The Photo Shoot

For taking my images I used my own camera as I knew how to use it. When carrying out my photo shoot I made sure that I considered mis-en-scene: location, lighting, costumes, make-up and props.

When doing my photo shoot I decided to use people who liked the music that my magazine was based around, I did this because they would dress how the target audience for my magazine would dress.

I organised my models for the photo shoot by telling them to wear what they felt comfortable in, so it would express themselves. For the photos that I wanted to use as my posed images I chose to use a white background, therefore I arranged to meet them where I could take a photo with a simple background which I could easily edit. For the photos that I wanted to be used as paparazzi photos I arranged to meet them at specific locations to represent their lives out of the music scene.

For my band photos I took lots of photos, so I could get several poses and be able to compare them to see what would be the best. Therefore there were some photos which I did not chose, for example I tried to get an image of one of them standing up and the other squatting down, however they were too far apart from each other and it did not look very appealing.

Analysis of central images for front cover:

For my main photos of the band, I chose for the girls not to use props and let them dress how they wanted to, so they could feel relaxed and not be shy.

- Wearing dark clothes, against a white background, makes the band stand out more
- Wearing own clothes, shows their own style and makes them feel comfortable
- Make-up not drastic, as it would be over the top and not represent themselves
- Mode of address: Direct, connection between them and reader
- Kept to a white background as these will be used as main images. Also they're easy to cut out and edit on photoshop
- The lighting which I used was light, in order to reflect their youth and that they are a new band - In the first image, they both have a small smile, suggesting their friendliness
- On the second image, they are both close together, suggesting a close relationship

I chose to use the first image to be the central image on my music magazine covers I preferred how they were posing and standing, and did not think that the second image did not represent the band that much.

Analysis of three smaller images for front cover:

I took three other images to use on the front of my music magazine.

- Props: mp3 in his hand to show that he’s involved with music
- He is sitting down to show he’s laid back
- He is wearing dark clothes, in order to reflect that he is a serious person
- The objects in the background will be cut out i.e the poster and the other chair
- Posed image: as he is in an interview for the magazine
- Not smiling shows his attitude
- Against a white background, which will help me when I edit the image on Photoshop
- Mode of address: Indirect, no connection with the reader, connected with the words that I will use on the front cover though "growing up in the hoods", suggests that he is an individual
- Wearing own clothes, represents his style and shows that he is a rapper (wearing hat, scarf etc.)



- Prop: umbrella, ‘paparazzi’ shot therefore it looks more like she was ‘papped’ outside on a random rainy day. Also implies that she does not want to be seen, hiding herself

- Also on the phone, to make the image look like she has been ‘papped’ too, leaves reader wondering who she is on the phone to

- Costume: wearing a floaty top, her feature in this magazine is that it is suspected that she is pregnant, therefore wearing this will make it seem more believeable. Wearing lots of accessories

- Out on her own and not looking as glamourous, because it is a 'paparazzi' shot

- Looking at the ground, suggests that something is wrong or maybe she is embarrased that she's pregnant 'again'
- Image taken outside, no editing needed to be done

- No props used
- Two characters wearing clothes that will represent the situation that they are in, which is that they are a new couple

- Location is in town, during the evening, therefore there is dark lighting. Wanted the image to show that they are going out together in the evening to emphasise their story, and show that he goes out when he is not working

- Main person: looking at his 'partner' and smiling, links to the storyline that will be used because its her making him smile

- Mode of address: indirect, 'paparazzi' shot

- Arms around each other, shows they care about each other

Analysis of images for double page feature:

I also took images for my double page feature, in order to make the interview look more appealing. I used two images which they had posed for to show their relationship, and used two other images to show the band before they were famous.

- Mode of address: direct, creates a relationship with the reader
- Both images easy to edit, due to plain and white background
- Image 1: Both smiling, direct mode of address to represent friendliness. Mid shot so reader is drawn to their faces. Holding each other to represent their closeness. Wearing alot of clothes, which stands out agains the plain background
- Image 2: More serious pose, shows a bit of attitude. Long shot, so can see whole body and can see how they are posing, helps set the mood

These two images were the posed images that I chose to use, the second image was the main image on the feature and I used the other one to show that the band together again. I chose to do this with the images, because I think that the second image is a good long shot and shows their whole body.

- Both posing together, and have their arms around each other - shows their friendship as they're 'best friends'
- Dressed up to emphasise that they're at a party
- Mode of address: direct, posed photo. Used as a photo taken a while ago before Sarah was in the band
- Other people in the background, to show that it is a party

This image will be used on the double page feature as it will show Sarah before she joined 'Independent Ladies'.

- All close together, shows they're a family, represents Jauden's life before the band, posing together
- No particular style, own clothes as it shows them at a party
- Mode of address: direct, and phot which will be described as a family photo
- Dark background, may be hard to edit on Photoshop if I wanted to

This image will also be used on the double page feature in order to show Jauden when she was younger, it represents her life before joining the band too.

After taking my images I had to put them onto my own memory stick, so they did not get lost and I could keep them organised. I edited them using Photoshop, this allowed me to cut any unwanted parts off my images. The only images that I edited were the central images that I wanted to use on my music magazine, and one smaller image for my front cover.

To improve my photo shoot, I should have thought more about camera angles, and how I could have taken different shots in order to create a better representation of the models to show the reason for why they are in the magazine.