Initial Proposal Plan

I have thought of the considerations of the conventions and ideas to be used on my magazine.

Photoshop Research

In order to familiarise myself with using the programme 'Adobe Photoshop', which I will be using to create my final production pieces, I have completed the production of a movie poster for the film 'The Simpsons Movie'. To do this, I first had a play around with the software and gathered notes on how to carry out particular functions such as using the tools and applying filters. I can now refer back to these notes when using the programme in future in order to use it correctly and effectively.


























For this research my teacher gave me a grade B as my work was thorough and demonstrated good knowledge in using photoshop therefore I am now feeling confident about working with it.

Photographic Techniques

There are some photographic techniques which are essential to consider when composing a shot.

First, the shot distance is key and each different type of shot can portray different ideas about the image.

Big Close-Up                         Extreme Close-Up

These shot types are good for showing the significance of a character, or for showing them as powerful. Both BCU and ECU's are also extremely useful in drawing attention to characters emotions.

Medium Close-Up                                Close-Up             

MCU and CU shots are effective for portraiture of a single person or for moving image interviews.

                Medium Shot                           Medium Long Shot      

For a an image which is showing movement or for a balanced tracking of characters featured and their environments, both MS and MLS's are good shot types to use.

Long Shot                          Extreme Long Shot       

These shot types are good for showing the insignificance of a character, or for connoting a character as powerless within an empowering environment. LS and ELS's are also good for establishing location.







I would like to use a variety of these images in my own work for a number of different effects. For my front cover I plan to use a medium close-up as this is conventional of a front cover image and draws emphasis on my models facial features and expressions, and as I said this is an effective shot for portraiture. For my double page spread image I am considering using either a medium long shot, or a long shot to show my models whole body and therefore her clothing, stance and props however unlike these examples do not plan to have a detailed background so rather than looking powerless in an empowering environment, my model will look dominating. For my other images on the contents page I will use a number of these shot types to make the page look more varying and interesting to look at, but mainly medium long shots I think as this allows some more details of the mise-en-scene to be established than close ups. 



Colour and tone are also important aspects of a photograph and taking control of the way these are used is a key way of improving images. Tone control can be used to emphasise the shapes of the most important elements in the image, and also to emphasise important parts of the image and colour, helping to set the mood of the photograph. This includes variations of light and dark.

Vivid and vibrant coloured subjects are effective, as well as delicate coloured subjects and ones with muted tones.







Bright and bold colours such as primary colours are used on magazine covers, so these are important to consider when taking the image for the magazine front cover as colour sells.






Within a picture the use of just one or two colours can work well as this gives the shot intensity and a sense of harmony. The only thing to be careful of when using monochromatic colours is that when writing over the image, the typography often doesn't stand out very well.





I think that combining these colours and tones in my images will be very effective, as for example using monochromatic colours on my models with bright, bold primary coloured text overlaying it will make my magazine very eye-catching and will stand out on the shelf, ensuring more sales. I may also experiment with the lighting on my photos to try and incorporate some different tones rather than basic bright lighting as this will make my images more diverse and unique.




Shot composition is something that need to be thought about carefully, as a dull image is often caused by the subject being placed in the middle of the photograph, something many photographs seem to do. An effective focal point can be created by the use of off centre composition. Another important consideration is to keep in mind both the action in the foreground, and in the background, when composing a shot. 

I am going to try and experiment with this in my own photography as before this research I would immediately have just placed my model in the centre of the image however now I may try and use a prop or unusual pose as the focal point of the image to make it look more dynamic and less dull or boring.




Lines and framing are useful for emphasising and leading the viewer towards the main area of the subject. The picture space may also be divided into segments which can vary in size and shape, these shapes of the lines and their general patterns can strongly influence the mood of the photograph. The appearance of lines in a picture can be easily controlled by camera viewpoint. The rule of thirds is important to keep in mind when designing a show as the viewer's eye is drawn to the cross-sections of a frame; the action should be taking place here.

I will take notice of the direction of lines in my images where possible however if it is just a straight forward image of my model I will try to ensure this line of focus is her eyes by using a pose with a direct gaze and very bold eye make up so the attention is drawn straight here, I think this will make my image and model seem more relatable and appealing to the audience.



Texture and hints on creating texture are another way of approaching picture-taking as most of the time we think about the subject, this involves thinking beyond the subject and looking at it in terms of textures and patterns. Photography is especially effective at conveying the impression of texture, through its quality which can be extremely close up. Aspects which make a big difference to the appearance of textures are the direction, height and the quality of lighting.


Texture is definitely something I will try to focus on with my images particularly through the models clothing, perhaps leather or fur would be effective in making the image more aesthetically appealing and by using an extremely good camera and studio lighting, this high quality will make the textures even more effective and highlighted.



Use of tilt can be used to effectively manipulate the connotations of the subject of the image.






A tilt up shot, is from a low angle and is used to convey power or dominance.








A tilt down shot, is from a high angle and is used to convey vulnerability or weakness of the person in shot, to demonstrate the dominance of point of view.







Although I am not sure using tilt will fit in with my fairly simplistic and professional looking plan for my magazine, I may experiment with this when taking my photos as I would like my main model to look dominating and important so could use a slight tilt up shot, however nothing as dramatic as the example I have used here. I may also use a tilt down shot to make my model look more innocent rather than the weakness this type of shot tends to connote. 

Font Research

I have done some research into possible fonts I could use on my magazine front cover, for both the masthead, sell lines and for the main copy of the article inside. This has helped give me an idea of the fonts I would like to use and what would look effective or not. 

Masthead

I really like this font, as because it is sans serif, it is very simple but is clear to read and would stand out well on the page at is is really rounded and bold. It also looks very professional like many existing magazines I have seen.
The down side of this font is that it is fairly thin and rounded letters so if it is covered a lot by the image it might be too hard to read. It is also quite a standard font for a masthead and I don't want my magazine to just look like every existing magazine which is already available.

I think this font is effective as it is very bold and eye-catching, it is also quite unique and unusual as no existing magazines use a font like this.
I am not as keen on this font as it is quite futuristic and may appeal more to males whereas this doesn't relate to my magazine which is gender neutral.

I really like this font because again it is simple and bold due to the sans serif style, and is a taller shape rather than wide like the font 'Code'. This reminds me of font used on a fashion magazine which looks sophisticated and luxurious.
The negative aspects of this font is that because my magazine name 'Beat' is a short word, the narrow font might not take up very much of the page therefore won't be as eye-catching as it should be.

This is a very similar font to 'Code' however is a bit thicker and less rounded so it would possibly stand out more on the page and look bolder against the main image and other sell lines.

However, this font is quite standard and simple therefore may look a bit boring and less striking as a masthead.

This font is very similar to some others that I have chosen however I think the subtly different shape of the letters is effective as it looks a bit more unusual and unique.

The think I don't like about this is the shape of the letter 'E' as it is not very even and as this letter is featured in my magazine name it will put me off choosing this font.

This is another very similar sans serif font which would look effective as the shape of the letters are distinctive, they are taller which will look neat and professional on the page.

Although it is also a positive aspect, the fact that the letters are tall could also be a negative because my magazine name is only 4 letters long so this might not look very bold and dominant as the masthead.

Sell-Lines

This serif font is appealing to look at because it is so decorative, and would look quite professional to be used for a sell line, enticing the reader to look inside as it gives the impression that the whole magazine will be as appealing to the eye.
On the other hand, some of the letters become very thin at points which may be difficult to distinguish on a front cover against the image.

I like how narrow and unusual this font is, and will contrast quite drastically from the text on the masthead. It is not too old fashioned but also not extremely modern which relates to the main image of my front cover and double page spread so this may be an effective font to use.

This font might be a bit too narrow and tall to stand out on my front cover as it is a serif font again the thin sections of the letters might be drowned out by the image it is anchoring.

I think that this would be a really effective font for a pull quote sell-line as it looks personal and hand written because it is such a decorative, script font. It is also very appealing to the eye.

The downside of this font is that because it is so fancy it might not look as professional, and the joined up writing might be difficult to read if it is a full sentence, it is not as simple as I would like.

I like this font as it is very unusual and vintage looking, and is a bit more cartoon like and eye-catching than the other fonts I have found, it will give my magazine a vintage twist and the thickness of the lettering on the left is striking.

The negative of this font is that it might look too old fashioned and not tie in with my masthead very well, as well as looking less sophisticated because of the cartoony edge to it. It is also quite stereotypical of a vintage look and I would prefer my magazine to be unique and stand out.

I really like this font because it is very simple and professional looking, as well as quite mature and expensive. It is tall and thin so will be clear and very easy to read due to the large spacing between each letter. A sans serif font is definitely easier to read I have found.

As the lettering is so thin this will not look very bold for a front cover, so instead I think I could possibly use this font for the heading of my double page spread where the background is more simple as I will be able to position it away from the main image, and it will not be competing to stand out and catch the eye of a potential buyer.

Although this is a serif font, I really like it because it is appealing to the eye and will be clear to read the text however is not too unusual that it would put someone off reading it - this font will appeal to all types of people as it is not too distinctive.

The downside of this is that as I have said previously a serif font may be less likely to stand out as well against the background image and is not very unique to my individual magazine.

Main Article Copy

This font is modern and attractive, and extremely appealing to the eye. It is quite rounded which looks youthful and simple to look at therefore would be an easy read for the audience.

The problem with this font is that it might be too spaced out to look effective in dense copy, and will look spacious on the page therefore less professional.

This font is much more simple and mature looking, it is professional as it reminds me of the typical font used in existing magazines. This would appeal to any reader as it is not too fussy and is readable at a small font size like it will be in my article.
The only downside of this font is that it is very plain and not as appealing to the eye of the reader, it might also make the text look quite sparse as it is not bold at all.

I really like this font style because it is simplistic and very similar to 'Linux Libertine' however it is better in the sense that is is thicker and bolder, therefore easy to read and looks like the realistic copy found in a double page spread article.

The downside of this font is that it is not very unique and is quite infitting with existing publications whereas I would like my magazine to be a bit different. Hopefully the boldness of this font would not make the writing look too messy and overly dense.

The unusual shape of this font appeals to me as it would to any reader - it is narrower and although it is also a serif font, it is a slightly different style and this could look a bit more unique. It is a very attractive and sophisticated looking font.

The negative aspect of this font is that it may look too tall because of how narrow it is, and this would not look professional or realistic in my article.

Clothing Research

Using the internet, I have found some inspiration into the sorts of clothing I think look effective and appealing in order to dress my models in similar things for my photos.



 

I really like the idea of using fur in the image as it looks dramatic, sophisticated and classy. It gives the image a vintage look which is what I am trying to incorporate into my double page spread image but I think this would also look appealing on a front cover. On the first image, I think the contrast of textures between the fur and the shiny black pants looks very effective therefore I will ask my model to wear disco pants to recreate this look. The look of hair tumbling over the fur looks very appealing and invitational I think.

 

 

Another look I really like for my front cover is a leather jacket. This is not as rare a clothing item however looks strong and fierce, which would make my cover star seem dominant and in control. This would appeal to my target audience as they will aspire to be like the cover star, and it is also such a versatile jacket that I could choose almost anything for the model to be wearing underneath, it will fit in with my design by looking subtle but is still a striking feature.



 

Black clothing is something I have decided to focus on for my models outfit, especially on the front cover, as it is simple and undistracting from the focus of the image which will be the models dramatic makeup, however is extremly elegant and flattering. These are two good examples of the styles of clothing I would have my model wear, as the first one is very attractive and sophisticated looking which will make my model look mature and appealing, and the second is a simple black dress which is extremely flattering but undistracting from the rest of the image. I also like the idea of a gold necklace and heels as this will again add to the appeal of the whole look.

 

 

These are a few other examples of the kinds of clothing I think would be effective for my model to wear. One the first image, the loose sheer shirts in subtle colours give a relaxed and grungy look which my target audience will find relatable and despite looking quite messy there is also an element of style and elegance about the material and colours. I will use an outfit like this in my more urban looking image as it will create an effective contrast. The other image is a smarter outfit which I am thinking of having my model wear when taking a live performance style image, as this will look very sophistated and smart but at the same time fashionable and aspirable to the audience.

 

Props Research

I have done some research into the props I could use as the mise-en-scene of my double page spread image. To do this I have looked at existing photo shoots and magazines and found a selection of ideas which I could use myself.

I think all of these props would look effective either in relating to the topic of the magazine which is music such as the vinyl records, microphone and guitar, or connoting a fun or mysterious aspect to the magazine which will be relevant and appealing to my target audience, such as the cigarette, balloons and candles. I will try and use proper such as these however it is dependent on what is available to me at home and at the photographic studio I will use.

Hair and Makeup Research

I have done some research into makeup looks which I could do on my model. These are a selection of makeup looks which I like and could be used for my front cover image. From this research I have decided that I prefer a darker red lip and for the smokey eyes to be dark and not too over powering, I will use makeup like this for my main image as it will make my model look mysterious and attractive.

These are a selection of 60's inspired makeup looks which I like and could potentially use for my vintage style double page spread image. From researching this I have found the focus on the makeup is dramatic eyes with a cat-eye flick, natural face and usually pale subtle lips so this is something I will incorporate into my own makeup look.

I have also done some research into hair styles which I could use on my models for the images I will take. These are a selection of hair styles which I like and could use on my front cover. As shown in these images, my model will have dark hair which I will style in a tousled, loosely curled way so that it falls messily around her face and adds to the invitational look of my main image.

These are a selection of 60's inspired hair styles and looks which I like and could potentially use for my vintage style double page spread image. From this research I have found that the typical 60's hair style is a beehive/bouffant look so for my own image I plan to use more subtle takes on this like in the images below. This looks very elegant and sophisticated.

Photo Shoot Planning

The emotional impact I would like my photography to have on my reader, is to make them feel like they can relate to the model, but at the same time aspire to be like them as they will look powerful and attractive to the audience. I also want there to be a mysterious element to my image so the reader will be enticed into buying the magazine and finding out more.

I need young attractive people to look appealing on my front cover and be relevant to my target audience of 16-19 year olds. Because of this, I plan to photograph some of my friends who would fall into this target audience therefore making the magazine seem more personal and 'real' to the people I am aiming it at.



For my front cover I don't plan to use any props because I want the focus of the image on my models face, however for the images I take for my double page spread I would like to use lots of old LP records, as this will relate to music but look sophisticated and attractive. My model in the foreground will not look old fashioned however, may be dressed in quite a vintage style, so this will contrast and look unique.

To emphasise colour I will use clothing which is not too dominant in an image such as plain black, however will include subtle colours which are in-keeping with my house style of blues. For example on my front cover I will have dark clothing but will have dashes of colour, like dark red lips and visible blue nails which fit with the colour scheme. To emphasise colours more I will use plain backgrounds either on a blank background or in a studio so a busy background doesn't distract from the main image.

I have briefed my models on the photo shoot I have planned so that they are aware of the kind of poses I will want them to do, and can bring a selection of their own clothes which would be suitable for my images. They are also prepared for me to do their makeup and hair in a variety of ways.


The lighting I will need will ideally be natural day light if the photos are taken against a blank background not in the studio, such as a plain light coloured wall. The reason for this is because the natural lighting is essential in making my pictures crisp, clear and ensuring the colours show up correctly when the image is taken (no orange tone from light bulbs indoors). I will also avoid using the flash so the image isn't too harsh or washed out. If I take my images in a studio, the studio lighting will not be low it will be bright and sharp to make my pictures look as professional and dramatic as possible and highlight the model. I will use side and top lighting for this. On my double page spread I would like a shadow of my model to be cast in front of them if I choose to use a full length shot.

Photoshoot at home or in a studio set up

I will do my shoot against a blank wall at home for my main image as I don't want any mise-en-scene in the background and for my double page spread I will use a backdrop of old records to give the feature a mixed style of vintage and modern. If possible I will use a photographic studio to take my images instead and a backdrop will not be needed as the standard white setting will be suitable.



The make-up my model wears for the double page spread will be vintage 60's makeup in-keeping with the theme of the image however for my front cover it will be subtle every day makeup with dark lips and smokey eyes to give the image an element of mystery. The clothing my model will be wearing on the front cover will be dark such as plain black, so as not to draw attention away from her face, however nothing that will look too harsh and dramatic. For my double page spread I would like my model wearing fur as this will look elegant and attractive but will again fit in with the vintage style of the article. For both images I would like my model to have dark hair which is tousled and surrounding her face as this will add to the mystery and invitational look.

Flat Plans

I have created flat plans and rationales for each of my pieces of production, to start putting my ideas about things such as layout, colour schemes and images together.

Front Cover

I plan to use a three-shade colour scheme to ensure the text contrasts from the image and stands out. The brightest colours will be used for my masthead and sell lines so that they are distinguishable, and I will use a white background so nothing clashes with it. The colour scheme will be light blues, as although it is generally classed as a male colour, a light sky blue will also effectively appeal to females and connotes fun, excitement and will be eye-catching for my chosen age range.

My main image will be a mid shot of a girl in an invitational pose holding a direct gaze with the camera, encouraging sales by attracting males and females who will aspire to be the same. There will be minimal mise-en-scene to keep the focus on the model who will overlap the masthead, so line usage draws the readers eye here first. She will have dark hair, smokey eyes and red lips giving a sense of identity to my audience and connoting her as unique and mysterious. She will have simple black clothing with maybe some blue nails to tie in with the masthead, which will be on show because of her pose (hands possible on face or in hair)

The language will be quite informal, personal and direct but not too colloquial to seem unprofessional. The sans serif masthead will say 'Beat', the reason for this name is it is relevant to music but isn't genre specific so is open to interpretation, drawing in a wider readership. The banner sell line will include the USP - a free song using a QR code, as young people will appreciate free music and can access new technology like smartphones. The main sell line will be bold and large will anchor the image centred at the bottom of the page to avoid covering the models face, the subtitle will be a pull quote in a more interesting font from the feature to encourage readers by looking more personal. Minimal sell lines will be justified to the left margin and I haven't yet decided on these but plan to try and use alliteration and pull quotes making them memorable and intriguing. The layout will assist readership as the text I want to draw most attention to will be larger or in the centre such as the main sell line.

Contents Page

I plan to use the same colour scheme as I use on my front cover which is blues because this will make it look professional and give it a consistent house style. The layout of my double page spread will be very organised and clear in order for the reader to be able to navigate quickly and easily around it, so the title at the top, contents in a list, and block of images to make it more aesthetically pleasing to my teenage audience. On each image and each article there will be large page numbers so they are the easiest thing to see and can be found quickly at a glance. I plan to put these in either coloured boxes, or circles, to make sure they stand out even more.

The language and register will also be the same as my front cover as many of the sell lines will also feature here so I will make sure the rest of the text matches these. I plan to use a more unusual title than 'Contents page' to make it more interesting and unique however will have to experiment with what looks best, an example could be 'Inside This Issue', in a bold sans serif font to stand out. The other text on the page will be in a serif font like the front cover and much smaller, conventionally with short captions under each article to give description of what it will include. 

Double Page Spread

For my main image, I have decided to keep it to one side of the spread to keep it completely separate from the text and I have chosen the left hand side as this is the side the reader will start with - I would like it to be a striking, bright image which is a full length shot of my model to make her seem dominant, important and attractive. I don't plan to use any other smaller images on the page in order to keep it as simple and professional-looking as possible. Like both of my other products I would like a blue colour scheme so will attempt to incorporate this into my image in some way, either by the clothing or proper that my model has, and will also have my pull quotes and headings in the same colours. For the main copy I plan to use simple black text, or potentially dark blue if it works well, so that the main article is extremely clear and easy to read. I have chosen to use 3 columns rather than 2 or 4 so that the text looks less dense and this allows room for me to include another pull quote to break it up further. For the pull quotes I will use a larger font and a line from the article which is really relatable and attention-grabbing to my audience however I haven't decided on these yet. Although I haven't yet written the article for my double page spread, I have a few ideas to choose from for it which will incorporate interviewing the star (may just include quotes from an interview rather than a question and answer format) and be about a new or returning star to publicise their new material, tying in with my cover model as this is who it will be about.

Institutional Research

I have done some research into existing magazine institutions to decide which publisher would be most suitable for my own music magazine.

EMAP focuses on the areas of retail, health, fashion, construction and architecture. They don't have any music publications but this could mean that by using EMAP, my magazine will be popular as there's no competitor, but generally this company does not target my audience. They specialise in high-level, critical knowledge which may not be very accessible to 16-19 year olds who would prefer a lighter read. It is an international company as one of their publications is a middle eastern business magazine. 

Publications include; RetailWeek, MEED, The Architectural Review, Lighting, Nursing Times, ConstructionNews etc.

Future Publishing is an international, award winning institution
which publishes an extremely wide range of magazines in genres including cars, sport, lifestyle, photography, design and many more. They publish many music magazines focusing mainly on the genre of rock and guitar, including learner guides. There are some other genres like country and some dance music guides however overall my magazine would not fit in with this institution as the genre of my own work does not include rock music.

Publications include; ClassicRock, PC Gamer, Mountain Biking UK, Your Family Tree, TotalGuitar, Rhythm etc.

Natmags is a British magazine institution which, in 2011, merged with Hachette Filipacchi Médias UK forming 'Hearst Magazines UK'. It currently publishes 20 titles nationally and 20 online, including 'SugarScape' which is a teen magazine. This institution seems to publish mainly fashion and lifestyle magazines, aimed at women and is a potential company for my own magazine as there is no current music titles and existing publications such as 'Company' are aimed at an older teenage magazine.

Publications include; Company, House Beautiful, Red, InsideSoap, ELLE, Country Living, Mens Health, Zest etc. 

IPC Media is a national institution however its online publications gain over 25 million users a year globally. Only one music magazine is published by IPC Media, NME, and this is very close to the genre of magazine I am going to produce therefore this may be an ideal institution for me to think about using, but on the other hand this could mean my magazine is in competition as it is so close to this existing publication. Aside from this, IPC publish 59 other titles, mainly women's magazines but also country, sporting and gossip. 

Publications include; Woman's Own, Golf Monthly, IdealHome, NME, Now, Nuts, TV Times, Marie Claire, InStyle etc.

Bauer Media is a worldwide institution which publishes around 300 magazines print and online internationally, but is based in the UK. The company itself believes their wide portfolio of influential brands gives them advantages over pure play magazine competitors so I will definitely consider this company for my own magazine as it suggests it will be successful. The magazines published by Bauer cover almost every genre, and musically they publish two of the countries most popular magazines; Q, MOJO and Kerrang. As these include similar genres to my magazine but not identical there is a gap in the market for 'Beat' here. The wide readership of their other magazines also reflects how my magazine will have a large target audience of both genders. 

Publications include; ClassicCars, GRAZIA, Q, Your Horse, Empire, Closer, FHM, Trail, Practical Photography etc. 

Condé Nast is an American institution which publishes 18 magazines worldwide. It is considered to be the originator of lifestyle magazines, including subjects such as travel, food, home, culture and largely fashion in order to appeal to the widest target audience possible. As the majority of its publications are within this lifestyle category, there are currently no music magazines published by the institution so there would be no competitor for my magazine and this company would be ideal in focusing on targeting a wide audience which is what I aim to do. 

Publications include; GQ, Bon Appétit, VOGUE, Glamour, Vanity Fair, Brides, Golf World, WWD, Allure etc.

From this research, I have decided to use Bauer Media as my magazines publishing institution. My reasoning for this is because as it is such a huge company yet there are few music magazine titles, there is room for my magazine without it being in too much competition, as Q contains similar genres to mine in that it is primarily rock with a hybrid of other genres featured, whereas my magazine will be focused on alternative music with a hybrid of other genres included. Also, on other platforms Bauer Media has radio stations and music TV channels therefore is a company which is experienced in the music aspect so my magazine would fit in well and have an edge on its competitors because of this. The huge range of magazines published by Bauer Media means the institution covers an extremely broad readership and audience types which I would also like my magazine to do.