and artwork—the main city attractions any new traveler wouldn’t want to miss.
Beyond the quaint reputation Chapel Hill is known for, how does the Visit Chapel Hill marketing team use visual storytelling to attract visitors?
“PhotoShelter has been a tremendous asset for sharing photos and video with our marketing agency of record and other stakeholders in our industry. Our photos are available to them at their convenience which frees up time for our team to think more creatively.”
Tina Fuller, Visit Chapel Hill’s Website and Social Media Coordinator
As Zach Kitschke, CMO of Canva recently said, “This is the era of the visual economy. Thriving in it requires organizations and their employees to think and work differently.”
By splashing captivating video montages and stunning landscape images across their websites and social feeds, these domestic Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) flood our minds with stories that show us that planning a quick escape can be within our reach!
Use this map we made for you to visualize what a road trip to all of the places in this list would look like!
Want to learn more about how travel marketers create award-winning visual stories that entice more visitors to visit their destinations every year?
The outpouring of support for these creatives is always incredible to witness. And now, we want to shine a light on more inspiring women photographers.
This time, we’re dedicating our shout-outs to women in the world of food photography.
We’ve collected heartfelt shout-outs from food photographers who inspire us. Get ready for nonstop mouth-watering photos of culinary delicacies, home-cooked meals and baked goods in your Instagram feed.
Who are the women in food photography who inspire you? Share your shout-outs in the comments, or tag @psforbrands on Twitter and Instagram.
Photo by Katie Cornett
Katie Cornett @katie_cornett is a Los Angeles-based food and destination photographer with a knack for capturing the close-up details in every bite. She’s shouting out…
I have admired Renee since I first met her at a workshop and recognized her as being as much a caring and involved member of the LA food photography community as she is a gifted visual storyteller. She seems to be connected to everyone I meet, whether at a professional event, mixer, or job. Every time I run into her, I learn something from her.
I first met Aliwhen I assisted her years ago after a colleague couldn’t take the job. I immediately knew I’d learn a ton from this hard-working, creative woman. She takes care in everything that she does, hustles like crazy, and is the most detail-oriented human on the planet. I am continually inspired by Ali, and honored to work with, for, and alongside her in this industry.
I don’t know Erica personally, but rather came across her profile on Instagram some time ago, and have loved watching her grow and expand as a photographer. Her work is bright, colorful, fun and so appetizing! She captures a story and uses light in such a beautiful way. I get excited for her when I see a new campaign she has landed or test shoot she’s done. Her images are beautiful, and I hope to keep seeing her work (and her name) cross my path!
Photo by Darina Kopcok
Darina Kopcok @gastrostoria is freelance food and still life photographer based in Vancouver, Canada. She draws heavily on her fine art training to create evocative images with a distinct sense of mood and place. Darina’s shouting out…
There are so many female food photographers I admire – and female photographers in general. These women stand out for me because of their ability to create powerful stories with even the most minimalist compositions. I don’t know them personally, but I’ve been following their work for years and have been so inspired by it. I know that it takes a lot of creativity, hard work and dedication to excellence to achieve what these women have in their photography.
I have been shooting professionally for a few years now, but I feel there is always so much to learn, especially in this digital age. Yet the one constant a photographer needs is a keen understanding of light. There are so many elements that make up a successful photograph, but lighting is the way I believe one photographer really distinguishes her work from another. The incredible use of light that these women display in their imagery is such a huge inspiration to me, and has really helped me focus on what’s important and to refine my goals in terms of my own photography.
Food photography used to be this weird little niche in photography that didn’t hold much appeal. The images looked overly perfect and obviously lit.
The advent of blogging and Instagram has really revolutionized the way food photography is seen.
These women, as well as so many other women behind the camera have had a huge influence on the modern aesthetics of food photography, which has a more natural and candid feel.
I have such respect for these women, and all these women behind the lens that contribute their craft and vision to the world of food and have inspired a whole generation of women to follow their dreams and make a living in photography.
Photo by Corina Daniela Obertas
Corina Daniela Obertas @corinadanielaobertas is a creative food photographer based in Rome, Italy. She loves experimenting, learning, creating new things and working with others who have the same passions. Corina’s shouting out…
I love Christina Greve‘s capacity to see and capture the beauty, and the locations she chooses are absolutely amazing. She creates the right atmosphere. She has a very creative mind.
I find Anna‘s compositions fascinating. I love the way she builds the set and takes care of every detail. I think she has a lot of patience and flexibility.
I think we all know Joanie and yes, I follow her too and I am conquered by her vivacity and continuous desire to do and to explain. She is really a woman who never stops. She creates great pictures.
I love the light in the images created by Christina Peters. She has excellent skills and she’s a great teacher, too.
Photo by Sarah Matheson
Sarah Matheson @hungryharrysfoods is an Australian-born photojournalist and visual storyteller. She’s also the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Hungry Harry’s. She’s giving another shout-out to…
Aside from the technical tips and the exquisite lighting, Joanie dissolves the mystic around food photography and makes it real. That appeals to my documentary ethos and my desire the “explain in pictures,” rather than words.
She is also pragmatic about life and how destiny has delivered her challenges and how she has managed them. Very similar to the food allergy journey.
So, Joanie is my choice.
Photo by Kate Baldwin
Kate Baldwin @katebaldwinphotography is a commercial photographer, filmmaker and Seattle native specializing in lifestyle, people and food. She’s shouting out…
Thank you to everyone who shared a shout-out – you inspire us. And thank you for paying it forward. Now it’s your turn!
Who did we miss? Who should we add to this incredible list?
Share your shout-outs in the comments, or tag @psforbrands on Twitter and Instagram.
Do you remember your university days? The endless lectures, the all-nighters, and the juggling act of trying to balance a social life and a never-ending to-do list?
We know some incredibly talented photographers in Europe documenting those memorable moments of joy, stress, and everything in between.
From the historic halls of Oxford to the bustling streets of Paris, these university photographers have an eye for detail and a knack for capturing the spirit of university life – plus, many of them are digital asset management pros, too. Prepare to take a trip down memory lane with some of the best university photographers in Europe!
Take a look at our list below and give these incredible visual storytellers a follow on social media!
Think we missed someone? (we know we did!) Tag us on Twitter or Instagram and let us know who should be added to this list. We’ll continue to update as we hear from you!
Tomas Tyner, University College Cork
Tomas Tyneris a photographer who has captured the essence of University College Cork through his lens. With an impressive portfolio of images, Tyner has documented the university’s beauty, its student life’s vibrancy, and the energy of its academic community. As a PhotoShelter client, Tyner has been able to showcase his work to a global audience, highlighting the unique qualities of UCC to a wider audience.
Mary Hinkley is a Photographer and Digitisation & Archiving Officer at University College London. Through her work, Mary has helped to bring to life the stories and memories that are woven into the fabric of UCL and has played a critical role in ensuring that the university’s visual heritage is preserved for future students.
Thomas Angus, the College Photographer and Image Manager at Imperial College London, has honed his skills to produce captivating, high-quality images that tell a story. Whether you’re a student at Imperial College London, a photography enthusiast, or someone who appreciates stunning visuals, you won’t want to miss this.
Get ready to be amazed by the incredible talent of Maria Woodford, a skilled university and events photographer with a knack for photographing unforgettable moments. Her stunning black-and-white photos of the Cambridge Ball are a testament to her ability to create great contrast and showcase the beauty of every scene she captures.
Meet the elusive Becky, a talented Ph.D. student with a passion for photography who has captured the timeless beauty of Oxford in a unique and captivating way. With her keen eye for detail and artistic vision, she brings the city’s stunning architecture and rich history to life through her lens.
Benjamin Waller is a talented photographer who captures Oxford’s historical campus and timeless beauty in striking black-and-white. With his keen eye for detail and impeccable sense of composition, Benjamin’s photographs bring this iconic English University’s rich history and charm to life.
Introducing Martin Bond, a visual storyteller who photographs the timeless elegance of King’s College London through his lens. Martin’s ability to showcase the intricate details and breathtaking vistas of this historic institution is simply awe-inspiring.
Massimo Siragusa‘s photographs of Bocconi University transport the viewer to a world of timeless beauty and grandeur, where the past and the present converge in a stunning visual narrative. His exquisite sense of composition and style create a unique visual experience that is both mesmerizing and unforgettable.
While we’re not highlighting one photographer here specifically, we love how this university celebrates photography and breeds some of the best visual storytellers around. From stunning landscapes to captivating portraits, the Griffith College Photography Instagram account is a visual feast for the eyes! With their creative prowess and keen eye for detail, it’s no surprise they’ve been awarded an honorable mention for the best university photographers – their photos are simply picture-perfect!
Looking for a new source of inspiration in your Instagram feed? Look no further than Harald Werk! This talented Mannheim-based photographer’s work can be seen on the University of Mannheim’s Instagram page, where his stunning images of the campus and student life capture the essence of what makes this university so special. From the historic buildings to the vibrant student community, Harald Werk’s photography is sure to leave you in awe!
Meet Dirk H., a travel photographer with a passion for capturing the beauty of both natural landscapes and architectural marvels. While on his journeys, he has developed a unique interest in photographing universities, with each one offering its own distinct charm and history. Join Dirk as he showcases the hidden gems at universities around the world.
Let us know about the university photographers around the world you love to follow on social media. Tag us on Twitter or Instagram and let us know who inspires you. We’ll add them to our list!
Women’s History Month is a time for us to not only celebrate and honor women but commit to creating the equitable, diverse future that today’s female-identifying youth can thrive in!
The UN Women’s sector recently reported, “A global analysis of 133 artificial intelligence systems across industries found that 44.2% [of AI systems] demonstrate gender bias. [The implications of this mean] The voices of women, girls, and other marginalized groups, historically sidelined or altogether absent in tech spaces, are urgently needed in the decision-making processes.”
Here are three vital statistics about where women see growth and opportunity in the workplace today:
Today, women make up 31% of the global STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) workforce, yet they only hold 24% of the leadership roles in these fields.
In 2022, Marketing Week reported that across global media and communications industries, women take up less than 50% (37%) of leadership roles, despite making up nearly 50% (48%) of the total workforce.
At PhotoShelter, we make intentional efforts to combat gender disparity in the creative and tech industries by centering parity in building our team and external community—a community is made up of employees, customers, and partners—all creative problem-solvers who enable other creatives to do their best work.
How are we heeding the unifying call to create parity for women online? By highlighting some incredible women we know who are in the prime of their careers as photographers, creative directors, brand marketers, graphic designers, social media managers, videographers, and more!
Who are the women photographers, designers, videographers, social media managers you follow for visual inspiration & career advice?
Tag them here, let’s share some shout-outs!
We’re making a list for our blog
— PhotoShelter for Brands (@psforbrands) March 6, 2023
We want to keep this list growing, so #PowerOnand shoutout your favorite creatives in the comments below. Or, head to social to give a shout-out to the leading women you’re following on Twitter or LinkedIn and tag us @psforbrands or @PhotoShelter!
@PollyIrungu, Photo Editor for Madamme Vice President, Kamala Harris and Founder of Black Women PhotographersRead this feature profile to learn how Polly transformed her dual passion for photography and seeing other creatives thrive into an illustrative career!
@AbbyKeenan3 — Abigal Keenan Field, Los Angeles Lakers Team Photographer
@Nellez — Chanelle Smith-Walker, Carolina Panthers Team Photographer
@EmFails — Emilee Fails, Washington Commanders Team Photographer
@BrakeThroughIG — Iri Snow Greco, Commercial, Editorial, & Fine Art Photographer
@CallenaMW — Callena Williams, Dallas Cowboys Team Photographer
@TaybBanner — Taylor Banner, Charlotte FC Team Photographer
@GrafikAmanda — Amanda Cain, San Jose Sharks Team Photographer
@Kendizzzall — Kendall Warner, Virginian Pilot Staff Photographer
JaneGPhoto – Jane Gershovich, Pacific Northwest based Sports, Wedding and Commercial Photographer
i get asked about my color grading process pretty much every time i post, and how my shots look RAW, so here's some b&a that i've been using as an example pic.twitter.com/SHxV4lX2Mc
@WarJessEagle — Jess Smith, Stewart Haas Racing’s Vice President of Brand and Digital Strategy Hit the Follow button for solid career advice to help you make your next professional move.
@BrookeDevard — Brooke DeVard Ozaydinli, Instagram Creator Marketing Manager – Video Lead
@KatieCavender, College Football Playoff’s Assistant Director Of Communications and Branding
@KaraDurette, Ravenscroft School’s Digital Marketing Manager
@KellysPics3, South Florida Sport & Commercial Photographer
@TessaMort — Tessa Mortensen, University of Miami’s Assistant Art Director of Digital and Brand Strategy
Watch this video for award-winning nuggets of wisdom about what goes into and how to produce a strong social media campaign.
Women Creative Directors You Should Know
Shoutout to @jsay913 for putting this idea in my head, @jaredtwagner for designing some incredible icons to photograph, @KPology1 for not batting an eye when I asked to drown the kit, and @cortneylesovoy for pulling this thing out of the water at least 25 times. pic.twitter.com/2yUtx3fPBM
@KPology1 — Kaila Pettis, Creative Director of FC Cincinnati ⚽️ We love this shoutout from Kaila’s colleague and our friend, Joseph Guzy, now FC Cincinnati’s Team Photographer. Get you a creative director who will say YES to drowning a camera for creative purposes!
@FoxyNeela — Mahaneela Choudhury-Reid, Creative Content Studio Director (Cozy Global)
@LauriseIRL — Laurise McMillian, Creative Director and Content Strategist for Meta
@Kelsey_Groff, Duke Athletics Assistant Director of Creative Services
Your Turn: Every Woman Deserves a Shout-Out!
Every March, people, organizations, and brands around the world celebrate Women’s History Month by highlighting women’s individual and collective contributions as changemakers: as caregivers, artists, entrepreneurs, and advocates, as well as honoring the past and present challenges they face.
Now, let us #PowerOn by committing to providing equal access to education and sustainable employment opportunities to women and girls worldwide, so parity in the workplace can become possible starting in 2023!
March has always been a month of transition for me. The most obvious is the change of seasons from Winter to Spring. The days get longer, and the sunshine gets warmer. Green shoots begin to push through the soil. Winter’s dark clothes start to show signs of color and life. Al fresco dining becomes a real possibility. I start to get my fishing tackle ready for the upcoming season. And while March may not be everyone’s favorite month, for me, this transition is one I genuinely enjoy.
Transition and transformation share the same root – and if you are a marketer, Digital Transformation is a very hot topic. Every brand, team, and organization is looking for innovative ways to make creative magic happen, with digital leading the way. Creating deeper engagement with more reach and measurable results is the challenge we’re all facing.
At PhotoShelter, we set a high goal for our Digital Asset Management (DAM) software – to “Transform the Way Creative People Work.” And as we enter March, we’re bringing you a month of creative inspiration to do just that. We call it #DAMMonth, and our fifth annual installment is designed to help you thrive!
Our weekly series will focus on four key themes – “Get Smart” (DAM basics and innovation), “Workflow Wonders” (how to revolutionize your creative process), “DAM Around the World” (how DAM is empowering global brands), and Trendsetters (inspiration from cutting-edge creatives). You will see this content flow across our digital channels over the coming month so we can help make your “Digital Transformation” a reality!
We’re excited to bring you the #DAMMonth content experience and wanted to share a few key points that set the stage for what we see happening in the creative marketplace.
Creative Marketers Share the Same Struggles.
Delivering innovative, visual storytelling while managing an increasing volume of media assets and driving to do it faster than ever is a consistent challenge. Jeff Bezos built Amazon around the answers to an important question few ask, “what’s not going to change in the next ten years?” The challenges marketers face with managing complex media libraries and creating more efficient workflows will be here for many years to come. The good news is that there are a lot of tools, techniques, and technologies to help alleviate this challenge (hint, connect with us to find out how!)
“Doing More with Less” is Not a Negative. It’s Reality!
We’re all doing more with less and stretching dollars/resources more than ever. Every budget has gone through a massive re-think over the past three years, often with ruthless efficiency. But quality investments always make it past the hard decisions, especially when they save time, drive efficiency, and, ultimately, strong ROI. And when those investments do make it into “the plan,” those of us who manage budgets make sure they deliver! It’s an exercise in addition by reduction. With less to work with (CFO asks, “maybe we don’t need this?”), we find a way to be more efficient and creative – and deliver outsized results. That’s how creative people roll.
The “Experience Economy” is a Real Thing.
People love “things,” but what they love more are their memories. As we’ve come out of the critical phase of the pandemic and are out in the real world again, live events, sports, concerts, conferences, entertainment, and networking have come back in full force. Great brands, teams, and organizations figure out how to make the experience a three-part journey – before, during, and after. And the best way to do that is with visuals, the “assets” people remember, hold on to, and share more than any other media. If you connect your vision with the experience in a way that the fan/consumer can make their own, they will engage and amplify in ways that create true, lasting value for your brand.
Sports is the Creative Laboratory for Marketing.
Nearly every trend we consider “marketing today” has been piloted in the sports area. Influencer Marketing, Brand Collaborations, UGC, Artificial Intelligence, Community, Philanthropy, Collectibles, Analytics, Monetization, Podcasts, Brand Ambassadors – if you know them now (and are looking at deploying any of these for your brand), it has already permeated the sports marketplace. Keeping your eyes open to what’s happening in the sports world is a great way to get inspired and bring those tactics into your brand strategy.
Innovation Can Happen No Matter the Size of Your Organization.
Related to the point above, there are no rules in marketing. We have witnessed small non-profit organizations blow our minds with their creativity and impact, small colleges take storytelling to new heights (and bring tears to the eye), upstart brands jump past an incumbent through sheer force of creativity, and small teams delivering impact that’s 10X a bigger team because they committed to breaking the rules and making magic happen. It’s demanding but gratifying. Isn’t that why we got into marketing in the first place?
Come follow me over on LinkedIn if you have any insights you want to share, like to connect, or to have a conversation about your Digital Transformation needs.
Follow along throughout this month as the team at PhotoShelter shares a handful of excellent resources, free guides, tips from industry experts, live programs and more to help you along the way. Happy #DAMMonth!
Now, we’re continuing this tradition for 2023. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your photography to the next level, these words of wisdom will motivate you to take on the challenges ahead, approach your craft in a new light, and ultimately succeed in the world of sports photography.
What can you learn from this great group of photographers below? And what can we all learn from you? Tell us: What’s your top tip? Tag us on Twitter or Instagram (@psforbrands) and share your advice for fellow or emerging sports photographers. We’ll share our favorites!
Go shoot!!! Everyone starts somewhere, getting out and getting reps of shooting and editing is going to help more in the long run rather than wanting to immediately jump into shooting big games.
Biggest piece of advice I can give is to know your worth! Distinguishing between good opportunities and being taken advantage of for the chance to photograph your favorite player isn’t always easy, but it’s crucial.
Anyone can pick up a camera and make images, but not many people know why or how those images come to be. Not many photographers know the tech side of things – in depth Photo Mechanic variables, efficient editing workflows, FTP Servers and remote cameras are all essential to any team or department, but no one really talks about those.
An experienced photographer can sometimes have up to 3 sporting events a day. An experienced remote editor can have as many as 15 or more. In this past year, editors are in greater demand than ever. By starting out with editing, you can learn from many photographers all over the globe, all at once. Reach out to photographers you follow and see if they need any live editing help, or how you can get into editing. If you can pair editing skills with tech skills, you will always have time to freelance and shoot almost anything you want in between.
One piece of advice is never stop asking questions about how others shoot. Every photographer has their own method of how they shoot a certain sport and learning from them helps you a lot and can translate to other sports.
I personally love Peter Reed Miller on YouTube and learned about sports photography at the start, then went to Instagram to find sport specific photographers. Some of my favorites are @kadircaliskan and @jeredgruber.
Create your own opportunities! The main thing I learned as a student trying to get into the sports creative space is that following another person’s path won’t always work. Not every door will open for you. Sometimes you have to bust a wall down.
So shoot every event you can get into, present an outline of an internship for the marketing department that wasn’t offering one, and make your portfolio so unique that people won’t be able to ignore it.
Photograph anything and everything you can to get better, even if it’s not sports. This part of the industry is a blend of all other types of photography. Getting better at headshots for example will help you take better candid portraits during pregame.
My best piece of advice to young sports photographers is to be a sponge. There is so much to learn in this industry! Never be afraid to reach out to someone you look up to. You never know what they can teach you and where that connection could lead!
Photograph everything. When I first started out, I would go to local parks and shoot pick-up basketball games, go to intramural events and shoot all different types of sports, get a friend group together to play spike ball and shoot that. Create the work that you want to eventually get hired for.
Once you have some photos you’re proud of, build up a portfolio. Send it to local high schools, colleges, etc. and say that you’ll start out shooting for free. Reaching out to the right contact is key here. Don’t just fire away emails to random help inboxes. Do your research and find out who would likely be the decision maker. Short and to the point emails are what works. Don’t tell your life story. Get to the point and share how you can add value. The goal here is to cultivate a solid portfolio, get good experience/improve skills, and network, so that you can then leverage your portfolio to get paid gigs/clients.
Don’t lose yourself trying to be like another sports photographer. Be you and find a way to express that through your photos. That can be with a certain editing style, different angles, specific focus points, honestly anything that conveys the photo how you want it to be seen. A photo is only as good as the person behind the camera so just be yourself.
The biggest piece of advice I would share is to always strive to be better. The best photos come out of hard work and dedication to capturing amazing moments, so don’t settle for anything less! It’s also important to keep shooting whatever you can so you can create a good portfolio. It doesn’t always have to be professional sports.
I’d say the best advice would be to not get caught up in where you are shooting or who you are shooting for. You can learn to be a better photographer anywhere, at any level. Just because you are not in a NFL stadium doesn’t mean you can’t create impactful images. Don’t look at what other people are doing and think you don’t compare. Look at it as inspiration and focus on making yourself better!
My favorite piece of advice is to go where others aren’t. Covering sporting events is tough because positions are limited and all the photographers have essentially the same gear which means most folks come back with very similar imagery. Take some risks, change up your positions and try to create something unique.
Go out and shoot anything and everything that is close to where you are based. You might think you have to be at a big stadium to get good photos and yes the lights do help, but grassroots sports are everywhere and have far fewer restrictions than the stadiums. Approach some teams/coaches and ask to photograph them. Always carry enough food, drinks and wear clothing appropriate to the weather and subject your photographing and you will have a much nicer experience.
I know a lot of people are going to give advice on actual coverage, which is all valid and I hope people pay attention to, but my biggest piece of advice is to be a good human.
Be accountable for your actions, make genuine connections with the people you work with, and learn to be graceful in rejection. You’re not going to get every job or assignment you try for and that’s okay. Learning how to handle failure is going to be one of the best things you can do for yourself. You can either be bitter about it or you can learn from it and chart a path to help get you where you want to go. It always sucks losing out on jobs or missing a shot you really wanted, but it’s all a learning opportunity.
The best advice I’d share with anyone interested in getting into sports photography is to start with where you’re at. I started photographing my high school’s basketball games for free and it was a great experience as I worked up to college and professional games. No sport is lesser than another, so take advantage of what you can!
Network in any way possible. Social media is such a pro when it comes to networking resources. Not only are you building networks, but relationships within a community as well. Also, don’t be afraid to post work whether you feel it’s good or bad. The more eyes that see it the better!
One piece of advice that I’ve always held onto is that “success” is something that you define for yourself. Your idea of success is not the same as the person next to you. Everyone’s path is different and you can carve your own however you like. Focus your energy on what fulfills you, what makes you happy, and what your version of success is — not anybody else’s is.
I think it’s also important to acknowledge that it’s okay to slow down. And that can mean so many different things. It’s so easy to become so fully consumed and invested in a job that you love, especially in such a demanding industry. There’s always another game, another moment to shoot. But really taking the time to slow down — whether that means appreciating the moments while you’re in them or taking a day off, whatever it may mean to you, we have to remember to take care of ourselves and appreciate the journey.
The advice I usually give is to tell the story of the whole game. Action shots are great, but there’s so much more to sports than just the big plays. Look for player emotion, fans, scenic shots, and any other details that will capture the atmosphere of each game. We have the opportunity and access to photograph moments that the average fan doesn’t get to see. Move around, find new angles and give the fans a new perspective.
One big piece of advice I give young photographers is to focus on relationship building. The sports photography community is a small one, and building a name for yourself as someone who is willing to go the extra mile, is a big team player, and does the right things for the right reasons will carry you so much further than photos alone will ever take you.
Kohjiro Kinno’s (Kojo) Instagram account is one of my absolute favorite accounts to follow. The way Kojo sees is like no one else… he really turns sports photography into art. I often find myself saying “damn why didn’t I think of shooting it that way” when I see his posts. But even if I did somehow shoot it like that, I couldn’t sequence it or give it that something that he does. He’s just incredible.
If you’re trying to get into sports photography, the advice I’d give is to be reliable. I think being successful in photography as a whole relies a lot on having a good network and being the person people want to hire because they know they can count on you to be punctual, show up and deliver.
I’d rather hire someone who I can count on and makes good photos over someone who is an amazing shooter but I feel I can’t trust one hundred percent.
BE YOURSELF. I think sports photography at a glance is often intimidating when you are first starting out. There is so much incredible work that we have access to because of social media that it’s easy to lose your own art trying to replicate someone else’s. It’s also extremely easy to feel as though you aren’t good enough.
We have to remember it takes time to get to certain levels and a certain level of skill has to be developed. In every aspect of life there are growing pains! We alllll go through it and it’s not only normal but IT’S OKAY! I shoot extremely weird stuff and probably break so many photo rules, but my style is unique and it’s not traditional and I’m okay and confident in that! I’m always open to learning and implementing lessons into my style.
One piece of advice I would give to peers or those aspiring to get into this industry would be to never let self-doubt get in the way.
Whether it be reaching out to a potential new employer or looking to execute a dream idea, remember that it never hurts to ask and never hurts to try. If it doesn’t work out, it simply wasn’t supposed to.
Always shoot through the celebration of a big play. So many young photographers are excited to see what they got and instead of shooting the whole celebration they’re looking at the back of their camera.
Perspective can change your photos so much. Don’t be afraid to lay on the ground for a low perspective or go up into the stands for a high perspective.
Relationships and networking are so important to getting opportunities to shoot professional sports. Don’t just DM someone and ask them for a credential. Instead, DM them and get to know them. Comment on their posts, ask them questions about their work or shooting experiences. Being a nice person can go a long way. You want that person to think about you when they have an opportunity to share. Assuming you have a good portfolio, they are likely to reach out to you cause you’re the first person they think of.
Sports are more than just action photos. Storytelling is so important to being a good sports photographer. Look for those in-between moments when the action isn’t happening.
Work on creating strong compositions. Regardless if it’s photo or video; strong and clean compositions in your imagery will show that you can create professional content at any level.
Don’t be afraid to start small! Shoot what’s near you and find some local opportunities where you’ll have good access to build some foundation. It’s better to learn and get experience in low pressure situations first before getting thrown into the fire. Above all else, be kind to those around you and courteous to anyone who offers you insight.
My advice is to put work into planning the direction of every event or photoshoot you’re doing. I do this by making a mood board and writing down shot ideas. Not everything goes as planned and the coolest shots have come from experimenting and exploring new ideas.
It all starts with a great portfolio. Shoot as much as possible and as many different sports/events. The images need to be your very best. It doesn’t matter if it’s from a little league game or from the Super Bowl. Soon you will grow your own style. Then you’ll be able to get the attention of editors. And don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Take chances.
The best piece of advice I can give is to never stop pushing the boundary. Always look for a different angle, a better way to tell a story, or a unique perspective. The best photographers in the world don’t settle for the same shot everyone else gets.
Never give up, no matter how difficult. There will be a lot of stuff on your road but you can do it. No one has to tell you if you’re capable or not. Believe in yourself, believe in your dream. Surround yourself with the best people and everything will be fine.
Biggest piece of advice I can give is to go into any assignment with curiosity and kindness. Not every day or assignment is the most exciting or may feel fresh at face value, but making pictures becomes more fun and a bit easier when we give ourselves a challenge or question our preconceptions. Approaching with a kind attitude not only helps to just feel good, but it can also open worlds of opportunity and access. It doesn’t have to be over-the-top, but small gestures go a very long way.
I think my main piece of advice is to just be humble. Sit back, listen, and absorb what’s going on around you. Take note of what those more experienced than you are doing and how they are acting. Have the humility to ask questions. We want to help you. When someone offers sincere advice or a critique, take the time to consider it and see if it applies to you and/or your work. It may not, and that’s fine, but new and different perspectives are rarely a bad thing in this field.
This job is a ton of fun, but it’s not easy. Be willing to put the work in and understand you will have to work your way up to where you want to be. It has absolutely been said before, but there are opportunities everywhere. It might be your local high school, club soccer team or your kid’s little league team. There’s always an opportunity to shoot more and work on your craft. Don’t scoff at something that comes your way just because it isn’t as flashy as you want it to be. Everyone starts somewhere.
Never be afraid to fail, take angles you think look good and post what you like. Those two things are what make you, you. Always have fun with it and enjoy each time you are shooting and build relationships with others that are in the same profession!
You’re Up!
Sports photographers – what’s your best advice for your fellow photographers as we look ahead to 2023 and beyond? Tag us on Twitter or Instagram (@psforbrands) and let us know!
Whether you call it soccer or football, one thing is guaranteed: on match day, excited fans eagerly await photos of the action, and they always want more!
The photographers on the sidelines, in the stands and those working behind the scenes deserve a ton of recognition for documenting magic moments and sharing them with fans and followers all around the world. We admire their passion and hard work and we want to take a moment to celebrate the creatives who make it all possible.
We asked you, our online community, to shout-out your favorite soccer / football photographers you follow on social media and we’ve gathered your picks into the roster below.
This is a growing list! Whenever we hear about more passionate photographers who take their talents to the pitch, we’ll be sure to add them here.
Follow these photographers (listed below in alphabetical order) on social media and share your favorites by tagging us (@psforbrands) in their posts on Twitter or Instagram.
Who are your favorite football photographers to follow on social media? Tag us (@psforbrands) on Twitter and Instagram and let us know!
Here at PhotoShelter, we have the privilege of working with over 2,000 incredible brands that lead by example when it comes to producing and publishing authentic and innovative visual stories.
We’re grateful to work with and learn from innovative creative teams across a variety of industries, but in the giving spirit, we want to take a moment to give special recognition to the nonprofit marketing and development teams that drive support for cause-based altruistic nonprofit organizations.
They tell powerful stories to motivate their generous donors to contribute all year long—but during the holiday season, their focus and efforts are elevated. These creatives know how to make an impact, even with small teams and tight budgets. Their work moves us, and it makes the world a better place.
Beyond Giving Tuesday, we hope you connect with one or many of the organizations listed below.
🌐 Across all campaigns that GivingTuesday coordinates around the world, 84% of donors indicated that GivingTuesday has inspired them to be more giving in their communities
Read on to learn how 20 wonderful nonprofits and the unsung heroes who power their visual storytelling strategies create impactful content and generate support for their causes.
20 Nonprofits That Inspire Us
Special Olympics
The team at Special Olympics has a knack for sharing photos and videos that make you feel.
Sydnye White, Special Olympics’ Director of Content and Storytelling, and her team of creative contributors are experts at capturing decisive moments. Whether it’s a moment of quiet connection or a roaring triumph, they portray the resilience of athletes with intellectual disabilities beautifully and honestly.
If you haven’t seen their life-changing work, on November 29 you can see it featured in a new documentary airing on Paramount+ called “As Far As They Run.”
To give back to their 2022 holiday season supporters, Special Olympics is also gifting anyone who donates $65 or more with a unique, gorgeous ornament.
Thank you, Special Olympics, for inspiring us with your diverse, impactful, inclusive storytelling about athletes with intellectual disabilities.
The Bowery Mission
The Bowery Mission has been fighting homelessness, hunger, and poverty in New York City since the 1870s, so naturally, their 150-year-old media archive is at the heart of their extraordinary storytelling efforts.
During our November 2022 Inside Look webinar, we spoke to The Bowery Mission’s Director of Brand Marketing and Communications, Brian Ourien, about the organization’s ever-evolving, yet timeless visual storytelling strategy—which is driven by the mission to serve, and often speaks for itself.
To show their gratitude every day, they constantly feature their volunteers in social media content on Twitter and Instagram—giving a face to the everyday people who serve. and to the local community in need.
Watch the celebratory Instagram video narrated by Gayle King below to learn more about the organization’s faith-based past, humble present, and hopeful future.
Thank you to The Bowery Mission for bringing hope to New Yorkers in need for more than 150 years. With the help of New York neighbors like us, we can’t wait to see what you do in the next century! Support The Bowery Mission however you can.
Water Mission
Whether they’re responding to a humanitarian crisis or a natural disaster, the team at Water Mission changes lives every day by providing communities with safe and easy access to water.
Everyone needs drinking water to survive, but this organization knows how to utilize the power of storytelling to inspire donors to see how others are living without that basic necessity.
Every visual demonstrates the impact a donor can make, and all of their messaging imbues a tone of gratitude. Even the Water Mission Instagram feed is full of joy and authenticity.
We’re grateful to the teams at Water Mission for bringing awareness to the critical need for safe water worldwide and for providing necessary relief to people around the world!
Between raising rescued sea turtles, two-toed sloths, and Macaroni the puffling, the humans who work at the National Aquarium have a lot of opportunities to turn moments with almost any animal species into riveting content.
Most of the content they share is fun and undeniably cute with an undertone of education, but sometimes they have to shine a serious light on what people can do to reduce harm in bodies of water. It’s with these special creatures’ lives in mind that the National Aquarium team crafts stories that help drive support to restore, save, and protect these beautiful aquatic creatures and their habitats.
Thank you to the National Aquarium for leading conservation efforts, educating your audience and providing a window into our underwater world!
The team at Food for the Hungry does an incredible job of using imagery to demonstrate donor impact and generate critical support for communities in need.
Whether they’re fundraising to help nations suffering from a crisis or educating global citizens on how to make a difference in remote parts of the world, Food for the Hungry’s content can quite literally save a life.
What difference can one person, or even one church, make in the fight against extreme poverty and malnutrition?
Natalia explains how her sponsor changed everything for her, her family, and her entire community: https://t.co/zX2q2WX9yp
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a UK-based nonprofit that leads sailing trips to help young people rebuild their confidence and independence after cancer.
As pediatric cancer can sometimes be an invisible battle for child patients and their caregivers, engaging supporters and potential donors through firsthand documentary-style content is the Trust’s go-to visual storytelling strategy on social media.
To mark #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth@mustoclothing have created this wonderful video to show how we inspire young people living through and beyond cancer to believe in a brighter future & will be matching all donations made to the Trust in-store this month #CCAM💙Watch here⬇️ https://t.co/wPfZj1rfu0
Thank you to the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust for helping young people impacted by cancer in the UK find hope and magic before, during, and after recovery! ️
If your Instagram feed is full of home and travel content from brands like Lonely Planet and Apartment Therapy, you need to make sure you’re following Landmark Trust.
If you’re looking to see purpose-driven marketing in action, look no further than New York Cares. The New York-based volunteer network loves publicly celebrating community relief efforts big and small.
They put their volunteers in the spotlight, giving supporters a behind-the-scenes look at their community service work. This kind of content helps recruit new volunteers—showing anyone that is interested in becoming a volunteer what the experience would be like. They also document the power of vulnerability—sharing intimate perspectives from community members being served.
Highlighting the compassionate, reciprocal relationships between volunteers and the communities they support normalizes helping others as a community care practice.
It’s this message that they deliver through their content consistently, with kindness, and that’s something we wish we could ‘double tap’ ❤️ a million times.
Thank you to New York Cares for inspiring people to make a difference in their community!
The attitude of gratitude is that warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you give. (Actually, it’s the chemical ‘Oxytocin’ releasing that feel-good feeling, but I digress.)
You know, that heightened sense of appreciation that washes over you, like mulled spices over cider, as soon as the holiday season commences? Yeah, that one.
If you’re suffering from mental health-related issues or symptoms, it can be hard to access and receive support, so to help young folks find and keep perspective all year long, The Jed Foundation, promotes gratitude journaling to help maintain a healthy, grounding practice of reflection.
The Jed Foundation is a nonprofit that was founded in 1998 by two parents impacted by their son’s suicide. They provide mental health education and critical support resources to teens and young adults, schools and universities, and parents and educators, so everyone has the knowledge, language, and understanding to help in times of need.
Most of the organization’s content is centered around ‘building resiliency and life skills, promoting social connectedness, and encouraging help-seeking and help-giving behaviors.’ So, to help spread their resources and message far and wide, their storytelling team partners with popular organizations like MTV and influencers like Billie Eilish to create award-winning content like JED Voices and campaigns like Seize the Awkward.
Through transformative storytelling, they aim to share intimate, vulnerable, and powerful stories of resilience and recovery to help young folks ‘reduce shame, prejudice, and secrecy,’ around how we feel—and ultimately, to not feel alone.
The Jed Foundation reminds us that we were all once lost, and with support, we can find ourselves again.
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is the first-of-its-kind—and only nationwide nonprofit development and restoration project aimed at restoring trails and railways across America to make divided lands more connected and livable, and inter-city and state transportation more accessible.
Since 1986, a dedicated consortium of trailblazers (literally-no pun in sight!) has been running the country’s largest trails organization—advocating for trail protection, development, and historical preservation, and doing environmental and societal research to showcase the incredible impact that trails have on transforming communities.
If you're thankful for the 40,000+ miles of multiuse trails and #TrailMoments spent 👟🚲🛴♿🌲 this year, please consider supporting our work to build a nation connected by trails.
From publishing cultural preservation stories that inspire fashion designers to use traditional textiles, to restoring and rescuing endangered historical sites, Global Heritage Fund’s Instagram feed is a fascinating window into how cultural, environmental, and historical preservation efforts can have an incredible ripple effect. To diversify their fundraising tactics, they’ve recently partnered with artists to create custom-made NFTs.
🥚T-Minus 10 Minutes🥚
Our first-ever NFT collection drops on OpenSea to support Ukraine 🇺🇦
The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit for foodies and food lovers who love to give back. Although they have a shiny Rolodex of influential stars in the food world working across their kitchens, catering special dinners, and providing education to young chefs in the making, their main goals are “amplifying new voices, celebrating those leading the way, and supporting those on the path to do so.”
In 2020, JBF ‘launched the Black and Indigenous Fund to provide financial resources for food or beverage businesses that are majority-owned by Black or Indigenous individuals.’ Then, in 2021, they shifted their content and communications strategy to start an honest dialogue within the hospitality and service industry where chefs, foodies, and hungry people alike could reimagine sustainable work conditions and approach foodways in a new way together.
Another one of their collaborative initiatives we’ve loved supporting throughout the pandemic is #SupportChinatowns—a nationwide effort that originated in October 2020. The JBF team has since evolved their #LoveAAPI partnership with Chinese American James Beard award-winning cookbook author, Chinatown activist, and JBF Humanitarian of the Year, Grace Young and is asking YOU to get involved!
Vet Tix is a nonprofit organization that provides event tickets to American Military, Honorably Discharged Veterans and family members of troops killed in action. According to their website, they do this work because attending events “reduces stress, strengthens family bonds, builds life-long memories and encourages service members and veterans to stay engaged with local communities and American life.”
Through key partnerships with entertainment brands like LiveNation and generous donations by theaters and performers, Vet Tix is able to give enriching experiences back those who have given everything to this country.
Vet Tix is grateful for our partnership with Live Nation. Live Nation Donates Over 2 Million Tickets Through Their Partnership With Vet Tix – Remaining The Top Ticket Donor To The Military And Veteran Community#memorymaker 🇺🇸https://t.co/tFsEBWAZKV
According to CNN, Hurricane Ian might be Florida’s most costly storm in terms of the extent of property and community devastation it left in its wake. However, thanks to nature-loving localists like the folks who work at The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, we’re able to learn how the hurricane impacted the land, its creatures, and its people.
If you’ve ever visited, vacationed, or received a postcard from someone who’s been to Florida, you know how special the sunshine state is. Supporting the Conservancy of Southwest Florida will help them rebuild the coastlines, natural animal habitats, and community buildings to make this region thrive again.
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
GLSEN is one of America’s leading nonprofit organizations working to create safe LGBTQIA-inclusive learning environments for children in K 12 grades. At a time when our civil and human rights are being called into question, especially the rights of children, advocating and creating spaces for living authentically is a radical act of care.
By conducting original research and authoring inclusive, developmental resources for educators and school communities, they create evidence-based frameworks of understanding and solutions “to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment.”
The content they share centers the student perspective and provides the youth and their support systems with useful tools for navigating those hard, but necessary conversations.
Many young people are feeling pain, grief, and anger, and they could use a space to process their feelings and share what they need.
Defenders of Wildlife (or @Defenders on social media,) is America’s leading national conservation organization dedicated to protecting and restoring at-risk species and their habitats in North America.
Unlike other nature and animal conservation organizations, Defenders is focused on the restoration and preservation of native species—animals and plants included, so they work to transform policies by promoting and advocating for innovative solutions.
Because our nation is vast and wide, and so are the species that inhabit it, Defenders used on-brand storytelling delivered with an urgent tone to drive their 2022 Giving Tuesday campaign.
“The news has been heartbreaking. Gray wolves are still running for their lives in the Northern Rockies. North Atlantic right whales are struggling to survive the threat of deadly ship strikes and entanglements. Today, you can answer their call with your support. You can help protect vulnerable animals from going extinct by having your gift matched 3-for-1!”
The ACLU is the nation’s 100-year-old premier nonprofit organization made up of activist law advocates, policy advisors, community organizers, and citizen supporters who come together to protect human rights of all kinds.
A bit about the history of the ACLU from their website states:
“When a roomful of civil liberties activists — led by Roger Baldwin, Crystal Eastman, and Albert DeSilver — formed the ACLU in 1920, the Supreme Court had yet to uphold a single free speech claim…
The ACLU was founded to ensure the promise of the Bill of Rights and to expand its reach to people historically denied its protections. In our first year, we fought the harassment and deportation of immigrants whose activism put them at odds with the authorities. In 1939, we won in the Supreme Court the right for unions to organize. We stood almost alone in 1942 in denouncing our government’s round-up and internment in concentration camps of more than 110,000 Japanese-Americans. And at times in our history when frightened civilians have been willing to give up some of their freedoms and rights in the name of national security, the ACLU has been the bulwark for liberty.”
From free speech LGBTQIA rights, the ACLU team and their nationwide supporters fight to protect and defend our civil rights, so by telling and sharing real stories of the people impacted by their work, they hope to shine a more human light on traditionally polarizing issues.
November is National Native American Heritage Month, so what better way to educate yourself about and support indigenous communities than by supporting living native artists, right?
The NACF is a US-based nonprofit organization focused on the equitable advancement of cultural knowledge and the power of collaboration through the arts “to strengthen Native communities and promote positive social change with American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native peoples in the United States.”
Naturally, as an arts organization, visual storytelling is key and they make great use of all mediums—images, video, portraits, graphics, and more to share vignettes about the artists and communities they support to draw audiences in.
This year Native Arts and Cultures Foundation is glad to be invited back for @WillametteWeek@GiveGuide – a special program in #Portland for end-of-year giving. The campaign kicks off today and closes on December 31. Stay tuned!
If you haven’t heard of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, your day is probably about to get a lot brighter.
Make-A-Wish started in 1980 when an Arizona community came together to make a little boy with leukemia’s dream come true. For over 40 years they’ve been granting life-changing wishes for children and families in the U.S. and beyond—through affiliate partners, they’re able to make wishes come true for people in 50 countries and 5 continents across the world.
What’s their collective impact? Their website says: “With the help of our donors and more than 43,000 volunteers around the world, Make-A-Wish has collectively granted more than 520,000 wishes worldwide.”
To drive support, they share the stories of the dreamers who make quiet wishes to the universe hoping that something good comes of what they have to endure as patients. The pure joy captured in Make-A-Wish’s content is the ultimate proof of their purpose. With our help, we can not only make them heard, we can make them happen!
To have sight is a gift. Though restorative sight is available today by way of advanced LASIK surgery, the costs can be astronomical for those often struggling with low or no vision.
To date, FHF has restored sight to 2.5 million people worldwide and they are able to do this by training and empowering local doctors, nurses, and health workers in 25 countries; effectively developing a global network that can provide sustainable care.
On social media, they share content that highlights the patients they’ve impacted, as well as the surgeons and health workers that provide this life-changing work. See this beautiful Instagram video example below, highlighting a doctor who celebrates his birthday by providing free surgery:
Thank you to all nonprofit organizations for all you do for the communities you serve—and for inspiring us to practice giving all year long.
Now, it’s your turn! Who, or what cause, moves you? Give a shout out to the nonprofit organizations you love and tag us @psforbrands to share them with us!
