# Nerdy School Portraiture Gary Salter Shines the Spotlight on Geeks By Matt Ho | Published 2011-01-20 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gary-salter References: [sweet-station](http://sweet-station.com/blog/2011/01/15340/) & [garysalter](http://www.garysalter.com/#) Gary Salter is a British [advertising photographer](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/artiste-series) who makes his own rules when it comes to style and concept. These particular Gary Salter pictures caught my eye because of his subjects. Instead of Abercrombie eye-candy, Salter does portraits of nerds who look like they could use a little more than just brains to get through high school. The backdrop of chalkboard filled with uncomprehending mathematics, the Urkel-like clothes, and the awesomely [retro 80s glasses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/framery) really bring his characters to life. With his [use of colors and enlarged faces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nonnas-cam), Gary Salter has you paying attention to these unsung heroes who deserve more than just a wedgie. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.0/10 - Popularity: 56% | Activity: 55% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Humor](https://www.trendhunter.com/humor) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Geek Chic:** The rise of geek chic fashion and culture presents opportunities for innovative brands to cater to this growing consumer segment. - **Authentic Portraiture:** The demand for authentic and unconventional school portraits creates opportunities for photographers and studios to offer alternative options to traditional portraits. - **Nostalgic Aesthetics:** The popularity of retro 80s aesthetics in photography and pop culture opens doors for creative professionals to tap into the nostalgia trend and offer unique experiences. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Fashion:** The fashion industry can tap into the geek chic trend by designing and marketing clothing and accessories that appeal to the geek culture. - **Photography:** Photography studios specializing in authentic and unconventional portraits can disrupt the traditional school portrait market by offering unique and personalized photography experiences. - **Entertainment:** The entertainment industry can capitalize on the nostalgic aesthetics trend by creating and promoting content that incorporates retro 80s elements to attract nostalgic audiences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [GenAI Mascot Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/prompt-and-punishment.md) - [Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/out-of-home-campaign.md) - [Bold Anime-Inspired Streetwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/geeks-rule-hellsing.md) - [British Youth-Culture Photography Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/home-and-away.md) - [Cartoonish NFT Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/i-like-you-youre-weird.md) - [Artful Custom Mirror Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portraits-collection.md) - [Superfan-Style Eyewear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-hall-of-fame-dustins-edition.md) - [Crystal-Adorned Crushed Cans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sam-keller.md) - [Humorous Menswear Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mens-wearhouse.md)