ABOUT KELSON BURNS
Kelson Burns is a creative media professional and Indiana University alumnus who specializes in graphic design, user experience design, creative concept development, advertising, photography, and visual storytelling. His portfolio brings together original design concepts, visual print advertising, photography, and marketing-focused creative work, with an emphasis on creating visuals that are distinctive, bold, colorful, playful, and impactful. His photography spans product and commercial photography, action photography, portraiture (distinguished by vibrant neon lighting), landscapes, and captivating still lifes, while his visual storytelling experience also extends into filmmaking and media production.
His creative perspective has been shaped by experiences beyond the studio. With a background as a sponsored skier and professional experience at world-class destinations including the Vail Ski Resort and the Lake Louise Ski Resort in Alberta, Canada, Kelson has worked in fast-paced environments where adaptability, attention to detail, teamwork, and performance are essential. These experiences continue to influence the energy, movement, color, and eye catching vibrancy found throughout his creative work.
He also holds a degree in Creative Media from Indiana University with a minor in Marketing. Throughout his time at university, his education combined photography, graphic design, creative concept development, art, filmmaking, media production, and marketing strategy together, giving him an understanding of how a creative can communicate an idea, strengthen a brand, and connect with an audience, especially when paired with a captivating idea.
Kelson’s photography has also earned recognition through awards in the state of Indiana and throughout countless photography competitions on PhotoCrowd, and recently one of his photographs, Dueling Hummingbirds was selected by the local news as the Photo of the Week. Beyond his creative work, Kelson has demonstrated the same drive professionally, notably his tenure at the Graduate Hotel in Bloomington, Indiana, where he became one of the property’s strongest-performing employees in guest satisfaction, generating approximately 80% of employee-specific TripAdvisor mentions over a multi-year-long period and substantially outperforming the rest of his team. Similarly, he received a promotion to a managerial role after one year at the Vail Ski Resort in 2021 due to his work ethic, accountability, attention to detail, and performance. However, he ultimately declined the opportunity in order to pursue his education at Indiana University.
Therefore, whether working with a camera, a layout, with the adobe suite, with a team, or an original campaign concept, Kelson approaches each project with the goal of combining creativity with thoughtful communication, and by creating work that captures attention, communicates with clarity, sparks emotion, and leaves a bold, lasting impression.
PROFESSIONAL AND EDUCATION
Work History
Hollister Co. Associate
June 26, 2019 - October 18, 2019
Lake Louise Ski Resort Kitchen Staff Team Lead
October 31, 2019 - March 18, 2020
Season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vail Ski Resort Mountain Lift Operations
November 28, 2020 - April 19, 2021
TJ Maxx Associate
August 1, 2023 - August 19, 2024
Hotel Guest Services Supervisor
July 26, 2024 - November 16, 2025
Education
High school diploma: Graduated June 9, 2019
Indiana University Bloomington Creative Media, Minor in Marketing. Graduated May 2026
American Red Cross Certification First Aid / CPR / AED
Awards and Achievements
Below are six of Kelson’s most highly recognized and decorated photographs, selected from the more than the 3,000 awards he has received through the photography contest platform called PhotoCrowd.
1. 1st and a 10th place, notably a 1st in Simplistic Still Life for Abstract Clock in 2025 (2,288 entries - voted on by the community), and a 10th in Photos that Tell a Story (limited to 1,000 entries - voted on by a judge).
2. 2nd place in Photos that would Look Great Hanging on the Wall for Temple Peak at Lake Louise in 2026 (5,833 entries, 120,284 total votes - voted on by the community).
3. 5th place, 6th place, and a 10th place twice for Yellow Flyer, along with two Highly Commended awards from judges. Most notably, a 6th in People Taking Part in Sports in 2023 (1,620 entries - voted on by the community), 10th in Health and Fitness in 2025 (2,059 entries - voted on by the community), and a 5th as voted by a judge in Snow Skiers and Snowboarders in 2025, and and Highly Commended by a judge in Life in Motion in 2026 (3,024 entries).
4. 3rd and a 10th place for Yellow Urban Passion in 2025 (3rd place was voted on by the community with 1,024 entries).
5. 2nd and 19th place for Angelic Strawberries in 2025/2026. Notably, out of 5,171 images in The Colour Red in August 2026, the image placed 19th (voted on by the community - 104,281 total votes). Likewise, Angelic Strawberries also performed excellently and received a 2nd place in Colourful Fruit (no studio still life shots) in July 2025 (limited to 1,500 images).
6. Emerald Lake in Blue is one of Kelson’s most successful images, earning numerous awards, accolades, and decorated placements across a wide range of competitions. Most notably, it placed 6th in The Beauty of Canada in 2025 (limited to 1,000 entries), 12th in Canada in 2025 (897 entries), 13th in Daytime Blue Sky Without Clouds in 2025 (2,773 entries), 16th in Winter in 2026 (5,233 entries), 18th in Frozen Lakes and Rivers in 2026 (1,165 entries), and was Highly Commended by a judge in Water with Mountains in 2025 (2,890 entries). These represent only a selection of the many awards and placements the image has received.
Photography has been featured in local news as Photo of the Week.
Scholastic Art Awards in Photography: Gold, Silver, and Honorable Mention, 2019
Sponsored Skier: Sponsored by a Colorado ski company from late 2020 to 2021.
Worked at one of America's premier ski resorts during the 2020-2021 winter season (Vail Ski Resort). Following the season, Kelson was offered an opportunity to advance into a management position with a significant pay increase, but chose to continue pursuing his education at Indiana University.
At the Graduate Hotel in Bloomington, Indiana, Kelson consistently led the team in guest satisfaction, earning approximately 80% of employee-specific TripAdvisor mentions from July 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025, and outperforming the next-highest team member by more than 65%.
Led monthly sales in August and September 2020 at Tilly's, earning the recognition in consecutive months.
Hollister Employee of the Month: August 2019
High School Varsity Soccer: 2014-2019