# Still-Life Face Photography Pay Ex by Philip Karlberg Gives Inanimate Objects Playful Personality By Meghan Young | Published 2013-02-09 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pay-ex-by-philip-karlberg References: [itsnicethat](http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/philip-karlberg-pay-ex) & [minkmgmt](http://minkmgmt.com/philip-karlberg/) Pay Ex by Philip Karlberg is a [fun photo series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nonnas-cam) of artfully arranged objects. Each image is made up of classic items often found in banks (or those dealing with such financial institutions) to form [playful faces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-shape-of-play). From vintage keys to [iPhones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pgytech-retrova) and even the odd pear, each still life image is full of personality. Created for the company of the same name, Pay Ex by Philip Karlberg not only imbues each object with humanistic qualities, the series also shows how friendly and down-to-earth people can find their services. Not to mention that, as It's Nice That notes, it "speak volumes about our capacity for apophenia--the willingness to see human characteristics in inanimate objects." Overall, it is an entertaining photo series. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.8/10 - Popularity: 26% | Activity: 20% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/stylephotography) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Personification Marketing:** Opportunity to leverage the use of artful arrangements of inanimate objects to give products or services a playful and relatable personality. - **Apophenia-inspired Design:** Opportunity to create designs that intentionally elicit the human tendency to see human characteristics in non-human objects, enhancing emotional connection with products or brands. - **Playful Still Life Photography:** Opportunity to use artful still life photography to communicate creativity, engage viewers, and convey the whimsical side of a company or brand. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Advertising and Marketing:** Opportunity for agencies and brands to incorporate personification marketing techniques into their campaigns and messaging, creating relatable and memorable content. - **Product Design:** Opportunity for product designers to consider apophenia-inspired design elements that enhance the emotional connection between users and their products. - **Photography and Art:** Opportunity for photographers and artists to explore and create playful still life photography that sparks emotions and captures the viewer's attention. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Generated Poetic Photo Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emilio-alarcn.md) - [Miniaturized Product Art Photographs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/small-muji.md) - [Playful Interactive Galleries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/play-by-american-express-platinum.md) - [Surrealist Phone Cases](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/salvador-dali-x-casetify.md) - [Upcycled Object Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nendo-and-daniel-arsham.md) - [Fluid Function Art Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/optical-flow.md) - [Public Art Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paul-anthony-smith.md) - [Digital Archetype Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/christian-rex-van-minnen-1.md) - [AI Photo-to-Brick Converters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brick-photos.md)