1.) No. Just by a simple comparison with existing print advertisements against the composition and execution of your image, yours is severely lacking. It lacks the certain refinement, class and taste of the product and brand name. Is it a correct representation of the product/company? Is the image a marketable product?
2.) No. What do the masses know about the product? I am one of them. After googling it I found,
"Mood: Natural and authentic. Woody marine freshness". You say you wanted to present it in a 'dark mood'. But, is it something the company/designer would want this cologne to be associated with? Granted you can't very well ask them for advice but logically, you present a product as it is. Do research your product, how do you sell something without knowing what it means. Especially when you are trying to sell someone else's product (not to mention the someone is Giorgio Armani, an international luxury brand). You have to know who is your defined market. New users or existing users? Existing users would know the newly launched products, so when you show them your above image, they instantly know what it is. New users wouldn't know A from B and unless the image is strikingly beautiful or they are already interested in the brand, would forget seeing the image in 2 secs. All this determines how you compose your selling image.
3.) There are many things about the composition that's just not sellable. Ok point by point.
- A 'dark' mood, how is it presented here? What is your defination of a 'dark' mood? Commercially it would be
dark like this, is that what you were trying for? I think you can see the difference and how one is more classy than the other. Your image is too bland, colourless. Colourful images attract the eyes, you want the product to be the highlight, not the hotspot.
-Uncreative. This ties with research not being done.
This is being technically proficent, not being creative. It's understandable to be working on a tight budget, but one can still be creative. Ask yourself more questions. How else can/do you sell the product? If you are a user, you would know how it feels to wear the cologne; what does this cologne provide you that others don't. How do you present that to the masses? I don't feel you have done a reasonable job in convincing the market with just the above image. Work on their tag, '.... create a masculine scent that is both fresh and sensual'. Give something the company can use, if you shoot it as dark and moody, it doesn't conform to the product image.
-Finally what is with that uncapped bottle.... Companies can be picky about their products, shoot their cologne and leave the cap out? They won't like it if they view the cap as part of their signature. Anyway, there isn't much reason to leave the cap off even if the company doesn't complain. Ordinary people like me will still ask about the cap. And of course, shoot a full bottle next time. Replace the cologne with plain water if you must. Ads always show the product being bigger or fuller than it really is, because it's better than having consumers wonder if they are paying full price for half amount.
Being able to come up with an idea while being bored is good. But one still has to back it up with research and preparation. You can shoot a product simply and technically proficent. Or stellar and technically excellent. It's all about your standards and how far you want to reach. Cheers.
