End of December Update Post

This month I set out with the plan to produce a first draft of my front cover, which I had achieved early because I found that once I had edited the image and decided on my burgundy colour scheme I had a lot of motivation to complete the page to the highest standard I possibly could. I worked for two weeks straight to complete this which meant that I had made up for my lack of progress during November so I could make a start on my feature pages. I now have 2 inital drafts of feature pages and a draft of my cover meaning my contents page is my main goal for next month. If I maintain this focus I should be complete ahead of schedual.

18th December (Log Of Progress)

TUESDAY 16TH DECEMBER (LOG OF PROGRESS)

At this stage I was playing around with different images I had taken and thinking of a way to link them together. I decided on the title 'ready, set stay' because it implies that the makeup will stay on rather than rubbing off or 'going' away. 

Update post (Thursday 11th December)

In this session my main focus was adding sub headings to my front cover and playing around with different font styles, colour themes and additional content. I feel that I have done very well in this lesson as I have came on a lot in comparison to last week. However I am currently behind in my production as I have a week to produce 3 other pages. 

4th December Update Post

At the weekend I took new images for my magazine which meant that apart from any trials of fonts etc previously done I was back to square one. I choose and edited my image during the week so this session involved removing any background elements that I would not want on my image, selecting a font for my mast head, placing key conventions e.g barcode, date and price and the trialling different elements to emphasis the autumn element of my magazine.

1st Step-

I removed the background from the image, sharpened features such as her hair, creases on her shirt etc so that the Image was clearer. I then began removing the background from the image in order to insert a plain coloured background which would enable me to uses a wider variety of font style and colors. I settled on the brown/beige background because it resembled autumn and gave the slightly summery images a warmer tone.

2nd Step-

The next step was to play around with font styles. I knew I wanted a rounded bold font in a cranberry coloring so I began researching and downloading fashionable fonts and then settled on a font called Bebas Neu.

To Do List (December)

Continued from last month I will focus on the production of my front cover because this is what sets the tone for the rest of my magazine. My list of things to do is very simple; 

• Complete first draft of front cover. 

End of November Update Post

There has been a lot of challenges this month which have set me back, behind schedule including a 2 week holiday to America in which I had very limited internet access. However I still managed to edit my images and while doing so I discovered that there were some major flaws with my initial photos and that they were the main problem with my struggle to start the page. So I then managed to get my cousin to allow me to take images of her as she is a model which then provided me with better quality and over all proffesional images which should give me a good foot to stand on next month.

Photoshoot 2

After looking closely at my photos I decided that It was in my best interest to re take my photos with a proper camera rather than using my iPhone, My cousin is a model and allowed me to take her photos. Because of her experience in front of the camera the poses look more professional rather than the simplistic poses I used in my earlier photos. I will still be making use of my previous photos by including them on the contents page of the magazine and on my feature article.

27th Of November (Update on Progress)

Part 1- 

For the first part of this session I began editing a different picture to those I edited last week because after reflecting on my progress and comparing it with successful brands such as Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine I felt that the images were not going to work in compelling my magazine and also would make it hard to add cover stories and sell lines over. I then chose the close up image of my model using the super smiler effect 

Part 2- 

Once I was happy with my image I began trailing different background to see which one complemented the image the most while still fitting with my intended house style and color theme. I then asked my peer which one she felt looked best and we both agreed that the white/peachy background and the dark beige colors looked the best. 

Part 3- 

I then began to play around with the model to change hair color etc in order to make it the most suitable for my magazine, One major effect I changed was the skin tone of the model, I had to decide if I felt she looked better with a tan or pale. I decided that in order to keep with the regional element of my magazine I would keep the model more tanned because it is a stereotype that people from the north wear a lot of fake tan and like the look of an intense and dark tan.

Part 4- 

In the final section of my lesson I began trailing different font styles to view their suitability with the image and color, Below is an example of one style that I trailed. 

20th Of November (update on progress)

In this session I have been focused on removing the back ground from my images and removing any flaws. It has been a while since I have used photoshop so I also used the lesson to get used to the different tools again and play about with what is possible. I came across many issues because of my lack of skills, I kept merging layers together and erasing big chunks of her body and hair making the image look ragged and unprofessional. I also played about with skin tones, brightness, highlights, shadows, teeth whitening, sharpening etc. My biggest worry now is the size of the images, image one may be too big and overpowering for a front cover because there is still a lot of text etc to add. In the lasts section of the lesson I became firm on my name 'East Coast' because it has regional connotations and I then began trailing different fonts on the image to see which had enough strength to compete with my image. 

Time Management (Magazine Production)

Regional Fashion Stores

To Do List (November)

This month I am finishing off any research and planning that I have not yet completed and begin my production. My main plans are the following;

• Create a time management plan for the whole production. 
• Begin editing all my images.
• Begin production of my front cover. 

End of October Update post

This month I have achieved a lot and feel that I am a lot closer to actually being able to produce my pieces, It has been busy trying to incorporate a lot of other coursework hand in's while maintaining the amount of work I had planned to do but I managed to achieve everything that was on my to do list which makes me think that this is month has been successful. In regards to my photoshoot planning I managed to make plans, do trials etc and take the actual images and I know have a very clear idea as to what subheadings I can put onto my front cover, website and most importantly a strong idea of the kind of article I want on my feature pages,

Photoshoot 1 Images

Follow Laura's board Magazine Images on Pinterest.

Initially I loved my first photo shoot because I had spent a lot of time deciding where would be most appropriate for my images, hair style, makeup etc but Once I looked closer at the images it was obvious that there were some that would not be suitable. The close up images were amazing quality but they were not suitable for my front cover because I wanted more of a focus on the clothing. That is when I decided that it would be more appropriate to ask my cousin if she would model for me, as a professional model herself she took over the lead and helped me get a variety of exciting and more intriquet shots. There are still some images that could be used but in both cases  there are images in which the facial expressions are wrong or the poses look to stages which means that I will have to remove them from my choices as they would ruin the overall effect of my cover and inside of the magazine.

Article Planning (Research)

http://www.refinery29.com/fall-fashion#slide-31

This website shows all of the latest fashion trends, wheres best to get them, how to wear them best etc and is perfect for helping me be able to appeal my target audience! I love the layout which also means that its influential for my own website and could be something to consider.

It is not possible to hyperlink or embed this site so I have print screen some examples of the articles I read which provided me with the most information;

Article Planning (Brain storming)

POST IT BOARD OF IDEAS (ARTICLE PLANNING)

Article Planning (Conventions)

Article Planning (INSPIRATIONS)

COMPANY MAGAZINE ARTICLES AND DOUBLE PAGE SPREADS.

Company inspires me because of the different interesting font styles that are used and carried through and because nothing looks plain. They use bright colors where they feel necessary, they over lap images in an appealing way so that no major parts of the pictures are missing and so that they still look elegant. They also incorporate technology and social media well with the use of hash tags which link to twitter and play buttons which link to music players either online or on mobile phones. They do this in a way which is sutel and not to over powering which makes it even more effective and inspiring. 

COSMOPOLITAN MAGAZINE ARTICLES AND DOUBLE PAGE SPREADS.  

     

The colour and layout of these pages are what inspires me the most. They manage to link colours which suit the personality of the brand without making them to bold and they have incorporated the main brand colour of pink throughout the pages without it being very obvious and in your face. In effect this makes sure that every page is fun and energetic while creating a memorable house style. The layouts are also fun, they use text boxes to categorize texts making it easy to use while still making everything look interesting, different font sizes, cut out images and over lapping boxes all add to the energetic feel.  

Article Planning Time Management

Photo Shoot Planning (Documents)

Photo shoot planning questions and answers. 

Location Recce 

Model Consent Form + Information Email

Photo Shoot Preparation (Makeup)

Follow Laura's board Makeup Ideas on Pinterest.



I like this makeup tutorial because it uses colors and tones that are perfect for autumn makeup, it can be worn toned down with a day time outfit or vamped up for a night time look. Her steps are clearly shown which will make it easy for me to recreate the look onto my model, I also own the same lipstick that is used and have similar shades of eyeshadows in my urban decay naked pallets.




This tutorial uses the same gel eyeliner as I own which means hopefully I can get the same results if i closely follow the video. The look will work for any more toned down looks i decide to photo and it is a typical task for girls to get the perfect winged eyeliner so it would make a good article in my magazine.



This tutorial is a more intense look, but again, I own all of the makeup used to create the look which means that hopefully I can achieve the same results. This look is good for the front cover of the magazine because it is intense and catches your attention. It would be best to pair this look with one of my nude mac lipsticks because it may be too intense to match it with a cranberry lipstick.

MAKEUP TRIAL

I was happy with how this trial went as I achieved the kind of style I want to use in my photo shoot, I also used the same model as I will be using in the shoot so that I could practice on the same style eyes and skin tone etc. I like the gold inside of the eyes as it brightens up the whole look and gives it a warm tone, the cranberry lipstick is my favorite however I would like the color to be more intense for the actual shoot so that it shows up well on camera, I would also use more intense highlighting and contouring so that her face is more defined in the images. 

Photo shoot Preparation (Costume)

Follow Laura's board Costume Ideas on Pinterest.




This video shows the kind of clothing that every wardrobe should have during autumn/winter. The clothes include a faux fur jacket, combat boots, big jumpers and ripped jeans which is all things I am hoping to be able to include in my photos. This video also acts as inspiration for a possible article in my magazine because I could utilize the idea of "20 essentials" or simply use her tips with my own spin on them.




Although some looks seen in this video are not appropriate for my target audience, others are perfect and totally capture what I want to achieve in my images. I love the faux fur jacket and the mixed patterned scarfs!

OUTFITS MADE ON POLYVORE.COM

Photo Shoot Preperation (Hairstyle)

One idea for hair styles on my photos is Long and wavy because in my opinion it goes well with autumn clothing such as big jumpers and coats while adding a more feminine edge to them. This tutorial is great because it explains step by step how I can achieve this look and I plan on practicing this hairstyle on my model before creating the look for the shoot.

This second hair tutorial is one of my favorite hairstyles because it is modern and young which means it will appeal to my target audience but also looks nice and fits the season. When wearing simpler colours and tones in autumn it is always good to play around with your hair more and experiment with different styles, I hope that by doing that in my shoot my target audience I will be encouraging readers to do the same.

  Follow Laura's board Hairstyle Ideas on Pinterest.


HAIRSTYLE TRIAL

I was over the moon with how my initial hair trial went, I like the bounce that using heated rollers gives and I also like how it looks elegant and feminine which fits in with the representations I am trying to create with my brand. One problem I have discovered with this style is that the curls seem to drop out very fast meaning capturing images with such a strong bounce etc is going to be hard, I plan on using hair serum and styling gel to hopefully keep the style in place for the duration of the shoot. 

Photo shoot Time Management

My 2 Biggest Threats

Competitors Powerpoint

To Do list (October)

This month my main focus on finishing all of my research and starting the actual planning. I want to look more into what I will actually include in my magazine rather than what people want me to put in my magazine etc. My plans are the following;

• Photo shoot preparation (mise-en-scene, documents etc)
• Article Planning (inspiration, brains storming) 
• Take magazine images

End of September Update Post

This month I completed a lot more than I had initially planned for, I not only completed research into the connotations of magazines, websites and billboards from the fashion genre I also denotated three examples from competitors such as company and cosmopolitan for each of my production tasks.While doing this I created pintrest boards of my inspirations for each section  which I can use to refer back to during production and planning if I become stuck for ideas etc. I also managed to complete target audience interviews, profiles, surveys etc building a strong base for my audience.

Moving on from this, I found myself with time to complete extra research which would aid me in my planning such as facial expression theories, colour theories, pricing surveys and one thing that I believe will really give me an advantage in my planning was research into the north east region. I found videos of inspiration from the north east and made a mood board of what sums up the north.

I am very happy with how much I have achieved and I would not change anything because I feel I have worked very efficiently. I hope to maintain this over the coming months.

Facial Expression Theory

In my images I will be using the chocolate box expression for some shots because it is inviting and warm. The model does not look like she is trying to invite males in like the facial expression that would be seen in magazines such as FHM because my target audience is predominantly female, her closed mouth smile simply looks warming and sweet. My main facial expression I want to use in my work is the super smiler because it makes my magazine cover look happier and friendlier, the pose is demanding meaning that it will catch the audiences attention however it Is not too intense that they may be put off buying it. The pose is relatable and implies that the magazine, therefore, is also relatable. I do not believe that a romantic or sexual stare would be appropriate for my magazine or my target audience and therefore do not plan on using it.

Which Publisher Is Best?

Colour Theory by Laura Bolden

This has taught me a lot when it comes to the colour scheme of my magazine because it allows me to make a statement. For example If i use 'Analogous' colours burgundy, orange and yellow the make a good combination but allow for the burgundy colour to take control of the magazine. Where as if I use complimentary colours red and green they will both take equal dominance. In the fashion industry it is often a mix of the two meaning that I will use both complimentary colouring and analogous in order to emphasis the fashion elements and the autumn theme. 

It is also likely that my target audience will relate more to colours which suit each other and blend well together rather than being challenged by a multitude of contrasting bright colours. Its unlikely they will react to a nature theme which creates harmony because they are looking for something outstanding that grabs their attention rather than something which looks almost dull. 

Fashion Magazine Publishers

Fashion Magazine Publishers

Log Of Progress (Monday 22nd September)

So far I feel that I am doing well with regards to research into existing magazines and what is expected in them, I am now beginning to tackle the regional element of my magazine and how I am going to make it regional while looking into my target audience and carrying out surveys and hopefully interviews to find out what is wanted from my magazine. Because I am spending so much time doing research in planning, in order to give me the best product possible, I am In risk of falling behind my schedule. I still haven't begun taking images or been on a location scout which needs doing within this next week, I need to spend more time focusing on this area to ensure that my magazine, website and billboard will all be completed on my set date. 

Youtube Video Inspiration (North East)

This video shows images a man has taken across the north eats of england over the past 3 years, I like it because i feel that it captures the beauty of the region and shows everything thats good about it. some of the locations shown would be brilliant for my magazine and have inspired me to try out different times of the days for my photos. locations shown include marsen rock, lumley castle, the sage in gateshead and many more.

Mood Board Of North East Region

Price Survey

Analysis of Audience Survey

Target Audience Survey

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.


Inorder to get results from my target audience I shared it to my facebook profile.

Target Audience Description

Playing dress up never ends, girls who read my magazine live by this motto. They love to dress up but equally enjoy simple day to day fashions, they dress to impress everyday and dream of owning the latest fashion trends. However she doesn't just wear the trends, she creates them. 

They have a strong online presence. Shes on twitter and facebook, shes obsessed with instagram, she has her own blog and she loves spending time on pintrest. Her life is captured through the lense of her camera and her every day trials and tribulations are shared through her mobile phone. 

Our girls like to be individual, however they want to manage this on a budget. They don't want to be shown high range fashion that they can not afford however they love finding the same look without the bank breaking price tag. They are smart and savvy and come to my magazine to search for street styles, budget fashions, high street ranges, celebrity inspirations and beauty tips. 

They are bored of the same old fashion magazines and want something fresh and new that stands out and looks like nothing they have ever seen, they appreciate the type of paper used, the colour schemes and the font choices. They don't turn an eye to anything. 

She is inspirational, fashionable, confident, quirky, created, ambitious and cool. 

Typical Target Audience Member

Target Audience Profiles

Brief target audience information

Target Audience Interview Reflection

I learnt a lot by doing this interview because not only did it improve my practical skills in using the camera, using different camera angles and shots and mainly using video editing sites such as I movie. It taught me a lot about what is needed in my magazines in not only the content but in the pricing and layout. 

When asked about what a magazines my target audience read Vogue was mentioned because of the variety that was inside. This has changed my view point because my initial plan was to link the same stories from front cover to my double page spread and then too my website but hearing this taught me that I would have to in-corporate different fonts, colours and mainly stories if I wanted to maintain my audience and have a chance at competing with big competitors. 

As expected, Topshop and River Island were the two most prominent brands that were mentioned because they design and make clothes in which my target audience want and need. They are also well established meaning they spring to peoples minds as soon as clothing is mentioned. They also do ranges linked directly to the season so in autumn they pick up on trends in regards to jackets, jumpers and boots which are staple pieces for any girls wardrobe at this time of year. This allowed me to be more confident about my choice to feature high street clothing and base my brand around being affordable yet stylish but it also changed my mind slightly because it made me think about how many exisiting blogs, websites and magazines that focus primarly on the typical high street brands, inspiring me to look for hidden gems in the north east that are affordable.