Photos on White Background Shot From Above

[nokturnalmuse]

Photos on White Background Shot From Above (You know, the ones where the people have a Big head and little body because of the perspective of the photo)

Sorry if this is a duplicate - I didn't see it on here though. This is something that makes me groan out loud every time I see it. Whoever came up with this concept??? It's horrible. HORRIBLE! It isn't necessary to convey a sense of professionalism or reliability, or consumer-friendliness, or whatever else they're shooting for. I'd like to start a campaign to have this design element banned--anyone with me?

[redcircle]

Sorry I'd have to disagree 100% with your peave. I do some photography on the side and I love that perspective. Is your problem with it because it's over used or just the style of photography? Most the time that I see it used is in a good designed site so it does not look bad Unless someone has stolen the graphic and slapped it out of place.

[nokturnalmuse]

Well 1) I think it's ultra-cheesy, and 2) it is way over-used. To me, whenever I see a (usually) e-commerce site that has their main graphic element on the page 1 person cut out on a plain white background, right-justified, standing and smiling up into the camera, with their hands on their hips trying to look cool, but instead looking silly; I am completely turned off. It evokes the same response in me that I get when I go into a chain store (i.e. Best Buy or similar) and have 5 salespeople ask me within the span of 10 minutes(with big, fake smiles pasted on) if they can help me find something.

[esiegel]

I have to agree with your peeve...and look at my site...there it is right on the home page of each region. I had no choice the site had to match the design concept of our printed material...and I lost the big head fight in that meeting.

[redcircle]

Originally Posted by nokturnalmuse

Well 1) I think it's ultra-cheesy, and 2) it is way over-used. To me, whenever I see a (usually) e-commerce site that has their main graphic element on the page 1 person cut out on a plain white background, right-justified, standing and smiling up into the camera, with their hands on their hips trying to look cool, but instead looking silly; I am completely turned off. It evokes the same response in me that I get when I go into a chain store (i.e. Best Buy or similar) and have 5 salespeople ask me within the span of 10 minutes(with big, fake smiles pasted on) if they can help me find something.

LOL I wasted 6 years of my life at best buy.. They have 2 main reasons that they go up to people all the time. #1 shrink. less shop lifters if they know there are people always coming up to them. #2 it's better than not being able to find someone when you need them. Luckily I was a tech and didn't have to do the cheesy BS. Thank god I left corporate hell.

[voodooboy]

I would have to say that I disagree. Yes it is used quite a lot, and a percentage of that is used improperly. But the over-all concept of the imagery is very corporate and professional. It symbolizes singularity, standing out from the competition. I believe that when used right; the element can create a great impact.

Now on the other hand, the imagery that is also classified as the Rubber Ball effect, are the images with the oversized heads, hands and feet. This type of imagery makes my stomach turn. Yes, there is probably a use for it somewhere, but I have yet to find it. It ranks right up there with the Liquid Drain-o commercials that have the couple with the twisted up heads. Yuck!

[nokturnalmuse]

Originally Posted by ghstdrgns

Yes it is used quite a lot, and a percentage of that is used improperly. But the over-all concept of the imagery is very corporate and professional. It symbolizes singularity, standing out from the competition. I believe that when used right; the element can create a great impact.

I think it is this very idea of trying to represent the "corporate/professional" that annoys and sickens me. What I was trying to say in my post was that it reminds me of the phony attitude we're inundated with everywhere we go (i.e. Best Buy) and the fact that today everything is about upselling, biggie-sizing, selling us stuff we don't need or want, and shoving products and/or the corporate brand down our (consumers') throats. I'm much more impressed by a clever ad campaign or design that is subtle enough not to be obnoxious, but instead memorable. Also, I just happen to think that particular design element is visually unappealing from both a photographic and graphic design viewpoint.

[nokturnalmuse]

Originally Posted by ghstdrgns

Yes it is used quite a lot, and a percentage of that is used improperly. But the over-all concept of the imagery is very corporate and professional. It symbolizes singularity, standing out from the competition. I believe that when used right; the element can create a great impact.

I think it is this very idea of trying to represent the "corporate/professional" that annoys and sickens me. What I was trying to say in my post was that it reminds me of the phony attitude we're inundated with everywhere we go (i.e. Best Buy) and the fact that today everything is about upselling, biggie-sizing, selling us stuff we don't need or want, and shoving products and/or the corporate brand down our (consumers') throats. I'm much more impressed by a clever ad campaign or design that is subtle enough not to be obnoxious, but instead memorable. Also, I just happen to think that particular design element is visually unappealing from both a photographic and graphic design viewpoint.

[voodooboy]

Keep in mind that as a marketing/design professional, we look for the creative. We look for things that stand out. Like the Microsoft or UPS magazine ads. They say very little, but make a great impact. Now for those of us in the design/marketing industry we look at that as living outside the box. Where as, the Rubber Ball imagery is not going for the designer or the marketer. It is going for the consumer. The consumer does not analyze the design, they are there for the content. If the initial imagery catches their attention, you have a better chance at landing a new customer.

On the same hand, 80% of the consumer base (roughly speaking) is all after customer service. If they are offered service, whether they need it at that moment or not, they appreciate the offer thus instilling the feeling of quality "available" service. Where as, you and I go into a store and know what we are looking for and most likely know exactly where to find it, the majority of the consumer base does not. The point being, when it comes to the in your face imagery or service, the competition in those (product based) markets is not won on price. It is won on service. Best Buy is not holding their market share because they beat out the competitors on price. Personally I think they are over priced. They keep their market share because of their service.

You and I will just have to learn to live with it.

[cyanide]

Just had to respond to this post.

When that style photo started being used, I must admint, I kinda liked it. However, it is starting to bug me. Mostly though, because it is way over-used !

However I do have a bone to pick with you since you drew a kind of parallel of that with Best Buy.

When Best Buy first came to Canada, I was not amused and had decided to not purchase from there. Well, for different reasons, mostly because I prefer to support Canadian business.

However, a few months ago, I accompanied my brother to a Canadian chain here to pick up a TV he bought.
It was already picked out, we just had to pay and go. What should have been a 5 or 10 minute stop turned into 45 minute B.S. My brother took care of business, while I looked around. 15 minutes later I looked over to find he hadn't even paid yet. I casually walked over to the counter to watch in horror as the 'salesman' fumbled with the cash making mistake after mistake and to my surprise, who picked up the phone when it rang? Not once, but twice!! It was mid - day, very few customers and 8 salespeople. While trying to figure out how to make the charge, he had the gaul to make sales over the phone twice !!

As soon as he picked up the second call, I absolutely flipped out!! The manager didn't even do anything and when the TV finally came out on the trolley, they expected us to carry it out ??
Well, there's more to the story, but I'll leave it at that.

The point is, I ended up going to Best Buy a month ago, and yes there's a guy to greet you and a few more once you enter. You can call that cheesy, fake or whatever you want, and maybe the locations in your city are below par, but these guys were friendly, made me feel welcome and they knew what they were talking about. Extremely helpful!

I'll be back there for sure !

Moral of the story for me?
I'll take that phony attitude over a greedy commissioned salesperson any day of the week

[minstrel]

Originally Posted by cyanide

Just had to respond to this post.

Okay... me too :-)

When Best Buy first came to Canada, I was not amused and had decided to not purchase from there. Well, for different reasons, mostly because I prefer to support Canadian business.

I've been doing a little intermittent research into Best Buy ever since I tried to buy something from Future Shop last summer - they were out of the product and suggested I try their "sister store" down the road.

Best Buy has an interesting marketing strategy: They bought out Future Shop several months ago but instead of converting the FS stores they built new ones in close proximity and kept both going. Now, from what I've been told, FS sales people get commissions while their BB brethren and sistren are on salary - that may be one reason you see a different kind of customer service at BB - you get the same service for an ink cartridge as you do for a new home theatre system. A second thing I've noticed is that both inventory and physical structure or atmosphere at FS is going downhill bit by bit - and again, as that happens, there is BB just down the street, bright and cheerful and fully stocked. Even the hours are better at BB.

I thought at first this was just weird. Now I see it as a brilliant marketing strategy. What better way to convince people that BB is the best thing since... well FS.. than by letting FS look and feel more and more like a ghetto with empty shelves and sales people who look like they forgot to refill that last prescription of prozac while "your" store is busy and happy. It's sort of like setting up your own competition, making sure it fails, and then saying, "see? I told you we were better!".

[cyanide]

I actually had a bad experience at Future Shop also a number of years ago. Similar idea -greedy salespeople.


That's an interesting look, minstrel

And yes a brilliant strategy.
The only knock I would say, is why the advertising for Future Shop? And those TV ads look very much like the Best Buy ones.

Unless ofcourse the idea is to make their strategy less obvious.
Incidentally, I finally bit the bullet and picked up a flat panel LCD a couple weeks ago from Best Buy. 2 days later was in there looking for RAM for my digicam. I picked up the weekly flyer and wouldn't you know it? That exact monitor was front and centre at $50 less !

I took the flyer and my receipt to the counter and they credited me the difference !!
It's actually in there policy

You can't beat that