Case Study: Chicago Blackhawks achieves instant game-day photo delivery and a streamlined visual workflow with PhotoShelter for Brands

The Nitty Gritty A Detailed Look at the Chicago Blackhawks’ Visual Storytelling Workflow

Libris Stories follows the Chicago Blackhawks’ photography program led by Manager of Photography Chase Agnello-Dean, which must capture intimate behind-the-scenes moments and fast-moving game action. The team faces tight shooting conditions (shooting through arena glass and cramped locker rooms), the need for instantaneous social publishing, and the challenge of organizing and preserving a massive image output — nearly 3 million images a year plus a 100,000‑print archive dating to 1926.

Their solution combines defined shooting positions and strong player relationships with a streamlined technical workflow: Canon gear, real-time hardwired uploads to an editor, Photo Mechanic selects, and a Libris DAM with standardized IPTC metadata and role-based access. The result is a searchable, self-service media library of ~600,000 digital assets (plus digitized historical prints), faster social publishing, broader internal use across departments, and revived fan engagement through archival storytelling (e.g., a 1948 throwback post that earned 17k+ likes).

Chicago Blackhawks

Chase Agnello-Dean

Manager of Team Photography