Evaluation of shoot 1 and Contact Sheet

Below is my contact sheet for shoot 1:

Click here to view the full contact sheet

What went well?

  • I included a wide range of different poses
  • I took a lot of images to give me more choice on what to use in my magazine
  • I used a wide range of different distances (eg, close up, medium, long) to portray my models emotion, body language etc

What could I do to improve?

  • Include more of a range of props in the photos (eg a guitar) to create more of a story/meaning to the audience
  • Consider making sure the focus on the camera is clear so my images turn out well so they can be used
  • Make sure the lighting is a bit lighter next time as some are quite dark, and since she is wearing a black jacket it doesn’t make it stand out as much against the white backdrop

Below is some images that I may use in the final product:

Why I chose these images:

I chose these images because I think it represents my model as quite stylish, laid-back, and seductive which is what I was aiming for. From my images the audience can also decode what type of music my model produces, this is because from the leather jacket and sunglasses you may get the impression she is an indie/indie rock artist as she is wearing convential clothes that an indie rock artist may wear. I also have a liking for the poses in these chosen images as they are quite casual/laid-back which is how I want her to be represented as, but also because they are quite different from each other so I can experiment which the different poses and how they look in my magazine.

Focus forward

By giving myself targets from this shoot, I can consider them when I am taking photos for my next shoot. For example, one of my targets is to use more props so I can experiment by using different props in the next shoot (eg guitar, records). It will also encourage myself to have a more succesful shoot next time if I am hitting those targets as I know what to work on for next time.

My Audience Profile

Blumler and Katz

Blumler and Katz describes an active audience (when an audience is engaging, interpreting and responding to media messages) and suggested that there are four basic uses and gratifications at work, these can include:

  • Social relationships
  • Personal identity
  • Entertainment
  • Information

When creating a piece of media, I will consider these four aspects to ensure it is succesful and relates to my audiences ideologies so they are part of the active audience towards my magazine.

Stuart Hall

Hall’s reception theory is a two stage process. The producer encodes ideology into a text and wishes it to be read in a particular way. The audience then decodes the text, but then they also bring their own ideology into the text. He also states that there are a range of factors which can cause an audience to read media differently, these four areas which impact this can include:

  • Demographics (Who you are)
  • Psychographics (Your values, attitudes and beliefs)
  • Situated culture (How and where you consume the text)
  • Cultural Competence (Your existing cultural understanding and experiences)

Below is a slideshow I created on the research I did on the website YouGov about artists of my choice

By researching three artists of our chosen genre, it enabled us to discover the most popular age, gender, politics (eg, if they vote conservative) and EU Referendum (leave or remain) of fans of the artists. I chose to research Arctic Monkeys, Florence and The Machine and The 1975. By doing this, it gives me a wider range of knowledge on what audience to aim my music magazine at, eg what age range or gender.

Below is a profile I created for my perfect audience member

After doing research on YouGov, I then created a tinder dating profile for my perfect audience member. I interpreted the demographics of the audience which were most popular on YouGov, which included their age, gender, location etc. I also considered their psychographics of the audience, for example, their hobbies, likes and dislikes and just what makes up their personality as a whole.

Reflection/Focus Forward

This task has allowed me to develop my knowledge and understanding on what will make an audience more attracted to my music magazine and how they will encode and decode it. Looking forward, when designing my magazine I will relate it to my target audiences ideologies and their preferred readings so I create a wider audience, which then will make my magazine more succesful compared to my competing magazines.

Front Page Layouts

Here is 10 different front pages of a magazine that I like the look of:

Reflection

In this task we gathered together at least 10 different front pages of a magazine that we had a liking for. I chose these magazine front pages because I admired how there was a consistent colour scheme/palette, the mastheads are bold and stand out, and even though they are quite minimal (one main image and not a lot go writing on some) it makes it quite simple but very effective as it pleases the eyes as it isn’t confusing or doesn’t look boring to read/look at. They have also limited themselves to a few fonts which makes it straightforward, so they do not confuse the reader by having multiple fonts and not understanding the main theme of the magazine.

The media language in these magazines are used to represent the brand by the written titles having some sort of colour scheme/palette. For example, the billboard title colour matches the models hair colour. This reinforces the title as it makes it stand out more to attract a wider audience.

The cover lines also have some significance in these magazines as the fonts and placements of them fit in with the theme of the magazine. For instance the INSTYLE cover lines font fit in with the masthead and the main cover star. This is because the title is quite bold, sans serif and the model in the image has bold makeup on. Therefore, the cover lines are also quite bold, sans serif and the colour of them match in well as red and blue are opposite each other on the colour wheel.

Adding on, the image in these magazines promotes the title effectively. This can be seen from the magazine called WellBeing. The image has quite a relaxing appealing to it which reflects the masthead as it can be defined as, the state of being comfortable, healthy or happy. Therefore, in the image it is reflecting how the model seems to be free in the world and how her wellbeing is a positive example for the audience.

 

 

 

 

Production Meeting Agenda for 1st Photo Shoot

Below is my Production Meeting Agenda for my First Photo Shoot

Please click on this Image to view the full PMA

Reflection

From creating a PMA (production meeting agenda), this has allowed me to have a more organised first shoot because I have written down and included photos of all the details I will need for my shoot to be successful. For example, I have include what my model will need to wear and how I would like them to act/pose. I have also been reinforced the importance of communication between me and my model so they clearly know what they are supposed to be wearing/doing in the photos. Practical planning for this shoot is vital to ensure I am incorporating all elements of Mise-En-Scene which will lead to me having more of a successful shoot as I would be hitting all areas of the criteria for a music magazine.

 

 

 

 

Star Image – Theirs and Mine

Star Image (Florence Welch)

In this task we discovered how one particular famous artist of our ‘genre‘ is presented in the media, in my case “Indie”.  We prioritised researching the Metanarrative, which can be defined as a mix of media that constructs and shapes the star in the mind of the audience. The Metanarrative is constructed through:

  • Music Videos
  • Album Art
  • Concerts
  • Lyrics from songs
  • Presence at Events (awards)
  • Social Media  

It is vital to look at the Metanarrative when looking at famous artists so we develop a further understanding on the importance of a ‘Star Image’, and how they are portrayed through the use of media language. As shown in Dyer’s Theory, his central idea was that the star image could initially be described using two key paradoxes. He states that “a star is both ordinary and extraordinary“. Ordinary meaning they are just like us (regular people), and extraordinary meaning they might be more talented, gifted etc. Florence Welch is a suitable example of Stars being ordinary and extraordinary. This is because she is ordinary in the way that she can still struggle with mental illnesses and disorders like every other individual, but also extraordinary as her career in the music industry has been a major success so far, for instance winning multiple music awards.

Star Image (Mine)

For this next task we were asked to create a collage of Mise-En-Scene to represent how we would want our front cover star to be represented in our first photoshoot. I considered the elements of MES which included:

  • Costume
  • Makeup/Hair
  • Framing & Angles
  • Props
  • Lighting
  • Setting

From my collage, some adjectives can describe how I want my star to be presented as such as, natural, laid back, authentic, seductive, edgy, confident etc. From the outfits, hair etc I have researched I think I have done a good job at having my star be viewed in that way.

Costume

For the costume I have included a leather jacket, mesh/strap/detailed top, black trousers, black boots/converse shoes and silver hoop earrings. I think this suites the Indie genre because common Indie artists clothing can be viewed as quite edgy and authentic. For instance, Florence Welch wears a lot of long, flowy, detailed dresses which shows the authenticity of her as she has her own signature clothing style and portrays her confidence as she feels comfortable in what she wears.

Makeup/Hair

For the makeup I have decided to go for quite a natural, sleek makeup look and for the hair my artist will have their hair down and preferably straight. I have chosen that the makeup/hair will have more of a natural appeal to it because they can be viewed as generally quite laid-back. This is because they are more of a DIY artist and away from the major record labels. Therefore, having a natural look will portray my artist as having a laid-back, casual, young personality.

Framing/Angle/Pose

For the framing I intend on doing a medium close up, straight camera angle and my artist tilting their head to the side slightly whilst maintaining direct eye contact with the camera. I chose to do this framing/angles/pose because it is commonly found on majority of the Indie music magazines I have researched and helps to represent the genre.

Props

For the props I have included a guitar and sunglasses in my collage. These items are ideal to use as they fit in with the stereotypical Indie genre as many artists include a guitar in their songs, and wear some sort of prop which can commonly be found in music magazines where they can be seen wearing sunglasses, hats, hair accessories etc. Therefore, I have chosen to use sunglasses in my shoot.

Lighting/Setting

For the lighting I will use ‘cool-tones’ as I think it reflects the edgy nature of the Indie genre. Likewise, for the setting I will use a solid background in the magazine front cover, for instance, a solid colour (dark shade), gradients etc. I am deciding to do this because it links in with my inspiration on other Indie music magazines and having a dominant coloured background may represent the laid-back nature of Indie artists as there’s not too much going on.

Focus forward

By doing this task, it has allowed me to discover the conventions of an Indie artist and how I can make my magazine ‘the same but different’ so I can still allow it to stand out and attract a wider audience. By including a wide range of different photos in my collage for each aspect of MES, it means that when it comes to doing my shoot I have many options to look back on, gives it a sense of creativity and enables me to have a clear understanding of what I want it to turn out like.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what am I up against – the competition?

Below is an Infographic I created on the website “Piktochart” based around Indie Pop music magazines 
Reflection
This task has allowed me to develop a greater understanding of the Indie genre. By expanding my knowledge on the genre, I can get a better idea of the media language and what hits my target audiences values and beliefs. As well as this, it’s clear to me what I need to consider to create a succesful magazine, for example a USP (unique selling point) and Hall’s Reception theory.
Adding on, I am now aware of the importance the role of social media has in relation to interacting with the audience, whether that is to promote, engage or participate.

Branding Ideas/Marketing Strategy + Mission Statement

For my music magazine I have decided to choose the genre “Indie”. The name for my music magazine is Liberty. I chose the name Liberty because it means “being free within society” which relates to Indie music as they have a sense of freedom when creating their music as they are usually free from the control of major record labels and corporations.

To ensure I maximise my sales I will consider Blumler and Katz’s Uses and Gratification theory. These include; Social Relationships, Personal Identity, Entertainment and Information. By considering these aspects of the theory, it will vitalize the appeal of the contents of my magazine and hit my target audiences values and beliefs.

I also need to put into consideration the USP, which stands for unique selling point. I will do this to guarantee my magazine differentiates from my competition and deliver a standard piece of work which will encourage my audience to buy the magazine.

Here is a World Cloud I have created that relate to what my mission statement for my magazine may include:

My Mission Statement:

“Liberty is one of the top magazines that promotes the love of Indie music. We will include all your favourite artists, exclusive interviews, upcoming tour dates, and opportunities to win concert tickets. Our magazines will make you experience a sense of community and inspire you to relate to the freedom Indie artists undergo. Our content will promote an exciting, authentic, stylish approach to the Indie Genre.”

My Tour Poster

My mood board reflection on the genre of Hip Hop:

To influence on my tour poster design, I created a mood board to portray the different types of tour posters associated with the genre of Hip Hop. By doing this, it enabled me to identify the different fonts used, where the main cover star is positioned, the types of colours used and the general layout of text.

I also took into consideration the acronym AIDA when analysing these tour posters, which stands for:

  • Attract
  • Interest
  • Desire
  • Action

These tour posters all have very similar features which makes the genre of Hip Hop recognisable when you view them.  Such as, the colour palettes, they used darker shades of colours like, red, black, dark blue, grey, orange etc. The typography of the fonts is sans serif, they are in a bigger size text and in bold which makes it stand out more and make the artist known and some have missing bits in the letters. The images/illustrations/graphics of these posters have some artists animated, only one image is commonly found (eg no insets) and the main cover star is usually positioned in the center of the poster.

All these features are vital when presenting the poster to the audience as you want to grab their attention and attract their eye so they read the poster. The genre of the poster (hip hop) would have to ensure it is portrayed in a certain way to make it make the audience have some interest in reading the poster and even the possibility of having them attending the concert. Media producers also have to put in to consideration they include having some sort of desire when creating their poster so it can reflect on their target audience so they have some sort of appeal towards it. The call to action is also important when putting together a tour poster because if the information isn’t on the poster or isn’t clear of when/where the concert is, it has the potential of audience numbers to decrease.

My Tour Poster Design

Here is my Tour Poster Self Assessment sheet:

 

 

 

 

 

My Magazine Front Page Swede

Here is my magazine swede

Original Vs My Design

My Version

We used Adobe InDesign to attempt to recreate a famous magazine front cover. I chose to recreate billboard’s front cover with Cardi B as the main cover star. When doing this task we had to carefully consider the layout/positioning of text and any additional images, the colour palette and font types.

After completing this task, I have successfully learnt how to use InDesign. For example, when editing the positioning of text, placing an image within a frame, importing different fonts, samples of colours from the photo etc. I also understand how magazines have conventional features which make up their magazine. These can include:

  • Masthead
  • Cover lines
  • Main cover star
  • Issue/Date

Reflection

With regard to what I did well:

  • I was able to find very similar fonts to the original (in particular, CARDI B text)
  • I positioned the text quite similar to the text layout of the original (eg the masthead, billboard)
  • I found my way around the software quite well in terms of finding key features such as the spacing between letters in a word

What I can improve on:

  • The colour of the box around “2020” was off the exact colour from the original and the size of it is smaller, so that could be developed
  • The lines between “Women In Music” could be more spaced out and not be close to touching the letters
  • I could change the ‘Masthead’ to be slightly more bolder so it matches the original magazine more

Focus Forward

In the future, when I am creating my music magazine, this task will have helped to develop my knowledge on how to find my way around Adobe InDesign, and what type of features on the software we can use to ensure the conventional features of a magazine are portrayed to our audiences values and beliefs, and the general theme of the magazine. For instance, if I was designing a rock/gothic magazine, I most likely would be using colours more on the dull side, eg black/grey not colours like yellow/pink.

Youtube Tutorials I Can Use In The Future:

 

A Front Cover Analysed – attracting ‘that’ audience

Here is an analysed front cover of a magazine

Reflection

In this task, I analysed an ‘Olivia Rodrigo’ music magazine which was featured on the cover of MusicWeek’s magazine. I went through and analysed the key features of a magazine which include:

  • Audience demographics
  • Audience psychographics
  • Font/typeface
  • Colour pallet
  • Images
  • Language

I also researched MusicWeek’s mission statement to get a wider range of information about the magazine and get a greater understanding of who their target audience is (demographics/psychographics).

Doing this task has developed my knowledge on how different types of magazine designs can attract different audiences and convey different narratives using media language. As well as this, I researched Hall’s Reception Theory. He states that ‘the way in which an audience has individual interpretation of a media text and that reading is a two stage process’. These two processes includes the producer encodes ideology into a text and wishes it to be read in a particular way and the audience then decodes the text, but they also bring their own ideology to the text. By knowing this, this will help to encourage me to create a stronger, more powerful music magazine to hit my target audiences values and beliefs.

Looking forward, when I create my music magazine I will ensure I include all the elements a music magazine should contain, such as, the font/typeface, colour pallet, images and language to make sure I am gratifying my target audience.