Bring Your Story to Light
Your brand has a purpose...
One that everyone should know.
Share your best stories with your audience, winning their attention & dollar.
inquire about video storytelling ▸
Bring Your Story to Light
Your brand has a purpose...
One that everyone should know.
Share your best stories with your audience, winning their attention & dollar.
inquire about video storytelling ▸
Purpose-Driven Video Production for Nonprofits and Brands
welcome to storyteller studios
Our Emmy® Award-winning team makes story-driven films, and the arrangement is simple. You bring the people. We do the homework, help find the story before we film, and ask the questions with sensitivity, so your people tell it in their own words.
more about us ▸
trusted by:
There are some boring videos out there...
The story of your organization is way too important to let mediocre video production muck it up.
Your brand is sitting on some powerful stories (whether you already know them or not) that are begging to be documented with boldness, respect, & striking visuals.
But here’s the truth :
When told well, great stories can move people to action.
Let’s win your audience’s attention (and dollar) with stunning & compelling video storytelling.
When told well, great stories can move people to action.
Let’s win your audience’s attention (and dollar) with stunning & compelling video storytelling.
We’ll help you carry out your mission in bigger & better ways.
We’re documentary style storytellers & compassionate interviewers ... with expert level lights, camera, & action skills.
Our video production studio serves purpose driven brands by creating cinematic videos for fundraising, community outreach, branding, & more.
how we do things:
we'll help you with:
Positioning
Position yourselves as the solution to your audience’s needs.
Story
Tell complex, sensitive stories with clarity & compassion.
Attraction
Authentically attract like-minded people who will become long term champions (and patrons) of your brand.
Your brand isn’t actually about you.
It’s about the individuals and communities you serve. We’ll demonstrate your brand’s importance by detailing its impact.
you may already know this, but ...
01
Identify authentic stories.
Everyone has a story, but not everyone can unwind the meaning behind the story. We know where to look to find authentic, relatable stories that put real faces and results to the work you do.
Some of our clients come to us and already know the story they want to tell. Some want us to help uncover it. Whatever your position, we’ll find the most engaging angle to show the world why your organization matters.
At Storyteller Studios, we:
02
Hook
your viewers.
Visual communication has been a key part of civilization since early humans carved images of aurochs, their source of survival, on cave walls.
Our tools are a bit more sophisticated now, but our goal is the same: to tell about & celebrate the things that matter most. Our Emmy® Award-winning team of producers, directors, and editors goes out in the field, gathers the elements of your story, and comes back to the studio to carve out an emotions-driven masterpiece.
03
Compel action.
All that work is pointless if people walk away unchanged. Otherwise, it’s just entertainment. As small business owners & strategy nerds, our work is always designed to further the goals you share with us, whether that’s attracting new clients, increasing donations, spreading community awareness (with measurable KPIs), or “other.” If you need help honing in on the goals that make the most sense for your business’ trajectory, we’ll coach you through that, too.
by the numbers
15
Regional Emmy® Awards and nominations earned by our team
29
Telly Awards earned by our team
74
Combined years of experience on our team of six.
6
Degrees in film, journalism, communication, and cinematography.
How the stories get made
Planning
Once we have your goals on lock, our team starts with the underwater part of the iceberg: preparing, researching, planning, and strategizing.
We figure out the storytelling elements so you can focus on your own tasks and goals, rather than trying to juggle a bunch of freelancers.
Filming
Next, we enter your space (or your customer or client’s space) with respect, gathering B-roll and interviews. We ask questions with sensitivity, making interviews feel like conversations (our "hot" seat is actually room temperature).
Editing
We take that footage back to our studio to edit your film in the most cinematic, compelling way we can, before collaborating with you on final edits. Finally, we’ll deliver your final product (with a few extra cuts for social media and digital ads), ready for you to share.
we're storyteller studios
documentary-style film for brands & causes
In 2013, we started leveraging the power of documentary-style film for brands and causes in our hometown of Springfield, Illinois (hence our affinity for Lincoln).
Since then, we’ve worked with clients nationally and traveled to cities including Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Des Moines.
No matter where you are, we’d be honored to serve your brand next.
FROM OUR CLIENTS:
"The team's approach was both respectful and empowering. They took the time to understand each unique narrative, ensuring that every story was told with authenticity and heart.
"We had the privilege of working with Storyteller and the experience was nothing short of outstanding. Their professionalism and dedication to storytelling were evident from the outset. They masterfully captured the journeys of families overcoming challenges, highlighting their resilience and achievements without resorting to labels or stereotypes.
"Working with the whole team was an incredible experience. They were knowledgeable and professional but also truly have a passion for helping people, as seen in their finished polished, heartfelt product."
Stormy Udell
- Nonprofit Executive
Where to next?
Meet the Storytellers
We’ve got the heart of a romantic, the nose of a journalist, and the brain of a marketer. In a world where authenticity wins trust & quality wins loyalty, learn how our compassionate team can help your cause stand out. A cut above.
How We Roll
Our method follows some very specific
guidelines. We lead with integrity, we respect every person and space we work with, and we believe in partnerships over dictatorships. If that’s what you’re looking for, let’s do this.
Let's Connect
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Storyteller Studios different?
You don't have to know how to make the video. You bring the people. We do the homework. Our full-time team of six helps find the story in pre-production and asks the questions on camera, so the people in your film tell it in their own words instead of reading ours. Emmy® Award-winning team, 700+ projects across 23 states.
Who do you work with?
Brands, nonprofits, foundations, healthcare organizations, universities, and institutions that have decided their story is worth telling well. Some have made dozens of videos. Some have never made one. Either is fine.
Where are you based and where do you work?
Springfield, Illinois. The crew travels, and clients in 23 states have hired us to produce video where they are. Regular stops include Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Des Moines, and Louisville.
How do we get started?
Start with a conversation. You don't need a script or a plan, just a sense of who the message is for and what you want them to do. We'll ask the rest, then put what we heard in writing before we price a thing.
Do we need a script or a plan before we reach out?
No. A goal and a few people in mind is plenty. We help find the story in pre-production, write the questions, and put your people at ease on camera. If you already have a script, bring it. It tells us what you care about.