The Body by Guy Merrill is a hilarious photo series visualizing a common discontent many Americans have when it comes to their bodies. Wanting to look like the models they come across in magazines, they attempt to work out and eat right, but usually it just ends up with sighs of depression and wishful thinking. Oh, and standing in front of the mirror with a magazine to visualize what it would be like to have the perfect breasts or abs.
Highly stylized, The Body by Guy Merrill, a talented photographer hailing from London, England, addresses the insecurities of both men and women. Although women tend to be in the spotlight when it comes to these issues, men are just as effected by the depiction of the toned, muscular bodies of male models.
Wishful Thinking Portraits
The Body by Guy Merrill Captures Average People Wanting Model Figures
Trend Themes
1. Body Positivity - The Body by Guy Merrill highlights the need for greater body positivity and acceptance, creating a market for brands and products that promote it.
2. Realistic Representations - The Body by Guy Merrill shows the potential for a trend towards more realistic representations of bodies in media, creating opportunities for brands to promote diverse representations that appeal to a wider audience.
3. Self-acceptance Movement - The Body by Guy Merrill underscores the momentum towards the self-acceptance movement, opening up opportunities for brands to promote products and services that encourage consumers to embrace their natural physique.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion and Apparel - The Body by Guy Merrill emphasizes the potential for the fashion and apparel industry to better serve a wider range of body types and sizes, as well as offering more diverse advertising campaigns that reflect more realistic body images.
2. Fitness and Nutrition - The Body by Guy Merrill highlights the need for fitness and nutrition brands to shift their marketing focus towards overall wellness, instead of solely promoting weight loss and toned physiques.
3. Beauty and Personal Care - The Body by Guy Merrill calls for the beauty and personal care industry to embrace diverse bodies and challenge traditional beauty standards, offering a wide range of products that cater to different body types and sizes.