To photograph my cover star I need to make sure I have a good idea of my magazine’s mission statement and its’ brand ideals, this is so I can make sure my model is styled in a way that fits my magazine. My mission statement uses statements like ‘cutting edge’ and bringing ‘the fun back into music’ which means that I have to make sure my model looks young and trendsetting; I also need her to look happy and bubbly to fit in with the fun-loving aspect of my mission statement. I’ve also been suggested to play music from my genre on the shoot to create the right environment for the photo shoot, it also demonstrates to my model what I’m trying to achieve.

In order to display this through the photos mise-en-scene is really important. For example, I’m dressing my model in a costume which a trendy young person would wear including bright colours in order to connote the ‘fun’ element. To further display this I want to direct my model in poses which show movement and energy (eg. something standing up) so she doesn’t look bored. The use of props like holding a microphone can also show more clearly that it is a music magazine, props also help to create a narrative which helps a photo communicate meaning. Another way in which meaning can be communicated is through the camera and how it is placed. For example, I can use the proxemics of the camera in relation to my model to highlight specific things like using a close-up to show the model’s emotion through their facial expression. I can also use different angles to produce the same effect; a canted angle would make the image seem less static and more fluid whereas a low angle of the model would make them seem strong and confident. I’ll use all of these ideas to communicate my magazine’s brand through its’ cover star.