Brooklyn Beckham | Celebrity Photography Critique

[@willbaren]

I think if you’ve been asked to do a campaign after one year of taking up photography you’ve been set up to fail, no matter how much talent you’ve got. And now he’s no longer taking photographs. What more can you say. It’s a shame.

[@AskMOTT]

True words Will , thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@willbaren]

@@AskMOTT thanks for taking the time to reply, and for providing an interesting perspective as a professional photographer.

[@fLaMe98able]

These remind me of my early fashion work years before I had really figured out what I was doing. The only difference is that I had a very small audience with low expectations, and only received words of encouragement from it - which is ultimately what kept me going. No wonder he quit, it's really a shame.

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks for sharing your story, my sentiments exactly.

[@bugsybunny398]

I don't think anyone deserves 'unconstructive criticism'. Sharing your work with an audience is not for the faint-hearted. If anyone deserves the criticism, it would be the adults who commissioned the work and let an opportunity go begging to nurture and develop a promising young talent. Regards B

[@AskMOTT]

Well said :)

[@frameout2035]

The kid has a lot of potential and I think the harshness comes from the fact that the money went into gear instead of photography courses. Gear every photographer could dream of, and they interpreted that as lazyness instead of adults not pushing him to achieve his potential. Honestly he made the rooky mistake many made that gear makes your picture instead of your vision. Yeah, some of his selfies do have the 'look how philosophical I am at such a young age. I'm a visual poet.' And if he had a mentor, he would be pushed to make his selfies more creative.

[@1hawaii21]

A lot of professionals are pretty critical, unhelpful, jealous and just mean to new people. I was a RN when I read an amazing article in a nursing journal. The title was something to the effect of, Why to Registered Nurses Eat Their Young? I really made me think about how seasoned nurses often treat new graduates.. Instead of being patient, sharing knowledge and being encouraging the seasoned nurses were abrupt and cruel.

[@Fontsman-14]

He wouldn't have got the opportunity but for the fact that he is Beckham's son. There are many highly talented photographers who would love to have this privilege. The fact that he's packed in shooting, shows that it was merely a fad.

[@miketan4803]

Imho Brooklyn is only a celebrity and photographer in his own mind. He's worse than probably any other person with a smart phone or camera in hand. I might be more sympathetic if he didn't totally mess up being a celebrity chef too. Any negativity comes from his attitude to life. That's just my pov.

[@Renzsu]

Great video Justin, fair critique and some good tips for those out there beginning :)

[@michaelmonsanto692]

It has worked like this, his fame hungry parents have tried to make him become famous way before he had talent and experience to justify the media exposure. The online backlash to his book, and now everything else he does is a result of Vic n Dave trying to buy his success ( viz numerous features in fashion magazines that he only got due to his surname, BMW features, Superdry fiasco etc ). When his photos and now cooking are seen by the world, it is so very average. He is therefore getting far too much exposure and other very talented people have to work like crazy to make a living. If he was any good, then the Beckham name would be a plus and his output accepted. It is totally his parent's fault. They may be famous and rich but they have failed to bring him up to use the family wealth and fame to be productive in life, so far. All Beckhams do is promote stuff on Instagram. Money Money Money Money even if they have more than enough already.

[@paulie3095]

Cole sprouse the actor has some very interesting photography that would definitely be interesting to see in a video , loved this one

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks Paulie, I’ll definitely check out his work.

[@KTK44]

Isn't he the guy who's rumored to use photography just to meet models?

[@jeremyfielding2333]

You were generous. The Ad stuff was very weak, the black and white's cliched and lame. I don't care how old he is. Burberry and BMW should be castigated. The sad thing is he's always going to be remembered for this stuff. He should have gone to art school, studied, developed a style, suffered, even changed his name. His parents also totally clueless in being instrumental in this.

[@AskMOTT]

I don’t think that’s necessarily true that he’ll always be remembered for the work. He’s 23, and if he wants to give it another go he could completely reinvent himself.

[@Tom_YouTube_stole_my_handle]

@@AskMOTT I think he's obviously been chosen for those campaigns on the back of his name and social media following. One way back I can see for him is to once more use his name and following but this time to produce work which more directly benefits the subjects. Imagine the change he could galvanise with a well chosen body of documentary work.

[@kimevans2286]

Didn't Lee Friedlander do a self portrait featuring his remote? But looked as if he was about to detonate something! Enjoyable as always Justin. Future subject suggestions I have 2. Daniel Craig, who as you know, is a big Q2 fan, so much so they even did his own special edition, and Dennis Hopper

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks for suggestion Kim, didn’t realize Daniel Craig shot, I’ll see if I can find a body of work. Dennis Hopper is on my list and Lenny Kravitz would be next.

[@kimevans2286]

@@AskMOTT Yeah Big Leica fan, he does a lot with Greg Williams, who does a lot of celeb stuff and does the James Bond on set photos

[@tcphoto]

I read that Burberry had experienced assistants and digital techs on set to ensure that he captured the best images possible. I'm sure his social media and last name didn't hurt but don't we all use everything to our advantage?

[@AskMOTT]

100% and most of us would’ve taken these opportunities if we had them.

[@cloud-bytes]

I’d imagine that’s a great deal of pressure at an early time in his ‘career’. Backlash was a bit mean

[@uglytuco3829]

In today's capitalist culture, the kid got the opportunity because he has a massive audience. Like it or not, that's what drives advertising, not super duper talent and artistry. That's not his fault. Most people don't give a shit about the stuff we obsess about as photographers. His photos are obviously nothing to write home about, but everybody has done just as bad or worse including myself and everyone pontificating in the comments section. I hope he gets back into it because it would be a real shame if he let something he's passionate about go based on bullying. That really sucks.

[@AskMOTT]

Well said Arnold, I agree. I’m happy most of the comments here ere more understanding and not so harsh, means my audience are good people :).

[@uglytuco3829]

@@AskMOTT thank you, man. Love what you're doing!🙏🏽

[@AskMOTT]

@@uglytuco3829 Thank you Arnold :), you're too kind man.

[@patrickjclarke]

I think that was a fair crit. Take out who he is and the controversy about how he got the gigs he got and he's a another beginning photographer that is learning, and it shows in his work. He doesn't have the raw natural talent in my opinion to NOT learn the rules of photography and should continue taking classes etc and honing his skills.

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks Patrick, yeah I hope he wasn’t scared off from photography by the internet police but it sure seems like it :(.

[@DominereEvansMusic]

Great video, Justin. I like this series you have. It would be cool if you’d critique Yung Guru’s photography. I think he’s amazing, and he’s Jayz’s audio engineer.

[@AskMOTT]

First off thanks Dominere, I’ll check him out and keep the suggestions coming. I was thinking of doing Lenny Kravitz next as he’s had a few exhibitions w Leica.

[@DominereEvansMusic]

@@AskMOTT ahhh! Kravitz would be an amazing watch! I don’t want to say I’m a Leica fanboy either, butttt! Lol Keep them coming. 🥂

[@WhoIsSerafin]

I have no idea who this person is but I like your advice for him. As for last week and Jeff bridges my comment don’t mess with The Old Man is the name of his new tv series and I was trying to be funny not complaining.

[@AskMOTT]

It was another comment not yours , love your comment :). someone said “what gives me the right to critique him “ :(.

[@aquilifergroup]

Interesting perspective.

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks, I felt people were too tough in him and often it’s like that industry wide. New photographers are often shamed into quitting before the ever even have time to find their style.

[@johnkosterimages]

I think you have a very refreshing take on this kid. So many want to take a shit on him, but hey, he got a break and tried. What makes a photographer is someone who falls in love with shooting and keeps moving, keeps learning, keeps shooting, thick or thin. If he worked through the criticism and kept plugging away he'd do good work. But that's up to him. With his access, he'd have a career. Thanks Justin!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

I think it's better to find great photographs and point out why they are so good. What's the big deal with celebrity photography? I'm sure the fact it's Brooklyn Beckham it's going to garner a lot of social media exposure and attract the kind of person interested in the product. The photography good or bad is not the point (I'm guessing).

[@mp_martin]

Really is awful photography. No need to sugarcoat it.

[@jmorris8957]

Hey Justin. Really enjoy your content, and I can appreciate what you're trying to do here, which is to critique his work, and be understanding of the fact that he was very young and inexperienced. But I really do have to say that to have a discussion about Brooklyn's work outside the context of him being born into immense privilege just can't happen. All of those campaigns were publicity stunts if we really look at them, and the responsibility for him doing, at least on the BMW job, an incredibly poor job, should be laid squarely at the feet of both the company(ies) that tried to use him for their own gain, and also at the foot of his dad. Especially as he was a minor when he did the work for Burberry. He simply had not earned the right to be shooting any of those, and the worst part of all of it, and you hinted at this, is that the only real loser here is Brooklyn himself. But he was put squarely in that position by people that should know better, and as much as it annoyed me at the time, he was the victim as most 16 year olds have a lot of learning to do, about themselves, and their craft or direction in life. A failed experiment by Burberry, BMW, his father and plenty of others that should have known and done better. But maybe he will circle back again having matured and learned. Cheers fella!

[@belaacs5238]

How about critiquing your own or compare to some other living pros like Alex Webb, McCurry, Salgado? I never heard of them critiquing somebody's work. Try to critique those guys, I would like to see what you would say about their "crappy" images.

[@AskMOTT]

I’m sure that would draw some let’s say “interesting “ comments . Let me see if my fragile ego can take it :). Thanks for the recommendation.

[@alansmith8837]

take out who he is and what have you got. well not much really

[@jellospeed]

Not bad? It's shite. Stop lowering the bar. No longer a fan of Burberry or BMW. Planned to fail (?), then do it on a smaller scale.

[@AskMOTT]

My point is it’s not bad for an average 16 year old w one year of experience.

[@uglytuco3829]

You're no longer a fan of those brands because they let a kid with a massive audience do their ad campaign? That said more about you than you know, bud. I hope you can heal from this. Lol

[@jellospeed]

@@AskMOTT On this point I agree. Not bad for a kid. But not ready for prime time.

[@jellospeed]

@@uglytuco3829 My words may have been too harsh. I liked these brands in the past but lost favour for various reasons. An unflattering ad campaign doesn't help. Doesn't bother me one bit really as they've lost me already.

[@AskMOTT]

Do you think he deserves the criticism he received online?

[@AllBikesGreatAndSmall]

No, it's pure jealousy. There isn't a set way to do art, it can be any way you want it to be. I think that was what he was trying to get across. His work wasn't how everyone else sees the world, it was how he sees it. I really hope he picks himself up and carries on doing what he loves. People only want to pull you down because they can't do it or haven't been given the same opportunity.

[@richskl6631]

Deserving or not your going to get a lot of it if you get those high level jobs before you’ve really developed your craft. I think his parents could have been a bit smarter about advising him. Yeah parents want to be supportive and see their kids happy but I think they would have been doing him a favour if they’d suggested just reigning it in a bit and holding off on things like the book. It’s not like he needs to money desperately and doors can always open for a kid like that. And at the end of the day if later he’d accrued a decent collection of interesting work he has the resources to publish his own book. I think that would have been a better option for him. As you said, photography and any craft or skill is a grind that takes a lot of hard work and practice and dedication to achieve excellence in. He hadnt had the time to do that and then he was given these opportunities. It kind of sabotaged him. I don’t see why he couldn’t be a decent photographer if he goes back and really puts the work in. He’s young and doesn’t need to worry about a 9 to 5. He could for example go over to Ukraine and document what’s happening there if he had the desire and didn’t mind the risk. Or just travel anywhere in the world to the most amazing and photogenic places and just work on his skills as a photographer. But hold onto the work and learn to self edit more until he’s ready. That’s what his parents should be telling him.