Ruchi Patel: Thumbnail Close Read

This video popped up on my YouTube Home Screen and for starters, I know YouTube takes into account a particular algorithm and I had just watched the trailer for “In the Heights”. What stuck out to me the most about this particular thumb nail is that it is not overdone. A lot of times thumbnails contains some sort of “clickbait” which of course does its ultimate job as it targets many users to click the video. On the opposite end, you have these larger companies, such as VOGUE go for a more cleaned up and look with a title that gets you to click on the video, but is not too over the top about it.

What drew me in particularly is a familiar face. I knew who Leslie Grace was and specifically about this video, the title was something that I was interested in myself. These types of videos have a soft feeling about them and are targeted more towards an audience who have an interest in make-up or are just genuinely curious about this particular actress and the products she uses. The way the image is set up allows viewers to see it straight from the middle. The way I looked at it was from left to right or top to bottom, rather I looked at it straight from the middle as that is where the focal point is- Leslie. The video only contains her and her light makeup routine and that was what was chosen to be shown in the thumbnail.

The large VOUGE text in the corner of the screen also creates some kind of statement on the screen. VOUGE is a highly renown fashion and lifestyle magazine and it has showcased the faces of celebrities and their stories, life etc for years. By placing their logo in the corner of the thumbnail, right of the bat the audience knows whose video this belongs to; in this case, a renown company. It is also important to note that my prior knowledge of VOUGE and these videos also plays into the way I view this particular thumbnail as opposed to someone who has never seen these videos or have any intention of watching beauty videos such as this one.