Music magazine: Draft front cover.

This was my draft music magazine front cover. I tried to use the same concepts from previous magazines i had evaluated on my own, and i feel it turned out okay. Regardless, after recieving comments on what could be improved and what was good, i decided to redo my front cover, but keep much of it the same. Although my original target audience was girls and boys between the ages of 14 or 15 to 18, after it was reviewed, many commented on how it seems to be aimed towards girls and boys, but between the ages of 13 and 16, which i agree with. I have decided to change a few of the artist names as many are mainly listened to by older people, and so do not relate to my target audience. When i complete my finished front cover, i will add a few more features like a price, a bright and interesting feature on the left side to replace the list of bands that would be unfamiliar to my target audience. As well as this, i will be rearranging some features, like the barcode and writing.

Music magazine: The making of my draft front cover.

Here is a gif i made that shows the different stages i went through to make my draft front cover for my music magazine.

Make gif

Music magazine: "Sugar" magazine research.

I made this gif so that it would be easier for me to evaluate Sugar magazine. After recieving comments on my drafts for my front cover, i realised that researching a magazine aimed toward the same target audience as my own, primarily mainly younger teenagers. The differences between our magazines being that Sugar is geared towards girls and is a fashion and gossip magazine, while mine is a music magazine, aimed towards girls and boys, but could be considered more for girls. I am going to evaluate the different features on Sugar, and see if i can use any of them on my final front cover.

• The magazine has bold, bright colours, but they are often the same colour as the title, or colours that compliment it. The majority of the text is plain, ensuring that the the person on the front cover is what draws the readers attention the most. When looking at the text, it usually sticks to just 3 or 4 different colours, the same font, but varying font sizes to other pieces of text. Whatever the model is wearing also plays a part in what colours are used around them. They often link, as does the background.

• On each cover there is a feature that advertises fashion - mostly highstreet. They are usually plain, apart from the colours on the clothes. The titles are simple, but big and eyecatching, and the feature is usually in an abstract shape with an outline around it.

• There is a banner at the top of every Sugar magazine, which usually advertises a story inside. They are usually plain, with certain words or symbols coloured, which are often the same colour as the title. They are short, and in a small font, with words that are meant to attract our attention in a slightly bigger font.

• The person featured within the magazine has their name in bold, hovering over their image. There is usually a little quote, or text underneath the name to introduce what the focus of the article is. The colour for this feature is usually the same as the title, or similar to a colour used for the banners or other features.

• Models very rarely pose in a way that makes them completely portrait. Their poses vary, and are sometimes far from ordinary. In Sugar magazine, if the model is standing, their pose will often reflect their personality. In the image of Hayley Williams in the top left hand corner, her pose reflects her bands (Paramore) music, as well as her attitude. As their music is mostly rock/pop-punk, her stance seems full of attitude, as well as containing a cheeky element. This also applies to Taylor Momsen, who is the girl in the bottom right hand corner. Her band (The Pretty Reckless) has an alternative rock/post-grunge sound, and so her pose reflects her preffered music genre. As she holds her hand up, her expression seems confident, as she smiles slightly.

When i make my final front cover, i will try and use many of the same ideas as Sugar magazine, as both of our magazines will be aimed towards the same audience, but just satisfying different hobbies and interests.

Gif animators

Music magazine: First set of photographs.

After looking at my poses research, i took my first set of photographs for my music magazine. My model used a prop, just like in the previous photos of Marina and Ellie on YOU and FACTORY magazine. I have made a video to show them in a clear and easy way, and i will write my comments to each of the photos underneath.

1. Overall i like this photo, as i think it is quite simple, but effective. It gives a calming effect, as the model is smiling slightly while sitting cross legged with her hands on her lap. Her hair and dress suit my magazines theme, which is for mostly indie and alternative music. The lighting is very even though, and so if i was to use an image like this, i would have to consider that and see how light effects my photograph.
2. This photo has a much more excited and fun feel, as the model has a comical face, as she appears to be screaming. The ukelele has been used in a similar way to Marina on the front cover of FACTORY, which i evaluated earlier. Her nail varnish creates a link to her hair, which gives a very indie-punk feel, while the instrument is in clear view. Again, the light has reflected off of the ukelele, and so i would have to edit  that out if i was to use this image.
3. While this photograph is similar to the previous one, as the ukelele is plain view and partially covers the models face. In contrast to the previous image, the models face has a much calmer face, with a slight smile, and so the photo seems to give off a playful feel. The light is reflecting off of the ukelele though, creating a glare, and so if i was to use this image, i would have to edit it out.
4. This image could be used for the double page spread, but not the front cover, as you can't see the models face. Although it gives off a playful feel which is what i wanted, without the models face visible, you cannot tell who the image is of. Taking everything else into consideration, i quite like this image as the stance is quite neutral, except for the arm holiding up the ukelele. As the light is very even, i could play around with my other photographs in an attempt to create more shadows.
5. I would not consider using this image for my music magazine as the smile is too forced, and so the photo does not seem genuine. When taking this photograph, i could have had the model looking down at her instrument, as though she is about to play it, which would have provided a more personal photograph, which would appeal to the reader.
6. Overall i like this image, as the model has a genuine expression on her face. I like the pose too, as the model is pretending to balance the ukelele on her finger, unfortunately, the light is reflecting off of it. There are a few shadows on the models neck and body, mostly, creating a different look to the previous images.
7. This image follows the same sort of pose as my first photograph, as the model is sitting down in quite a neutral position. Her face is plain, with a slight smile, as she holds her instrument on her lap, so that it goes towards her neck. The whole photograph is very symmetrical, which is a look i like, and so i may use an image like this on my contents page.
8. This photograph follows a similar pose as my second photograph, as the model has a comical face again, as she sticks her tongue out, while holding her ukelele on her shoulder. Although i feel i won't use this image on my music magazine at all, it helped me to evaluate my other images, and realise what worked and what didn't.
9. Although this image gives a calm and relaxed feel, i feel as though the models face may be too plain, and could be livened up with even a little smile, to create a sort of mischevious feel. The pose itself is quite symmetrical as well, which is something i would like to use in my other photographs.
10. This photograph is quite quirky, as the model appears to be thinking, while scratching her head with her ukelele. Her left hand disappears behind her, which is something i would have to address if i was to use an image similar to this, or reshoot this one. Overall, it is not an image i would use on my front cover, but i could possibly use one like this on my double page spread.
11. Following a pose similar to that used in images 2 and 8, this image creates a fun and quirky atmosphere, as the model is sticking out her tongue again, while pretending to listen to her instrument, as though it is a phone. Her body is quite neutral, apart from her right side. This is an image i could use for the double page spread, as it would create a quirky and fun atmosphere, which is something that i would like to ensure is followed throughout my music magazine.

After evaluating all of my first photographs i have decided to use image 5 as my front cover image, but take a second lot of photographs to see if they could be used instead. Furthermore, hopefully i will take a photograph in my second photoshoot that could be used for the contents or the double page spread.