What Took You So Long?

What Took You So Long (WTYSL) is a global creative agency founded in 2012 that specializes exclusively in storytelling for the aid, development, and humanitarian sectors. The agency has produced more than 300 films, photo series, and campaigns across over 150 countries, working with clients such as UN Women, UNDP, UNICEF, World Central Kitchen, National Geographic, and USAID. With a team of under 49 employees and a network of over 248 global creatives, the agency operates from bases on five continents and collectively speaks 13 languages.

The agency offers a comprehensive range of services including film and photography, 360° and VR production, drone and underwater cinematography, animation and motion graphics, campaign strategy, brand development, social media management, public relations, and paid media management. Additionally, WTYSL provides training, workshops, and media capacity building to strengthen local storytelling ecosystems. The agency's areas of expertise span creative services like photography, software development for VR/AR education, and video production including animation, commercial, documentary, motion graphics, social media videos, and video editing.

WTYSL serves a diverse set of industries including agriculture, arts, entertainment, media and communications, finance, government, health care, education, design, and food and beverage. The agency works with startups, small businesses, medium businesses, and enterprise or corporate clients, with a strong emphasis on nonprofit and humanitarian organizations. Notable long-term partnerships include over 10 years with UN Women's HeForShe campaign, 10 years with World Central Kitchen, and 7 years leading UNDP's Equator Prize Nature for Life campaign.

The agency's ethical approach ensures dignity, safety, and authenticity for all subjects filmed, and it is committed to innovation through remote directing with local crews and transforming pre-existing assets into new narratives. Results include achieving over 2 million organic views on Instagram and TikTok for UN Women's 2025 International Women's Day campaign, and reaching 14 million Gen Z viewers for UNICEF Yemen while doubling the target with half the paid media spend.

The agency's portfolio includes documentary projects such as the UNIVERSAL ENERGY FACILITY Campaign, with budgets ranging from $250,000 to $500,000 over 18 months. Team members include Emmy-nominated cinematographers, award-winning directors of photography, and specialists in drone, VR, and social impact storytelling. Clients include H&M, UNHCR, Samsung, UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women, National Geographic, World Central Kitchen, and NowThis.