PhotoShoot

I took my photo's today for my front cover, contents and double page spread. Im still waiting on them to upload and plan to take a few more so I have a wider range of outfits and models. I found taking the photo's a lot harder than I thought as although in my head I knew what sort of photo's I wanted and what poses I wanted but getting them to look perfect took a long time. My research helped me a lot with what clothes I styled my models in, their make up and hair. I also recorded video evidence of me taking the photo's and fixing hair, make up and props etc.

To take my photo's I used a FinePix S9500 and to video tape the photoshoot I used a Sanyo Xacti 10Mega Full HD camera. My location was a lightly coloured wall and carpet so that I can easily edit on photoshop. I have learnt how to use a professional camera and how important lighting, camera angles, location and props are in taking a single photo. I also used a Canon Speedlite external flash to get the perfect photo lighting where needed.

Magazine Mock Up

This is my magazine layout so far, I am working on completing it in colour now.

FlatPlan

When magazines companies want to create their magazine they use a flatplan to see a clear layout. I created my flatplan so that I can see what I need to include on my contents and also so I know what order I want my magazine to go in. I based my idea's on research of the order of Country Music Magazines so that it would fit in well with the conventions and genre. Typically I have found that Country Music Magazine's have around 35-40 pages which is why I have included roughly this many pages in my magazine. I have also taken into account my audience's feedback as to what I should include in my magazine and how many images they would like to see. I did at first find it difficult putting my flatplan in order but as I got into the flow and looked through all my research I am now pleased with how it turned out.

Photoshoot Plan

I plan to take my photo's next week as this is the only time my models and I have found available and until then I will be finishing my flatplan and creating my mockup magazine. I have found trying to find a time to take my photo's a problem but hope to get them done as soon as I can.
I'm going to take my photo's against a light coloured wall so that I am easily able to photoshop my background colour onto it.
Facial Expressions: Happy, Smiling. To give the magazine a fun, enjoyable vibe.
Camera Shots/Angles: Direct Shot, Natural Shot (not posed), Medium Shot (high angle/eye level)
Props: Guitar
Hair: Down, Wavey/Curley
Make-Up: Natural
Clothes: Jeans, Checkered Shirt

Possible Locations

My two options for locations are either Outdoors or on a Plain White background.
From my research I have learnt that the background image for a front cover is either outdoors in a typical country setting (grass, natural, stables,peaceful e.t.c) or a lightly coloured background.

For example:

I think taking the photo's on a plain white backdrop and then photoshopping the colour will be the best option as time and the weather/daylight hours restrict me from getting the perfect outdoor setting that I want. I have decided to either go for a pastel green colour like the first picture of a pastel pink. 

Country star media pack from beckadavis

Planning

What have I found out about my genre and artists from my genre?
I have found out that my genre's target audience is aimed at female and male ages 14 - 24. From researching Country magazines I have found out that light, natural pastel colours are mainly used for there colour swatches. The artists on the front cover usually have a direct look and are dressed in clothes associated with the country genre such as cowboys boots, ripped jeans, checkered shirt, and dress.

What have I found out about my audience's needs?
From my questionnaire results I found out that 44% of my audience were aged 21-26 with with a close 37% of them being 14-20. Also the most popular country band/artists were Carrie Underwood with 40% of the votes and Taylor Swift with 39% of the votes. Rascal Flatts and Jason Aldean were both also voted so I will include mentions of all of these artists in my magazine but will try to focus more on Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift and my own artist(s).  The favourite country music magazine was Country Weekly so I will do some more research into what makes this magazine so popular by looking at the magazine itself and its media pack.Weekly was the most popular time frame for a magazine so this has helped me decide that my magazine will be published weekly also. The most popular price was £1+ I feel this was the most popular option because people want to get what they pay for so paying only 50p or so they don't expect very much from the magazine if they even buy it at all. By making my magazine more than £1 I feel that this will encourage people to buy and expect a good magazine which they will recieve. My colour swatch will be Pastel Blue, Pastel Yellow and Pastel Pink because this was the most popular option in both my questionarre and my poll. My double page spread will feature an artist interview and part of a photoshoot. This was most popular with the audience.




What I have found about existing music magazines for this genre/target audience:

• This genre of music magazine is popular within it's genre but compared to magazines such as NME it is not as popular and known within every genre.
• Ad's included in this magazine advertise things such as TeenHoot and Camplified.
• Within the whole magazine there isn't any bright and bold colours as this tends not to fit in with the conventions of a country music magazine.

My artist and their images:
Clothes: Ripped Jeans, Country Boots, Checkered Shirt,

Hair: Down, Wavy/Curly, Lots of volume.

Make-Up: Natural Make-up >>>>>>>




Setting: Taken Outdoors, Middle of the day to get the lighting that I want.





Mise En Scene:
2 models for my 2 different artists to give the magazine some variation.
Location: Outdoors, Back Garden.
Props: Guitar
Facial Expressions:
Camera Shots/ Angles: Direct Shot, Natural Shot (not posed), Medium Shot, (high angle/eye level)