A few hundred year ago, in Shakepeare’s Romeo and Juliet, in Act II, Scene II, Romeo asked, What in a name? The answer to that most famous question, it would appear, is everything! Especially if your surname is Beckham.
Many of you will remember the uproar and outrage that flowed when it was revealed that the son of football legend, David Beckham, was commission to shoot an advertising campaign for luxury brand, Burberry. Having most likely never picked up a camera prior to that point, and definitely not in a professional capacity, photographers around the world were shocked and angered to learn that 16-year-old Brooklyn Beckham had landed the plum assignment to shoot images for its next fragrance campaign.
Fashion photographer, Chris Floyd told the Guardian at the time that Burberry’s decision to employ the inexperienced teenager was a “devaluation of photography” that showed a lack of respect for experienced professionals.
The shoot was broadcast live on social media (Instagram and Snapchat), and with a following of millions (currently 10.1 million on Instagram), the decision to use the young Beckham was clearly a calculated business decision.
Brooklyn, now 18-years-old, has recently released his first photobook. And no, it was something he bashed out on Snapfish. The book is published by Penguin Random House. What I see is a 304-page hardcover photobook that reveal glimpses into his life.
However, the book has been widely criticised, as reported by the Independent. Alice Jones, the editor of i Paper shared her thoughts a few spreads on Twitter a few days ago, and the tweet has been retweeted almost 11,000 times.
What are your thoughts?
For those of you in the UK keen to get your very own copy of the book signed, and have the opportunity to have your picture taken with Brooklyn (just one), we've included the relecant details and rules at this link. Tickets, including the book, are £16.99.
Huge fan of Brooklyn Beckham's terrible photographs and even worse captions pic.twitter.com/012PeCcED4
— Alice Jones (@alicevjones) June 23, 2017