Talking head style composition featuring Michael

Research and Ideation

Background Development

Photo Retouching

Adobe Photoshop:

• Photo manipulation

• Color grading

• Upscaling

• Format conversion.

ChatGPT and YouTube

• Research and Inspiration

• Brainstorming

Social Media - Twitter, Discord

• Feedback

• Inspiration

I started with the concept, a strong product warning with a touch of humor. The review headline  “don’t buy the red lighter” immediately stands out as the most expressive element, so I built everything around that.

I chose a forest campsite background to imply a survival or outdoor scenario, a setting where a lighter needs to work. Then I added the subject holding a visibly malfunctioning lighter, with sparks and smoke to visually confirm the failure. His blank, slightly stunned expression added to the comedic effect and kept the vibe light and relatable.

The review graphic was key. I designed it to look like a real online review snippet, clean stars, a profile image, and bold black text. I kept the layout simple but oversized it to make sure it read clearly even at small thumbnail sizes.

Balancing everything was important. I placed the subject and review on opposite sides so they didn’t compete, but still felt connected. Once everything felt balanced and told the story at a glance, I exported the thumbnail at 1280x720 and saved layered versions in case the client wanted tweaks later.

Stunned look featuring Michael holding the croissant

Research and Ideation

Background Development

Photo Retouching

Adobe Photoshop:

• Photo manipulation

• Color grading

• Upscaling

• Format conversion.

ChatGPT and YouTube

• Research and Inspiration

• Brainstorming

Social Media - Twitter, Discord

• Feedback

• Inspiration

I started by identifying the focus of the video, a review of Burger King's croissan'wich pastries, more specifically, their limited-edition croissant-dough hybrids (a mix of croissant and cookie, typically with colorful icing). It has a unique shape and color and it was also the subject in question, so I made sure it was front and center, held up clearly in good lighting to grab attention.

The background, I kept it minimal with a bold, flat blue, this made everything pop and helped the Burger King sign stand out just enough to signal the brand without overpowering the composition.

I placed the text “worth it?” in the top-left corner to immediately pose a question that hooks viewers, pairing it with a bright yellow arrow pointing to the Crookie. That simple visual connection made the thumbnail feel intentional and dynamic.

The subject’s expression was neutral but curious,  just enough ambiguity to let viewers project their own intrigue onto it. That contrast between a colorful treat and a serious face subtly hinted at skepticism, reinforcing the question posed in the text.

Once everything felt balanced and legible even at small sizes, I saved the final layout in 1280x720 and backed up the assets for quick edits down the line.

Client seated at McDonals or Taco Bell with meal items

Research and Ideation

Background Development

Photo Retouching

Adobe Photoshop:

• Photo manipulation

• Color grading

• Upscaling

• Format conversion.

ChatGPT and YouTube

• Research and Inspiration

• Brainstorming

Social Media - Twitter, Discord

• Feedback

• Inspiration

I started by thinking about the concept, how to visually represent the idea of fast food from major chains all costing just one dollar. I wanted the thumbnail to feel bold, instantly understandable, and a bit humorous.

I picked a centered shot of the client with a neutral expression to create contrast with the absurdity of everything costing $1. It gave the thumbnail that deadpan, meme-like energy. I made sure his face was well-lit and cleanly cut out from the background to keep focus.

Then I chose four iconic fast food items and bags from McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Wendy’s. I spaced them out evenly across the foreground, made sure each brand logo was clearly visible, and added a big white "$1" above each one. That repetition drives the message home fast.

To tie it all together, I used a colorful, exaggerated background with blue skies and a red booth to mimic a playful, commercial vibe. I blurred the background slightly so the foreground would pop more.

Once I liked the layout, I gave everything a quick color balance to keep it vibrant and clear, and exported it at 1280x720.

Client seated at McDonals or Taco Bell with meal items

Research and Ideation

Background Development

Photo Retouching

Adobe Photoshop:

• Photo manipulation

• Color grading

• Upscaling

• Format conversion.

ChatGPT and YouTube

• Research and Inspiration

• Brainstorming

Social Media - Twitter, Discord

• Feedback

• Inspiration

I wanted this thumbnail to feel super focused and punchy so I built it around the focal point, McDonald's fries. I started with a clear, centered shot of Michael looking straight into the camera. That blank expression adds a subtle comedic tone which worked well for the message.

I placed a big, clean image of the fries right in the foreground and had the hand holding it up to make it feel more real and tactile. That added a bit of movement and made the food feel more interactive.

I wanted the background simple and saturated with blue sky and a bold red McDonald's sign. I kept the colors bright and clean so the yellow fries would really pop.

To drive the concept home fast, I added a '$1' in big white text and a yellow arrow pointing to the fries. It gave the viewer instant context without needing to read anything else.

I balanced all the elements for symmetry and clarity, kept the lighting even, and exported the final version at 1280x720 to be crisp and eye-catching on any device.

Nick on the Martian environment

Research and Ideation

Background Development

Photo Retouching

Adobe Photoshop:

• Photo manipulation

• Color grading

• Upscaling

• Format conversion.

ChatGPT and YouTube

• Research and Inspiration

• Brainstorming

Social Media - Twitter, Discord

• Feedback

• Inspiration

For this one, I wanted to lean into a fun, surreal concept so I imagined what cooking in space would look like. I started by placing the subject in a full astronaut suit to set the tone right away. The suit instantly signals NASA and outer space, which let me exaggerate the rest of the scene.

I used a wide-eyed expression to add a sense of surprise and made sure it was directed toward the floating piece of food. That helped anchor the idea of zero gravity and made the thumbnail more dynamic.

Then I added a big pot of food at the bottom to ground the scene and make it feel like actual cooking was happening. I pulled one chunk of food from the pot and placed it mid-air, slightly blurry, to sell the 'floating' effect.

The background is a simple lunar surface with Earth in the distance. I kept it clean so the focus stayed on the action in the foreground.

To make the concept extra clear, I added the text 'food flying' with a bright yellow arrow pointing at the floating bite. It made the story readable in one glance.

Once it all looked cohesive and fun, I did some light color adjustments, then exported it at 1280x720 to keep it sharp and YouTube-ready.