Rankin captures the 'joy of later life sex' with real-life couples for campaign promoting sex therapy

Work by the U.K. relationship charity Relate is the latest to break the taboo of senior sexuality

Published On
Apr 27, 2021

Editor's Pick

Recently, we've seen several bold campaigns from advertisers tackling conversations about aging, particularly when it comes to sexuality and intimacy.

They include a recent campaign from lubricant brand Replens that celebrated sex between older couples, as well as TENA's campaign about older women embracing their sexuality. The latest comes from Relate, the U.K. relationship charity, and agency Ogilvy, which tapped photographer Rankin to capture real-life couples in a series of print and outdoor ads and a video celebrating the "joy of later life sex." 

Rankin photographed various couples, including same-sex couple Andrew and Mark, who have been together 30 years; Chrissie, who has a double mastectomy and her partner Roger; and Daphne and Arthur, who still hold hands when they walk.

The photography is in black and white, juxtaposed with colored text captions, many of which are cheekily provocative or promote the idea that later life sex can actually be better. For example, one reads "Things can take longer when you're older. Briliant." Another reads: "You're never too old to play with toys."

The pro bono campaign will be appearing across digital, outdoor and print. It aims to start a conversation to get people talking about sex, and to promote Relate's services including sex therapy sessions for couples of all ages.

"The intention is to show aging romance in a way that's never been done before," said Jules Chalkley, chief executive creative director at Ogilvy in a statement. "We wanted to create a new visual language that celebrates the joy of intimacy and sex in later life. It is a subject that many flinch from or don't often talk about and there is a notion that older people shouldn't, wouldn't or couldn't want to have sex or intimacy in later life. It has seemingly become a taboo subject, but why? The upsides are immeasurable for our mental health or happiness and physical wellbeing."

 

Relate

Credits

Date
Apr 27, 2021
Client :
Relate
Agency :
Ogilvy-London
Head of Marketing :
Jane Douglas
Director of Communications & Engagement :
Sarah Milsom
Media & Communications Manager :
Sarah Osmik
Client Partner :
Katharine Easteal
Chief Executive Creative Director :
Jules Chalkley
Chief Creative Officer :
Andre Dede Laurentino
Creative :
Nicola Wood
Creative :
Andy Forrest
Client Partner Ogilvy PR :
Rachael Coomber-Nolan
Business Director Ogilvy PR :
DK Cheung
Group Programme Director :
Sophie Rhys Evans
Designer :
Luke Ridgway
Art Buyer :
Lesley Scott
Art Buyer :
Jodie Woodhouse-Ward
Photographer's agency :
Rankin
Media Agency :
Mediacom
Managing Partner :
Daniel Wood
Partner :
Adam Crow
Production Company :
Rankin
Director :
Rankin
Rankin Producer :
Christine Wright
Editor :
Fabio Liguori
Post Producer :
Leo Thornborough
Intimacy Coach :
Ita O’Brien
Post Production :
Hogarth
Post Production :
GPS

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