And the Award Goes to… 20+ Storytellers, Marketers, and Creative Campaigns

The Storyteller Awards are back! PhotoShelter is proud to celebrate outstanding visual storytelling from the creative community. After reviewing nominations and judging entries, we’re excited to announce this year’s winners.

Join us in honoring the teams, marketers, and campaigns raising the bar for brand excellence.

🏆 Best Social Media Campaign: Ohio University

🏆 Best Community Engagement: Holy Angels

🏆 Best Use of AI: Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame

🏆 Sports Storyteller of the Year: Annie Boos, TrackTown USA

🏆 Higher Ed Storyteller of the Year: Joe Johnston, Cal Poly

Learn more about the winners and check out the runners-up and finalists below.

Best Social Media Campaign: Ohio University

The Campaign

Ohio University’s Bobcats at the Super Bowl campaign shines a spotlight on alumni, students, and faculty who are shaping one of the biggest events in sports. Whether working in media, marketing, photography, or game-day operations, Bobcats were everywhere, and the campaign made sure people knew it.

Donna Kelce (a.k.a. America’s Mom) led the way with a standout feature on how her OHIO communication degree helped her navigate the media spotlight. Other stories included Evan Shaw at NFL Films, Quintin Lash with the Kansas City Chiefs, Emilee Chinn photographing for Getty Images, and Master of Sports Administration students working behind the scenes on game day.

Shared across flagship and college-specific channels, the campaign used striking visuals and real voices to inspire current students, engage alumni, and connect the excitement of the Super Bowl back to the power of an OHIO education.

The Impact

• 732,200+ impressions, 68,500+ engagements, and over 18,700 link clicks across flagship and college-level social media accounts, including the Alumni Association, Scripps College, and the College of Business.
• Donna Kelce’s feature became the university’s #3 Instagram post of the year, with 13,600+ total engagements; proof that emotionally resonant alumni stories can deliver both school pride and real results.

• The campaign made the Super Bowl feel personal, showing how Bobcats—past and present—play meaningful roles in one of the most high-profile events of the year.

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Runner-Up: University of South Carolina Gamecocks 🏅

University of South Carolina’s Gamecock Nation: NYC  highlighted alumni thriving in New York City and brought fans behind the scenes of the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Through on-the-ground coverage and storytelling across social and print, the campaign created a front-row experience for Gamecocks everywhere. With 159+ social posts, 8M+ impressions, 2M+ video views, and 10K new followers, it brought the USC community to NYC and NYC back to campus.

Meet the finalists:

Port of Seattle / Seattle-Tacoma Intl. Airport

A playful and imaginative campaign that energized the Seattle community while introducing their new mascot, Jett the SEA Otter.

Texas Christian University

An authentic, social-first video series that rebuilds trust in higher ed by showcasing TCU alumni living their dream jobs and proving the value of a college degree.

PetSmart Charities

A heartfelt, reality TV-style social media campaign that turned their 11 millionth adoption into a fun, emotional, and impactful story.

Best Community Engagement: Holy Angels

The Campaign

After more than a decade of traditional fundraising events, Holy Angels took a different path. The nonprofit turned their annual gala into The Holy Angels Got Talent Gala, a joyful, celebratory talent show where residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities became performers, artists, and storytellers. Through a deeply human-centered approach, the campaign broke fundraising records and, more importantly, elevated their community from care recipients to featured performers.

The Impact

• Residents led the night. Their gifts, personalities, and stories were central to the celebration.
• Deep emotional connections with the audience were made with video, music, pre-recorded and live performances.
• The gala broke fundraising records while fostering visibility, pride, and belonging.

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A post shared by Holy Angels (@holy_angelsnc)

Runner-Up: Special Olympics & Scissortail Studios 🏅

At the Special Olympics World Winter Games, the film and video production program Scissortail Studios brought student filmmakers to mentor Special Olympics athlete leaders in photography. Through one-on-one guidance, shared equipment, and creative collaboration, athletes with intellectual disabilities developed new storytelling skills and gained confidence.

Meet the finalists:

Lyndzi Gann, Van Buren School District

Transforming district comms, making thousands of photos free and accessible to families, and turning each social channel into a place for community and connection.

Ami Vitale & Vital Impacts

A tribute to Jane Goodall’s 90th birthday, uniting 90 women photographers to honor her legacy and raise over $228,000 to empower future environmental advocates.

UNC Asheville – Community Takes Root

Showcasing the power of hands-on learning and community impact, highlighting students’ restoration of local ecosystems after Hurricane Helene.

Best Use of AI: Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame

The Campaign

The Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame’s “GAME ON! AI Experience” redefined the typical museum visit with first-of-its-kind generative AI. Using facial-scanning and real-time content creation, they placed guests directly into personalized videos, graphics, and historical moments, transforming passive viewing into immersive storytelling. This innovative use of AI turned visitors into players, coaches, and new superfans with its fun and interactive approach to educating the public about the history of college football.

The Impact

• “A modern way to pay homage to the sport we love.” That’s how Kimberly Beaudin, President and CEO of the College Football Hall of Fame, described GAME ON!, the Hall’s latest fan experience.
• Each visitor received a personalized journey from the moment they walked in. After scanning their faces and answering questions about their favorite team and biggest rivals, fans were guided through 14 interactive exhibits tailored to their answers.

• Generative AI powered the entire experience. It wasn’t just a tool behind the scenes. It was the engine driving the story, making every visit feel unique, immersive, and completely personal.

 

 

 

 

 

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Runner-Up: Buffalo Bills 🏅

The Buffalo Bills are changing the game with how they use AI. It’s not just a behind-the-scenes tool—it’s helping them create content faster, automate smarter, and boost reach through real-time moments and fan influencers.

Meet the finalists:

Texas A&M AgriLife

Use of AI search and tagging tools to modernize their workflow, creating a scalable blueprint for other large institutions managing extensive visual libraries.

Indiana University

Leveraging AI to transform content operations, from faster searching across 750,000+ images to automated keyword tagging.

Sports Storyteller of the Year: Annie Boos, TrackTown USA

Annie Boos, TrackTown USA’s first-ever Sr. Video Producer/Editor, is redefining storytelling in track & field. In just two years, she launched and led the Emmy-nominated Road to TrackTown series – the first digital-first, off-track docuseries in the sport – bringing fans behind the scenes of elite athletes’ lives.

Annie is self-taught, with a passion for authentic storytelling, and experience from NFL Films to NBC’s Olympics team. Annie has transformed video in the sport, setting a new standard for creativity, access, and fan connection.

Why Annie deserves the recognition:

• Her Road to TrackTown docuseries raised the bar for digital storytelling in track and field, setting a new standard for what social and video content can look like in the sport.
• Karen Ramming, Chief Content Officer at TrackTown USA, describes Annie’s work as “content whose quality rivals streaming platforms and linear networks.”

• Annie is a self-taught video producer and editor who previously worked on Hard Knocks at NFL Films before leading original video efforts at TrackTown USA.

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A post shared by Tyler DeWaard (@td3films)

Runner-Up: Ian Kunsey, Charlotte FC 🏅

Ian Kunsey is a gifted storyteller and creative leader whose passion, precision, and artistry elevates every video he touches. By streamlining workflows and mentoring his team, Charlotte FC is able to deliver impressively polished, impactful content at an outstanding pace.

Meet the finalists:

Kate Foultz and the NFL Focus Team

Passion and hard work, covering every aspect of this year’s NFL Draft, and priding themselves on sharing work that champions the true spirit of the NFL.

Eli Burris, Ohio University

Unmatched dedication, capturing the heart of Bobcat Athletics and transforming Ohio University’s social presence into a powerful driver of school pride.

Brendan Ross, Vanderbilt University

Bold storytelling and collaborative leadership while documenting Vanderbilt Football’s historic season and shaping their digital voice and internal processes.

Higher Ed Storyteller of the Year: Joe Johnston, Cal Poly

Joe Johnston, Cal Poly’s senior university photographer, is the creative force behind the university’s visual identity. Since 2019, he’s captured more than 26,000 stunning, brand-defining images that appear everywhere – from billboards and social media to university websites and national publications.

Tireless, award-winning, and deeply collaborative, Joe documents Cal Poly’s “Learn by Doing” spirit with heart, grit, and unmatched consistency. His work not only drives marketing efforts but also preserves campus history and strengthens community pride across generations.

Why Joe deserves the recognition:

• Joe’s photography defines the Cal Poly brand and is present throughout the entire university, around campus, and online. His coworker Robyn told us, “To be clear: Cal Poly wouldn’t have the sterling brand it has without Joe’s hard work and vision.”
• “Joe has built productive bonds with his [University Communications & Marketing] teammates that help our unit excel. He works as a creative leader in our division who helps focus what we cover and how we tell our stories,” Robyn explains.

• Joe is a proud alum who understands how his work impacts the immediate success and long-term legacy of the university, preparing documentation for the future while preserving the school’s history.

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Runner-Up: Sam Craft, Texas A&M AgriLife 🏅

Sam Craft is a passionate storyteller, leader, and mentor with over 25 years of experience as a photographer. He currently serves as the Associate Director of Visual Media & Web Strategy at Texas A&M AgriLife, where his work merges storytelling with strategy. His mission is to tell visual stories with authenticity, depth, and emotion.

Meet the finalists:

Matthew Modoono, Northeastern University

Leadership as Director of Photography, steering the photo department to build a distinct visual identity while encouraging growth and innovation every step of the way.

Jaren Wilkey, BYU

Dedication and storied career at BYU, serving as University Photographer, Director of Visual Communications at BYU Photo, and one of UPAA’s “Masters of the Profession.”

Marketing Team, University of Vermont Foundation

Partnership with UVM’s Silver Special Collection Library to bring the 24′ Then and Now project to life – unearthing 100 years of artifacts, photos, and more.