Double Page Spread - second approach

I decided to try a different approach when creating my double page spread as I wasn't very happy with the outcome of the first one. I think this version looks a lot stronger and unique. The text stands out a lot more, as its in grey text boxes which are on a white background, unlike the other double page spread where I put the text straight onto a background image. This page also looks a lot more interesting as the use of pictures go well together, as the coloured image, breaks up the black and white image with the black and grey use for the text and parts of the background.






I got my inspiration to create this double page spread from an article made by ELLE. I thought that it looked different and it was an interesting approach to a written article. I took some ideas from this page but I made it my own when it came to recreating my own double page spread.

Comparison Post

When comparing my magazine front cover to a real magazine front cover, there is a lot in common. As both mine and the real cover have a main colour scheme, and this is shown in specific parts of text that may be more important or need to start out more. Also the main article part of text, is the largest and covers part of the image.

11-12-2014

In todays lesson I have carried on putting together my double page spread. My first choice of images lead to some problems with the text not showing up correctly and the models head was cut off in the photograph. I tried a few different photographs together and finally decided on the two I have used above. I decided to use a colour image on the right as my pull quote says 'add some colour into your life' which reflects from the black and white image on the right hand side. Over all I am happy with the initial outcome of this double page spread so far but i will continue editing it, and adding the actual article.

Todays Lesson

Todays lesson  I have added in all the text on my contents page. Seeing it as the final product, I think the set out of the image and text works well and looks very eye catching. It also sticks with the colour scheme, using black and different shades of pink to break up the page. Also the image fits well to the left, leaving enough room for the text on the right. The facial expressions of the model also work well as she's looking directly at the camera, making it more personal towards the target audience. This page also shows the regional side of my magazine, as its very unique and is different to most other  magazines on the market.

Todays Lesson

- Continue working on contents page

Creating my contents page

I have started to created my contents page for my fashion magazine. I used an image which works nicely at the side of the page, which leaves enough room for the actual text as this is mainly a text based page. I added in sub-heading of Cover Lines and Features. I put these in pink to stick with the colour scheme on the front page and so it all fits together. The masthead is also in the same text as the title of my front page which makes it consecutive and makes it flow.

Website update

I have begun to create the home page of my magazines website. I have only added images, a menu and the masthead logo. I have kept with the pink shades of the colour scheme, so it links up to the magazine. The roll over of the images is also a bright pink, which shows femininity. I have used a flowing italic text for my main buttons as it makes my website look sophisticated.

Targets for today

- Keep creating my main products, mainly my magazine pages.

Update post

In todays lecture I have been making edits to my front page. I changed the image that I started with as i think the current one looks a lot better. I also added on all of the cover lines and pull quotes. I am happy with how my front cover looks at the moment. I have been moving the text around to find the most appropriate place to put it, so it is clearly visible. However I will keep coming back to this page to make slight changes or to add things in to improve the quality.

Choice of billboard images

I have chosen to use the middle image for my billboard, as it looks more interesting because of the location where it was shot. Also the black and white makes it different to usual billboards but it makes the image look strong. However I will have to consider changing the colour of text as the black blends in with the background a bit too much. I will either change the colour or add a black box and lower its opacity and put white text over the top so it stands out. I will also add in the website address just under the title. This billboard clearly shows that the genre is fashion, as the mise en scene makes the image a lot more interesting rather than just using a usual white background. The use of the location makes the billboard more eye catching as you don't usually see big billboards without a white background. This also signifies my billboard being regional as the choice of image is very different to usual fashion advertisements. The choice of billboard also fits in with my target audience, as the model is in the target audience which will make it more appealing to other people like her. Also at looking at someone in the same age range, will be more appealing as it's usually taken from the idea of the specific target audience of young females in todays society.

Masthead

These are the choices of which masthead i am going to use for my media products. I decided to use both text and interpret silhouettes of fashion models posing.
The first masthead I created was quite simple. After I chose the name, I then chose a font to use and made sure both words were the same size. I then created a line which symbolises a runway, with silhouettes of three models showing different poses along it. I thought this would capture the genre of fashion well from a first glace.
The second masthead I created was a bit more complicated. I still used the same name and font/size. I then added in the runway line but much closer to 'WAY'. I then added in two silhouettes, one leaning aganist the 'W' and the other in a shape symbolising a 'Y'. This idea was a lot more creative but it doesnt look understandable and clear when an audience first looks at it. I also got my class mates' opinions on which masthead I should use, then I came to the finial decsion of using the first one.

Images used in fashion magazines.

The positive representations of fashion magazines is that the models used on the front of the magazine are dressed quite respectable, formal and natural. They're not too overly dressed but the aspect of fashion is still there. The choice of images helps the magazine relate to their target audience because the target audience are mainly looking for the fashion and woman who look good in the clothes the audience aspire to look good themselves in. Even though the models are airbrushed, they still look quite natural and don‟t have too much make up on and this gives the models a natural look to not put bad inspiration to younger audiences.  The captions mainly used on the front are about fashion and they don't include much about trying to look better or about how to improve the look of the audience reading the magazine and stresses more on clothing and because it's mainly the clothes included that will appeal to them. The models are naturally posing and don't look uncomfortable in the way they are posing. 
The average age range for these magazines range from 14 up to 45 and the models used in these covers range from 20 up to 40 so they use models which the target audience can relate to. The models wear clothes which would appeal to an the specific audience and doesn't really appeal to a male audience because they are covered up where as if it was for a male audience the magazine would show women as sexual objects such as on the cover of FHM or ZOO, they sexually exploit the women on the cover as it's a different audience and they are aimed at a male audience. Men aged 16-35 are the target audience of these magazines and the models used on the cover are shown as sexual objects which appeal to the men reading as the way they are shown and the clothes they are wearing and the jewelry they wear too.  Also for women on the front of magazines aimed at men, the women are shown in a younger, more sexual way than the models on the front of these magazines because men require different needs to 
women and this would appeal to men more than these models are.

Update

Things going well - Information is a lot more clear as to how my products are going to be created and how i want them to look as a result. This gives people looking at my blog a lot better idea of what my products are aiming to look like. 

Things going not so well  - I think everything is going well and i am up to date with all planning and research 

Reader Profiles

Reader Profiles

My reader profiles show the primary target audience who I think will be interested in buying and reading my magazine. I think they would be interested in reading about both fashion for themselves and fashion icons who they may look up to. I also think they would enjoy reading tips about clothing and given references to places that may sell cheap or advised clothing for their age range. I think that the profiles of these females are my primary audience as they are teenagers, however I think my magazine will appeal to a wider audience such as female aged 14-25. This is the range of people I think will buy and read my magazine, especially my primary audience.

Reader Profile

Costume, makeup and hair in fashion magazines

Categorising female facial expressions

I think in my media products I will use both invitational and chocolate box. Even though invitational facial expressions are usually used on magazine which are trying to attract men, in my case, my target audience is female but other females who influence them have the same effect. Also chocolate box is the most popular facial expression to use as looks both classy and very simple. I think this choice will attract my target audience of young females very well as it will look eye catching, as well as their inspirations that look amazing on front covers.

Magazine survey results

These are the results which I have gathered from creating my magazine survey. I mainly tried to get people who are in the range of my target audience to fill it in so the results could give me more of an incite into what my audience expect and want to see within a high street fashion magazine. I also tried to keep my audience regional as my magazine will be regional and the results could have differed from people from different regions. My results showed me that most of my audience are students and would pay around £1 - £2 pound for a magazine, and they only sometimes buy them, which would benefit a magazine who releases monthly. My results also show that my audience prefer to read fashion and gossip magazines, and the model is the most important on the front of a magazine which I know now that I have to make sure that my model, clothing and hair are all really eye catching. My audience also said it was important to use celebrities within magazines, which means they like to influential icons to be included in fashion magazines so I will take note of this when choosing my models.

Fashion Genre

I have decided to base my fashion  products on high street fashion. As I think this style of fashion is most known about as the clothing is sold in most high street shops such as Topshop and River Island which are the most common fashion outlets at the moment. This will benefit my target audience as my target audience is the same as what these fashion stores aim to. This will then bring in the correct audience and more of them as I will feature clothing that they are interested in. As high street fashion now overlaps with other areas of fashion, this will mean I am able to use small amounts of different fashion styles which fit in with high street stores, such as 90's fashion, urban and grunge.

Competitors

Schedule for September and October

At the end of this month I have managed to complete a recee which helped me before I went to do a photo-shoot. I took a lot of photographs for my products and put them all onto my blog to store this information, and then I chose which ones to use so they were ready to edit. After I edited the photographs I made sure all of this was on my blog and everything else was updated.

At the end of this month I created another recee but this time to do with a photo-shoot that would be taking place outdoors on location. I updated my blog so it was up to date before I went on to take the photographs. I also checked the weather forecast in advance and it was forecast sunny so I arranged with my model the time and day to go to the location to take the photographs. After I uploaded all of this to my blog I decided to start planning to do an interview with my target audience to get more information around this area before creating my main tasks. This interview went well and it gave me a lot of information which was beneficial when creating my products and it over all helped a lot.

Location Scout

These are where i will be taking most of my photographs for my magazine. I will be using a studio a  lot as this emphasis's the fashion genre a lot more as the photographs can be made specifically to make the clothing stand out or any other part of the model which is trying to be shown. Also in the studio, photographs can be taken any time no matter what the weather is which is beneficial. However i will want to take some photographs down my local park as this will give the magazine a bit more of an interesting look. It will also mean i can use the clothing of my choice in an outside location where it fits in place. This will depend on the weather when taking these photographs as if it rains i won't be able to get my model to stand in mood, and also it would make the photographs look bad. I think that these location choices will fit in well with the genre of fashion. This is because using areas like parks, makes the mise en scene a lot more interesting and can bring more of a real look to the model and the clothing that they are wearing, as different clothes fit to different locations and outside situations. A studio is the most known place to shoot images for a fashion magazine, as the images always have high key lighting and white backgrounds. This ensures that the model gets full attention as the background is not distracting at all, which draws more attention to the model and their choice of clothing. High key lighting is essential when taking photographs for a fashion magazine, as they need to be bright and clear enough to see both the models makeup and clothing so they look appealing to the target audience. The target audience of young females are drawn to these kind of photographs as they have more than likely been edited and models being shot in the studio are usually fashion icons which my target audience looks up to for inspiration.

I considered other locations such as a beach but as I thought further into it I realised it wouldn't be a good location for my fashion shoot. This is because coastal areas are mostly always really windy, which would ruin the models look in the images. Also if I was using a tripod or any props, these could get blow over and not usable. Also as it is winter, the beach is usually dark, and miserable at this time of the year which would not make a great look to my magazine as I want high key photographs which stand out against the mise en scene. Over all I think I chose the locations wisely and they worked well for myself and the models and the results were really good.

Photographs

These are a group of photographs which have been taken over a period of time which I put together into the ones which I think are good enough to be used in my media products. I think these photographs will appeal to my target audience as the use of clothing is high-street, and the models are the age of the audience which I am trying to attract which helps when it comes to choosing which clothes and make up for them to wear in the photoshoot. These photographs will also keep the magazine regional as they are very original and the clothing differs from high street party wear to high street every day clothing, which means a wider range of audience will be interested. I also think that the outcome of these images are very strong.

Colour Scheme

These are the main colours which ill be using throughout my magazine. I chose to use a selection of different pinks as this is put across as a feminine colour as my target audience are females. Also this these pink colours are easy on the eye and don't make pages look too much or too busy. They will also show up on most coloured background which is helpful. Also i have chosen to use simple black and white to break up the pinks and i needed different colours to make some parts of text stand out more than others so i can add in pull quotes and cover lines. Also my using a continuous colour scheme this creates a unique look for my magazine and people with associate them with it, as not many magazines use pink shades as a main colour. I think the choice of colour iv chosen work really well with the genre of fashion, and shades of pink are usually associated with the female fashion industry as its seen to be a feminine colour. These colours will also help my magazine become more known about and unique in it's region. As my magazine is a regional magazine, I have chosen colours which are not usually used in fashion magazines, therefore when audiences see this specific colour scheme they will relate it to my magazine and know what to expect. The shades of pink also clearly relate to the target audience of young females even though this a stereotyping what females like to see. Even though some females may prefer other colours, the choice of pink will straight away signify that the magazine is aimed at females rather than the male audience. 

Photographs

 These are the photographs that I have taken which I will feature in my magazine. The model is wearing high street fashion so it fits in with the genre of magazine. I used a lot of eye contact in the images also as this makes the photographs feel more personal towards the reader. The model is also advertising make-up as well as the fashion. As my website will feature a beauty page, this will all link up, as it completes the outfit and its also something the target audience is interested in. However I will be taking more photographs of this model and different models, to make the magazine more interesting and use a wider selection of clothing to keep the reader indulged.

Photographs I probably wont use :

I might not use this photograph as the lights seemed to blast out a bit of the models leg, leaving a white blurred area which ruins the image. Also the models pose isn't very well thought about and doesn't give the right feel to the audience as its very simple and the model doesn't look very comfortable which will make the audience feel the same. 

I also do not think that I would use this photograph as the model is not in the middle of the shot and the background of one side a slight grey which may be difficult to edit. There is no real pose being used either, which would not work well within a fashion magazine, as there are a lot of poses used in real media products. 

Update

Whats going well 
-Time management
-Information on other products
-Expanding my ideas on my products


Whats not going so well
-Add more visual inspiration for my products
-Add more information about products to make them imaginable

Billboard deconstruction

Lighting - The lighting on this billboard is quite bright, to emphasis the clothes and accessories used which are being advertised. There is still a lot of highlights and shadows, which make the image look strong and interesting. Also the light is pointing mainly at the two females rather than the small section which is showing the male model. The lighting makes the models features stand out, and makes the make up stand out against the clothes which are the main feature.

Colour - The colour on this billboard is quite simple as it has been kept in colour as this draws more attention to the clothing and the selection of colours used. On this billboard, the main colours used within the clothing are shades of brown, apart from the males blacks suit. As the colours all relate to each other it makes the billboard easy to look at and shows how well the chosen clothes go together.

Layout - The layout of this billboard is simple. As it is one main image taking up the full space, with a small amount of text covering a slight bit of the least important part of the image. As the text is not covering over the two female models which are advertising the clothing means that the models are still clearly visible and the one word doesn't take away the attention from the fashion aspect of the advertisement.

Font/text - The font is very simple and spaced out. It is big enough to be able to read from a distance but doesn't take the attention away from the fashion side of the advertisement. The text says 'GUCCI' which is the name of the brand of clothing which the billboard is advertising. As this brand is very well known, this is why it only needs one word to grab peoples attention and audiences already know quite a bit information about this fashion brand.

Website deconstruction

Text - All of the text on the front of this website is fashion related as this what the audience expects to read when they visit the website. Each link on the left has something different to do with a fashion related area such as beauty, accessories and fashion shows. This website gives a wide range of things to look at all to do with the fashion industry. The longer parts of text are kept to be short and punching so it stands out and looks interesting. The text used also makes the products look appealing and makes the audience want to look for more information about that products. Also this website contains text showing 'todays new' which is larger than other parts of text so it stands out more.

Font - All the font on the Vogue website is kept simple so all audiences can understand it and it is clear to see. It also doesn't look messy even though there is a fair bit of text on the page. All of the subtitles and body text in the same. It is all small and spaced out so it is approachable. The masthead 'VOGUE' uses the same font as it does on all of the magazines which relates them to each other and audiences know what to associate that font to. The font of 'todays news' is in italics as it is starting a new section of information for the audience to read. This also makes it stand out more from other sections of text.

Layout - The layout of this website is very approachable by a full range of audiences. This is because it is all set out cleanly and it doesn't look too busy which would scare off the audience. It is all central and the more important parts of text stand out as they should and have been expected to. I will aim to create my website like this, being neatly set out with enough space between each section making it easy to look at and understand.

Content - The content of this website has all of the expected fashion options. As all of the different page links on the left give a huge range of different information to look through. Also the first front page has continuing information of news down the page as usually this would be under its own sub-heading like the others. This is well designed as it is quick to get to and most users will want to get to the news first as they will like to keep up to date with new fashion information. On fashion websites it is important to make sure that there is not too much information on one page as this would overload the page and make audiences not want to try too hard to be able to understand the page.

Font ideas

Lithos Pro

Lucida Calligraphy

Orator Std

These are the three choices i had to chose from for the font of my masthead. I thought all of these fonts work well with the fashion genre as they are very simple but give off a sophisticated look. Overall i decided to go with the first font as i think iv never seen this kind of font used on a magazine before and i thought it would make mine more unique. 

Masthead ideas.

Overall I have decided to call my magazine 'Runway' as i think it works well with the fashion genre and also indicates to the audience straight away that the magazine is about fashion. As a runway is the highest know about thing in the fashion industry as this is the place where fashion designers from all over the world resort to, to share their work. Runway is also short and snappy which would mean it will be remembered by the audience as there is no other magazine in this area with this title or anything like it.

Recee - Studio

the ‘recce’

1.    Are there any potential hazards that could pose a health and safety risk where your photo shoot will take place (trailing cables/traffic/other objects )?

There could be training cables, from the studio lights and possibly could be a risk of tripping over them. Also there could be the risk of tripping over the bulky stands of the lights which will take up a lot of space. Another potential hazard could be the hot bulbs which are used for the very bright lights to light up the model and the background, even though these are covered, bulbs can sometimes pop which means there will be glass on the floor. 

2.    What will you do to ensure these risks are minimised?
I will make sure that the cables are neatly put to a side where they can't be tripped over. I will also warn the model for their safety about the bulky stands and hot bulbs, so both me and the model know about the risks and know to be very careful. 

3.    Will the time of day/weather affect the outcome of the photos? Have you allowed for this?
No as i will be in a studio.

4.    Have you considered the background to your photos, particularly if taken outside? How will you ensure you will get the background you want?
I will be using a simple all white background as i don't want the background to take attention from the clothing and the model. 

5.    Have you considered lighting? What about the ‘problems’ of natural lighting, either outside, or streaming through a window? Will you need to use a flash? Have you considered reflective objects that might spoil the effect?
The lighting will be artificial from the studio lights which will light up both the model and the background and will give a more professional look to the photographs. 

6.    Do you need permission to take photos in the place/venue you have in mind?
Yes I will need to book the photography studio so i know no one else will need to use it during the time me and model will be using it as this could be an inconvenience. 

7.    Do you need to book time in a room (eg the photography studio)?
Yes i need to book a time to my needs. 

8.    Are other people/crowds likely to be an issue for you? What have you done to ensure that it will not spoil the effect?
No they will not be as me and my model will be the only ones in the photography studio, as of the reason i needed to book it for myself. 

9.    Are you reliant on lifts/props/friends’ equipment/models? How have you planned that these things will come together at the appointed time? Plan B?
I will need models to take my photographs as they are the main subject and i have arranged time slots in which both me and the model have time to take the photographs. If something comes up that stops this from happening, i will have to rearrange the time slot of the studio which i had booked. 

10. Finally, have you thought of every eventuality…?
Yes i have thought of every outcome, both the bad and the good and i will be able to continue which ever it may be. 

Photoshoot planning document

Media Production

Photo shoot planning document

What emotional impact do you want your photography do have upon the reader? How?

 I want my audience to feel intrigued by the photographs which i will used, specially by the fashion and make up and this is what will be used to attract the audience. This will be done by taking a shoot of some models, using high street fashion garments, ones which the audience could then purchase them selves; this would then make it a lot more appealing towards them. 

What personnel do you need? Who are you going to photograph?

 I will photograph young females who wear high street fashion clothing and are interested in the fashion industry as this will give a better look than someone who isn't too bothered about how they look.

What props will you need?

 I will need clothing and make up.

How are you going to emphasise colour?

 I will connect the colours on the model, to the text that i will use for the text surrounding on the front cover. I will also use more feminine colours such as pinks, purples and reds. 

Have you briefed your personnel/models?

 yes i have informed them about the photo shoot. 

What lighting will you need? Any other equipment?

 I will be using high key studio lighting, to ensure that the model is very clear and the clothes stand out as much as possible.

Where will you shoot? Will you need a backdrop?

 I will be shooting in a photography studio, therefore the background will already be white and not taking attention away from the model.

Make-up? Costume?

Make up will be the models choice of how they would go out every day, and the costume will be the models high street clothing used to draw in an audience.