Organizing My Photo Shoots

These screen shots were taken from my phone. I created a group chat with the people I will be using as models on my magazine pages. I first introduced them to what it was that I was asking them to do and then I went into further detail of different features of the shoot so that they fully understood what they need to do. 









In this part of the conversation I described briefly what type of clothing they needed to wear in order to fit into my music magazine genre of 'alternative'. Later on in the conversation I went into more detail of what each model will be wearing at the time of the shoot and made sure they would remember to wear the clothing. 





Next I sent a picture of an 'Artrocker' alternative music magazine front cover which I had previously analysed in a textual analysis. I did this so that they had a better visual image of what was expected of them, this helped me describe the type of photograph I would be taking and using for my front cover.






I then organized when and where my photo shoot would take place. I  did this far in advance as I knew it might be difficult to organize a time which would be long enough to take the number of photographs I need and also to set up the correct lighting and location in my house. 

Photo Shoot Blog Entry

Shoots:
I will be taking two photo shoots with the same models, the first for my front cover and the second for my double page spread. For the first photo shoot I will be taking photographs of the band I have created. These photographs will be taken at different camera positions such as a long shot, a mid shot, a close up shot and extreme close up camera shot. 

All of these photographs however will either be taken at an eye-level camera angle or hip level camera angle as these are the most conventional way in which photographs are taken for an alternative music magazines. 
For my double page spread I am creating an interview with this band, therefore I will be taking photographs of the band during their 'interview' to give the page and article more of an 'exclusive' feel. I have been inspired to do this by the double page textual analysis I did of an interview with Noel Gallagher.

Location: 

I will be taking my first photo shoot at my house against an off white wall/ grey wall. I have chosen to take a photo against a plain background as I have learnt from my prelim photo shoot that it is difficult to place headlines and cover lines around a photograph with a busy background.
For the second photo shoot I will be taking photographs of the models sitting on a sofa as they are being 'interviewed'. The photos I use will be of the models in mid speech in relaxed positions to show through their body language that they are confident individuals.

Models:
My magazine pages will feature the band I have created called 'The HandPicked'. They will be featured on both my front cover and the double page spread. To create the band 'The HandPicked' I will be using two boys, 17 year old Henry and 16 year old Sam. I have chosen these subjects as they fit the 'young faced boy' look that alternative band often have. I chose to use a band as my large front cover photo because the results from my questionare showed that people who read alternative music magazine prefer bands to be the magazines main feature. 


Positions and Body Language: 

For my front cover photo shoot the models will be stood up facing directly at the camera. Henry will be the main member of the band therefore he will be positioned slightly more closer to the camera to show his importance in the band.Their facial expressions will be emotionless as this is a typical convention of how an alternative band connotes their 'identity' and 'look'. However I will also be taking photographs of my models with a slight smile to make them appear inviting and friendly. 

They will both be looking at a direct eye contact at the camera as this is a technique that all magazines used to draw the audience in to both reading and buying their magazine. However some types of direct eye contact can be off putting or patronising on music magazines in the rock or heavy metal genre, therefore I will have to make sure that the direct eye contact of my subjects come across inviting or slightly cocky. 
For the photographs on my double page spread  The photos I use will be of the models in mid speech in relaxed positions to show through their body language that they are confident individuals.

Clothing:

The dress code of the models will be conventional 'alternative' clothing. This will consist of either a buttoned up shirt or a denim jacket. I will also be making them wear similar or matching clothing as this will connote they belong in the same band and also the alternative music genre. By wearing the same dress code it will also connotes they have the same morals and opinions as each other, the audience will therefore recognise this and will relate to the band members. 

Lighting:
I will be using bright lighting to emphasise certain part of the photograph such as their faces and clothing however I will not be using unnatural lighting and i do not want the models to cast a dark heavy shadow against the white background as I will be using this backdrop as the actual background on my front cover and so do not want to spend unnecessary time editing out harsh shadows. Therefore, I will be using natural lighting by taking the photograph near a large open window in my house in the day time to allow as much light onto the models. Natural lighting will also make much fainter shadows on the backdrop. 

Contents Page Drafts

first content page draft

These are my content page drafts.
I have decided that I will be using 
my first draft as the template and
basic layout of my final contents
page because it contains many 
alternative music magazine features
for a contents page such as the four 
part grid photographs. I will also be
adding a'featured column' this will
 most likely be the second column on 
this page. 

second contents page draft

Double Page Spread Drafts

These are my double page spread drafts. I have decided that I will be using my first draft as the basic template and layout of my final double page spread. When creating these layouts I was inspired by interview article pages with Noel Gallagher in a Q music magazine issue. Particularly, the way photographs of Noel was put in a line across a double page spread, similar to my second draft.








I also like how Q's double page spread they used a large photograph of Noel and placed a pull quote around him, similar to my first draft. I will however put the headline on the second page instead of the large image on this first page as I feel this might be too cluttered for an alternative music magazine. 

Front Cover Drafts

first front cover draft

These are my two front cover drafts.
I have decided that overall I prefer
the first draft as it is less cluttered
and resembles an alternative music 
magazine. It does however leave out 
some features of a music magazine 
front cover, however this is what I have
found many alternative music magazines
do with their front covers. I will however
take elements from both covers and alter 
the draft I have chosen when making my
front cover. 

second front cover draft

Band and Music Magazine name Ideas

I have thought of several names for my music magazine, mostly inspired by songs or bands and also terms and words I thought were interesting and related to alternative music. I have now created a short list of names in which I am happy with, one of these names will be used for my magazine; Interzone, Transmission, Tessellate, AM, Youth, Re-Wired, X.

I have also already designed logos for some of these music magazine names, these of course will be altered and changed to be improved in order for my logo to look professional.

I have not yet decided if i will be featuring an alternative solo artist or a band as my main front cover photo, however if I feature a band I have come up with some band names to call them: The Handpicked, The Weekend, Tales Of Francisco, Distance.

Prelim Complete

I have now completed my prelim task, I will now be making my magazine front cover, contents and double page spread!