Editing pictures

To edit the photographs I took for my magazine I used Adobe Photoshop. I had never used it before so I took some time playing with the different editing tools and features. I practiced using the programme with my cover photo.



This is my original picture. As you can see, this is not a perfect picture. The model has red eyes, blemishes and imperfections. The lighting is also really dull and casual, not like any picture you'd see in a magazine.

Edit One

This was my first attempt. I used the red-eye reduction tool first to remove the red eyes that were caused by the camera flash. Then I used the spot healing brush-tool to clear up the complexion, however I found that I was still left with an uneven looking skin tone as the flash captures all your imperfections. So I used the smudge tool to attempt to blend skin discolourations and patchiness that was highlighted by the camera flash.

Edit 2

In my second edit I started by doing similar proceedures; I removed blemishes and red eyes from the picture. I used the smudge tool much more sparingly, I used it in the eyebrows to give them a much smoother look. I then changed the contrast and light, which made the hair darker, skin lighter and red lips brighter.

Taking Pictures

I had my friend Amy model for pictures as I wanted to use her on my cover and double page spread. I had to choose a specific look to create the right vibe for the magazine; Amy already has quite an edgy look - she has peircings and big, auburn hair - which is what shaped the theme of the photographs. I dressed her in a black jumper with a big white skull on the front, leggings and bright purple Dr. Martens. She put her hair up in a big messy style and wore smokey eyes and red lipstick, to acheive a grungy, glamrock look.

We were in the middle of decorating my house so I decided to take some pictures on the uncarpeted stairs to build atmosphere and character. I think this was quite effective in representing the type of character Amy might be as a musician. I am likely to use one of the stair pictures for my double-page spread.

Double page spread: inital idea

Contents: initial idea

Cover: Initial Idea

Final Idea

My magazine will be monthly. It will be themed around house music, but also will encorporate more popular artists. It will have an edgy, care-free and youthful vibe to reflect my readership - I will acheive this through content, cover stars, fonts, colours and house style.

• Target audience: After deciding in my initial ideas I wanted a more feminine unisex magazine, I have since decided it will be a women's music magazine. I made this choice as I feel it would be easier for me to appeal to women, having read lots of women's magazines and being a woman myself. I also notice that most music magazine's have a primarily male audience demographic. The audience are aged 18 to 25, so they are just entering the adult wold and taking advantage of all the new freedoms and opportunities they have, such as clubbing and festivals. They aren't likely to be married or have children. They will be interested in house music, but also current popular music.

• House-Style: My house-style will be messy and look care-free, to reflect my target market. I will acheive this look by using suitable fonts, colours and content. The colour scheme will chance each issue, like magazines such as Grazia, Company or NME do. I'll have a basic scheme of black and white every issue, then another colour such as pink, blue or red will be used with it. This adds excitement and a different theme/feel to each issue of the magazine, this styl;e is also used in Company Magazine - one of my style models.

Initial Ideas