Music Magazine Title - Conventions

For the title I wanted to pick a title that was catchy and could link into the music world, specifically the genre of music, I also wanted to keep the title to one word to keep it short and make it memeroable to the reader. I played around with a few words but settled on 'Culture', the word is catchy and links into the 'popular culture' genre of music which my magazine is all about, it also isn't too short or too long. The title will run along the top of the magazine in a bold font inspired by my style models.


My first draft of my logo started off with a plain black and white logo:

After looking at my style models and other music magazine examples logos, I noticed that most magazines including my style models had various colours going on so I played around with the colours red, grey, white and black to come up with a logo that fits in with the other music magazines and also looked at embossing my logos and the stroke and outer glow on them:

After looking at my style models again and other music magazines I noticed that most of them have flat logos and it was rare to find one with an embossed/3D logo. Because of this I have chosen the top logo which is red and grey with a black outline because the simplicity draws in readers and a lot of music magazines just consists of a simple logo. I may make a few changes to my logo in the future so it fits in with the front cover.

Camera Angles

My camera angle used for my front cover will be inspired from my 3 style models and I'll be using a medium close up of my models face, I feel a medium close up works well on a front cover as a main image and draws readers to the magazine, it also keeps the magazine simple but its effective. For the double page spread ill be using a wide shot to fit in the whole of my model, which will also allow her to bleed from one page to the other. For my contents page I'll be using a medium close up but have my model use different poses to the front page to add a variety of shots to my magazine.

Props

For this photoshoot I will be using no props. On my front cover the simplicity of just my models face doesn't require a prop as it could potentially make the photo too busy ruining the front cover, for the contents page the image will be similar to the front cover but in a different pose and possibly a different angle and for my double page spread it will just be my models on one page bleeding into the other which won't require a prop.

Costume

I will be using a very plain costume which will just be a black top for my front cover and a leather jacket for my double page spread and contents page. The front cover image will be a medium close up so most of the costume won't be seen, the inspiration from this is from my style models, comparing the Q style models against the billboard style model has shown me the different between a dark top and a light top; the light top takes a lot of focus off the face and makes the focus point bigger whereas the artists in Q have used darker tops which keeps the focus on the face and makes the photo seem less busy. I'll also be using make up within my shoot, I'll be using powder on Erin's face to stop her face shining from the light boxes which will allow the camera to have a better focus, I'll also be using subtle pink lipstick to add colour to the lips, and a thin layer of eyeliner along the top of the eye to keep unto date with current make up styles. I will also be using mascara on Erin to make her eyelashes stand out and look big and feminine.

Lipstick Example

Eyeliner and Mascara Example

Location

For my photoshoot I'll be using a very plain location with low lighting which will allow me to use light boxes to direct the light on the face onto the face which will allow me to give the face even lighting. The reason I have chosen this is so I can easily remove the background as the picture will be on a plain wall and will allow me to put in a grey gradient background.

Style Models

 I have chosen 3 style models for inspiration for my magazines, I will be using these to refer back to for the layout and design of my own music magazine. What drawn me to these magazines was the darkness of the background on all of them, and the brightness of the face. For the Q magazine featuring Amy Winehouse the way the picture of her overlaps the logo of Q but still allowing the readers to see most of the logo. For the magazine featuring Lily Allen the brightness of her picture draws me in and inspires me to do something similar for my magazine. The Q magazine starring Cheryl Cole inspired me as the background is very dark and has a slight grey gradient to it and it makes the viewer fully focus on Cheryl's face. I will be using small elements from all of these magazines to inspire me to create mine in a professional manner but also with my own touch.

Actors

For my magazine photo shoot I'll be using Erin Evans as my model. On all 3 of my style models the artists featured all have dark hair which helps to bring out the brightness of their face and helps to define their face from their hair which gives the reader one thing to focus on. Her hair will likely blend into the background which just leaves her face making it a focus point for the audience. Erin gives off a gothic but popular look and fits in to the current chart image. She will be wearing a black top which will draw more attention to her face as it will also blend into the background.