First Commercial Shoot

I will never understand some executive's decisions.

To me, these shots look like she's homeless and alone except for her record player. I'm not at all bagging on your photography skills, I'm just floored that someone thinks these photos would make anyone feel like they are "cool" or "hip" by buying this product.

When you mentioned they dismissed the multiple-person shots where they are laughing and enjoying themselves, for a newer concept, I was confused. The only thing I can picture that would make a record player seem cool to younger people, would be to see it in a party-style setting.

When you sell clothes or purses or liquor or cigarettes, all the major companies know that the best way to snag you into it, is to say "look how cool your life will be if you buy this!" All these photos say to me is "look you can sit on the streets alone if you buy this!"
(the needle isn't even on the record in the 2nd ad)

I was thinking the same thing, why woudl a homeless person need a record player?

Curious how being too close to the process makes you a bit near sighted. I never actually saw here as homeless, but I can see where you are coming from.

LOL you guys need to get a better look at some homeless people. This girl definately does NOT look homeless.

The thing that pops out as a bit odd to me is when she's laughing, but you can't see what/who she's laughing at.

As an aside from Matt's actual work; As for the whole concept, I'm just not sure that the younger generation are about to give up their iPod's in order to strap a record player onto their bike with a backpack full of LP's

LeuceDeuce wrote in post #6113614
LOL you guys need to get a better look at some homeless people. This girl definately does NOT look homeless.

The thing that pops out as a bit odd to me is when she's laughing, but you can't see what/who she's laughing at.

As an aside from Matt's actual work; As for the whole concept, I'm just not sure that the younger generation are about to give up their iPod's in order to strap a record player onto their bike with a backpack full of LP's

I see where you are coming from -- and I would agree. But, one of their fastest growing customers is Urban Outfitters, and they just signed a deal with Hot Topic! Go figure.......

LeuceDeuce wrote in post #6113614
LOL you guys need to get a better look at some homeless people. This girl definately does NOT look homeless.

The thing that pops out as a bit odd to me is when she's laughing, but you can't see what/who she's laughing at.

As an aside from Matt's actual work; As for the whole concept, I'm just not sure that the younger generation are about to give up their iPod's in order to strap a record player onto their bike with a backpack full of LP's

First, I live in California. I know my homeless people. I wasn't trying to say she could be confused for an actual homeless person, I was referring more to the idea behind posing her alone sitting on the cement up against a wall... the classic homeless position. It doesn't scream young, hip, urban, having fun, it screams homeless. I did not mean her style of dress or hair/makeup. I would go so far as to say they should have hired a model within a decade's age of the target age range, but that may be too critical.

As for "giving up their ipod's" I doubt that is the hope. I'm sure they are pushing it as a retro status-symbol. The early 20s population is full of "look how much more retro i am than you" types, so it's a good target audience, and I don't doubt that Urban Outfitters and Hot Topic are interested. I just question the marketing executive's ideas to make this seem like a product you will enjoy all by yourself... it seems counter-intuitive.

If I was insisting on seeing her alone, I'd have her look more bad-a$$ and less like a preppy soccer mom. I'd have her shoot the camera the "i'm too cool for you" squint so she's got like the "i make no apologies for owning a record player" attitude.

But, that's just my marketing side coming through. I'm nowhere near the target age-range, so maybe ol' Grandma here doesn't know what she's talking about at all

lulugus wrote in post #6113736
First, I live in California. I know my homeless people. I wasn't trying to say she could be confused for an actual homeless person, I was referring more to the idea behind posing her alone sitting on the cement up against a wall... the classic homeless position. It doesn't scream young, hip, urban, having fun, it screams homeless. I did not mean her style of dress or hair/makeup. I would go so far as to say they should have hired a model within a decade's age of the target age range, but that may be too critical.

As for "giving up their ipod's" I doubt that is the hope. I'm sure they are pushing it as a retro status-symbol. The early 20s population is full of "look how much more retro i am than you" types, so it's a good target audience, and I don't doubt that Urban Outfitters and Hot Topic are interested. I just question the marketing executive's ideas to make this seem like a product you will enjoy all by yourself... it seems counter-intuitive.

If I was insisting on seeing her alone, I'd have her look more bad-a$$ and less like a preppy soccer mom. I'd have her shoot the camera the "i'm too cool for you" squint so she's got like the "i make no apologies for owning a record player" attitude.

But, that's just my marketing side coming through. I'm nowhere near the target age-range, so maybe ol' Grandma here doesn't know what she's talking about at all

Everything you said makes sense, and I'm also outside of the target age-range so I could be completely clueless as well. I didn't even know you could still get current music on LP.