"'Sheer nepotism': Brooklyn Beckham Burberry shoot angers photographers" - Guardian

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'Sheer nepotism': Brooklyn Beckham Burberry shoot angers photographers

Leading photographers have expressed frustration at Burberry’s decision to invite Brooklyn Beckham to shoot its latest fragrance campaign, saying it devalues the skills and training of professionals.

David and Victoria Beckham’s 16-year-old son announced on his Instagram feed on Friday that he would be photographing the Burberry campaign this weekend and that live updates would be posted on social media. Burberry later confirmed Beckham’s announcement through its own Instagram account and encouraged fans to follow the shoot live using the hashtag #THISISBRIT.
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His instragram acccount if you want to judge the merit of his photography skills.
 
Added value for Burberry :pics:
 
We'll he certainly likes black and white . Even some monotone fireworks wtf . I'm sure it's just his thing and nothing to do with poor white balance or the likes .
 
Maybe I'm wrong, but a quick search shows that apart from some pics from his phone the others ones he has posted are by other photographers.
A few show him with a Leica...

Maybe Burberry know something we don't.
 
His dad's a keen photographer, his mum and dad are both in the fashion industry, in the modern world the old adage 'it's not what you know', is only the start point, it's more than that, the kid was a 'brand' from the day he was born.

I can see why some photographers got upset, but frankly there's worse things happening every day.
 
Makes me wonder if the target demographic for the "fragrance" market is different from the Burberry leather goods one, so his association with it is perceived as worthwhile???
 
Phil V said:
His dad's a keen photographer, his mum and dad are both in the fashion industry, in the modern world the old adage 'it's not what you know', is only the start point, it's more than that, the kid was a 'brand' from the day he was born.

I can see why some photographers got upset, but frankly there's worse things happening every day.
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Agree,their have been many of them over the time :(
 
Phil V said:
His dad's a keen photographer, his mum and dad are both in the fashion industry, in the modern world the old adage 'it's not what you know', is only the start point, it's more than that, the kid was a 'brand' from the day he was born.

I can see why some photographers got upset, but frankly there's worse things happening every day.
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I agree about really "who cares", but I think it's quite nasty to label the kid as a brand tbh.
 
viv1969 said:
I agree about really "who cares", but I think it's quite nasty to label the kid as a brand tbh.
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VB is a highly driven lady who works very hard to lever cash from fame. From the announcement of the birth of Brooklyn they have been working towards ensuring his ongoing success. He was used as a 'model' for the Bechams cheaper clothing brands when very young IIRC, and I think has also modelled for Burberry too.

I think 'brand' is an accurate description of the way some famous people are 'marketed' nowadays.

No malice whatsoever, I'm slightly admiring of the way this has been managed.
 
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Phil V said:
VB is a highly driven lady who works very hard to lever cash from fame. From the announcement of the birth of Brooklyn they have been working towards ensuring his ongoing success. He was used as a 'model' for the Bechams cheaper clothing brands when very young IIRC, and I think has also modelled for Burberry too.

I think 'brand' is an accurate description of the way some famous people are 'marketed' nowadays.

No malice whatsoever, I'm slightly admiring of the way this has been managed.
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Yes fully agreed, and to me he is one of the least worst that do that. Not that I'm following any actively. I can't stand some of them, or what they represent, but I do admire the skill to brand themselves and get handsomely paid for it, and make it so desirable that other brands want to be associated with it.

But isn't that, on a much smaller scale, what most of us do about ourselves anyway? Be it in appearance, be it in our actions, be it in what we know or stand for. His brand is just so much bigger and global, not surprising with the endorsements from birth.

And actually I quite like his photographs....Its current, the kind of stuff that my children appreciate
 
Phil V said:
VB is a highly driven lady who works very hard to lever cash from fame. From the announcement of the birth of Brooklyn they have been working towards ensuring his ongoing success. He was used as a 'model' for the Bechams cheaper clothing brands when very young IIRC, and I think has also modelled for Burberry too.

I think 'brand' is an accurate description of the way some famous people are 'marketed' nowadays.

No malice whatsoever, I'm slightly admiring of the way this has been managed.
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My apologies, your initial post came across (to me) as if you maybe thought the Beckhams had the boy as a cynical tool to further their own fame, which I personally don't believe.

The pair of them have done incredibly well over the years.
From a "singer" who really can't sing, and a footballer with outstanding talent who initially had trouble stringing a sentence together, they have both managed to forge very successful visit very lucrative businesses.

I admire them, but a also believe them to be (outwardly at least) pretty good parents.
Their kids are, of course, privileged, but their parents seem to be instilling them with some values and discipline, which costs nothing.

Again... My apologies for my previous post.
 
viv1969 said:
My apologies, your initial post came across (to me) as if you maybe thought the Beckhams had the boy as a cynical tool to further their own fame, which I personally don't believe.

The pair of them have done incredibly well over the years.
From a "singer" who really can't sing, and a footballer with outstanding talent who initially had trouble stringing a sentence together, they have both managed to forge very successful visit very lucrative businesses.

I admire them, but a also believe them to be (outwardly at least) pretty good parents.
Their kids are, of course, privileged, but their parents seem to be instilling them with some values and discipline, which costs nothing.

Again... My apologies for my previous post.
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No worries.
I'm not big on celebrities, but they do seem to be better parents than many. In fact the more I see of David Beckham the less I dislike him.
 
Phil V said:
No worries.
I'm not big on celebrities, but they do seem to be better parents than many. In fact the more I see of David Beckham the less I dislike him.
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Why would you dislike him in the first place?
 
Whether or not it devalues photography depends on his interest in photography. If he has a real long-term interest, with aspirations of making a career out of it, and the family fortune has been used to give him a boost in learning the art, then it might be unfair but not devaluing to photography. If it turns out it to be just another 'celebrity with a camera' for whom 'photography is the novelty of the week', and Burberry end up using some poor photographs, then it's devaluing to photography.
 
Apparently, he gave up football because he wanted to be a photographer so I'd give him the benefit of the doubt in that respect.

As for nepotism, that's been going on at various levels in most industries since time began. I can't see it doing anymore harm to photography that anything else. And can anyone see Burberry letting him do the job, despite who is parents are, if he's not up to the task?
 
The W said:
Whether or not it devalues photography depends on his interest in photography. If he has a real long-term interest, with aspirations of making a career out of it, and the family fortune has been used to give him a boost in learning the art, then it might be unfair but not devaluing to photography. If it turns out it to be just another 'celebrity with a camera' for whom 'photography is the novelty of the week', and Burberry end up using some poor photographs, then it's devaluing to photography.
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If the latter, and the industry recognise the difference between amateur and professional images, it might bring some value back into photography.

Either way, it will be interesting to see what he comes up with. Hope they release some kind of behind the scenes footage of the shoot.
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
Why would you dislike him in the first place?
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A brilliant dead ball specialist, and a fantastic work ethic but he had a habit of losing his temper that was often played down by commentators, being unable to keep a lid on his frustration cost Man U and England some important points.
 
Don't really see what the problem is the Beckham name will open many doors for Brooklyn that wouldn't be available to your average Joe but that's only to be expected it's very unlikely that Burberry or any other big brand would trust a real shoot to an inexperienced 16 year old if it wasn't for who his family are but he would have been given special treatment regardless of what career path he chose.

For whats its worth I say fair play to the young fella his Dad has spoke many times about his and his sons passion for photography. By all accounts his son turned down the option of becoming a professional footballer so that he could work towards becoming a professional fashion photographer. There isn't enough of his work around to say if it is good, bad or indifferent perhaps the kid has a real talent, best of luck to him.

The article says he has no clue on lighting, photoshop etc. without providing any evidence that this is the case. I very much doubt it is.
 
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Taken from the article linked to in the first post:

Jon Gorrigan, a photographer who has worked with Esquire, Grazia and the Observer and with models such as Alexa Chung, said he expected Burberry would have the entire setup ready so that all Brooklyn had to do was click the button.

Jon Gorrigan said:
“He’s obviously not going to be doing the lighting, he’ll have no clue of the programmes, the cameras or Photoshop,” Gorrigan said. “It’s going to be so well managed – he’ll have the best hair and makeup, the best models, the very best equipment, so that the chance of any risk is greatly reduced.
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Phil V said:
A brilliant dead ball specialist, and a fantastic work ethic but he had a habit of losing his temper that was often played down by commentators, being unable to keep a lid on his frustration cost Man U and England some important points.
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Lets face it the Red against Simeone was embarrassing for the argentinian as much as Beckham. Most of his bookings came later in his career when he slowed down, yet his work ethics didn't.

He amassed 41 yellow cards and four red cards in his time at Real Madrid, all four reds came in La Liga.[204] He received one red card while on loan at Paris Saint-Germain, picked up in injury time in a match against Evian on 28 April 2013.[205] Since the year 2000 (as of 29 April 2013), Beckham has played 420 competitive games for England, AC Milan, LA Galaxy, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, and received 7 red cards, one every sixty matches on average.[204] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Beckham

 
Young master Beckham was released by Arsenal after failing to make the grade, their choice not his.
And I understand it was his younger brother who models for Burberry youth line.
 
Keith W said:
Taken from the article linked to in the first post:

Jon Gorrigan, a photographer who has worked with Esquire, Grazia and the Observer and with models such as Alexa Chung, said he expected Burberry would have the entire setup ready so that all Brooklyn had to do was click the button.
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This wasn't actually the case at all though they have posted the bts photos to instagram only shows him, the models, make up artist, hair stylist and the guys shooting the bts video for instagram. No sign of anyone orchestrating anything.
 
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Based on behind the scenes photos, he at least passed the first test of a photographer: knows how to use a lens hood....
 
As long as the end product is what Burberry want then nobody can complain about who took them

It makes sense for a fashion brand to align itself as much a possible with people that are currently in fashion
 
Don't know the Kid, but no matter how talented, or not, he will always be a rich kid with a silver spoon.

Is that fair on him, maybe, maybe not but that's how the world works.
 
Peteaud said:
Don't know the Kid, but no matter how talented, or not, he will always be a rich kid with a silver spoon.

Is that fair on him, maybe, maybe not but that's how the world works.
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I don't see him being "a rich kid with a silver spoon" as inherently negative.

He has parents who are rich and famous, he himself has become famous because of that, and now he is leveraging that to get ahead in his chosen field.

The vast majority of parents strive to provide opportunities for their children, it's just that the Beckhams can provide almost anything they choose and then 'normal' people start to get jealous.
 
Ed Sutton said:
I can't find those photos. Does he wear it as a party hat? :)
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No, it's on the lens. The right way away no less! (I confess I'm a lens hood snob: Use it or take it off so it's not in the way of your fingers. Walking around with the hood still reversed is the sign of somebody who is just a 'camera owner').

Search twitter or instagram for #thisIsbrit for various behind the scenes photos.
 
Peteaud said:
Don't know the Kid, but no matter how talented, or not, he will always be a rich kid with a silver spoon.

Is that fair on him, maybe, maybe not but that's how the world works.
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He may be a kid with rich parents, but they're parent's who made him get a job during the holidays last summer.
He was clearing tables in an Essex café.
 
The W said:
No, it's on the lens. The right way away no less! (I confess I'm a lens hood snob: Use it or take it off so it's not in the way of your fingers. Walking around with the hood still reversed is the sign of somebody who is just a 'camera owner').

Search twitter or instagram for #thisIsbrit for various behind the scenes photos.
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I hope this isn't him then.

http://iconosquare.com/p/1174300382199731843_663081972
 
viv1969 said:
He may be a kid with rich parents, but they're parent's who made him get a job during the holidays last summer.
He was clearing tables in an Essex café.
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But that does not matter, as he will always be known as a rich kid, no matter how balanced he might be, or how his parents are.

Personally I have no time for the whole celebrity culture so I don't care what he does, and it's not his fault he was born, so good luck to him.

Mind you, I wish I had 1% of the opportunities he will get in life, but, hey, that's the world, no point in getting bitter over it.
 
DG Phototraining said:
Great move from Burberry, its already got the media and zillions of people talking about it, and for anyone who missed it his Instagram has 5.9 MILLION followers

Whoever at Burberry came up with the idea earnt his money well :)

Dave
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This ^

It's not about photography!
 
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