The real stress

potential model with some editing

I basically have a week left for this project and I am terrified.

I am taking a break from all the research for InDesign and starting to cast some models and work on my double-paged spread. I am planning to get this all done this week and then start working on the layout of my magazine for the last week. But, I am facing a few issues...

First issue are the models, I need to decide if I only want female models or if I want both, I am leaning more towards both genders so that my target audience is more vast. My main goal is to get models that do not embody average beauty, I want interesting beauty and people who are actually interesting and unique. Today I got some potential prospects and took some head shots and mid shots, so I am progressing. I also edited the head shots with some filters from Visco cam just to play around with the feel.


Another HUGE issue for me is the location, it has to give off the vibe and embody the feel of my magazine (which is leaning towards artsy and urban), but that issue might be fixed this Sunday (one of my models knows THE coolest places to shoot at, which is a relief). The location is also helpful in the people that I want to feature in my double-paged spread, I need a unique place where I can find unique people who are also just every day.

My last and most disturbing issue is time. It is a factor that I have completely undermined and have absolutely no control over (which freaks me out!!!). So, what I really need is to get these models shot and get visuals this week in order to start the layout next week...

potential model with some editing 

The real InDesign p.1

Well here it is.

After weeks of procrastination (more like days, but a little hyperbolic statement never hurt anyone) I am finally posting this. This is my experience with InDesign.

I have decided to go about this in parts because of how much I have to learn and master. Part one (which is this post) will touch upon the resources that have been made available to me in order to master this program, I will explore the tutorials and provide feedback. The following parts (I am not clear on how many they will be) will feature my actual application of this program (which is basically me messing around with InDesign to see if the tutorials were relevant).

Am I scared? Terrified. Will this result in success? I kind of need it to for the final outcome of my project. With this said I will not ride gentle into this dark night!

So lets start by exploring the resources I have in order to prove successful. I have a tutorial which includes 44 brilliant InDesign tutorials (many lengthy videos, I am very excited), there is a A tutorial for good typography in InDesign (which includes videos, articles and visuals oh my!) and that just about sums it. So I have a lot to watch, read and of course learn (I NEED to get this down), I will report back with extensive feedback.

On my way to watch/read these tutorials....

"44 Brilliant InDesign Tutorials." 44 Brilliant InDesign Tutorials. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.
"40 Best InDesign Tutorials - Dzinepress." Dzinepress 40 Best InDesign Tutorials Comments. N.p., 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.

The real time crunch

Spring break got to me. I fell into that hole of procrastination.

I have not been able to sit down and look at Indesign tutorials, or figure out how it works and that puts me on a huge disadvantage time wise. But, I will make up for lost time next week, I plan to start watching the tutorials and figuring out how to piece together my spread.

I also need to shoot!! I have to get my models together to do so, but before I want to figure out the layout and formatting, the good thing is that I have made my direction pretty clear, so I know what I want my magazine to embody. I also need to start my two page spread, which requires me to photograph street fashion (which is a LOT of work and time). I hope that I did not overshoot with my ideas.

Next week will be promising....

The real research: The cover page

Salutations and good day, here is the cover page blog that was promised (break has not engulfed me, I have not been compromised)!!

This post is centered on the cover page of my magazine (due to the importance that it holds), I want to focus on formatting and the layout of it, as well as start to get an idea of what makes a successful cover page.


I decided to start by using the Pinterest compilation that was made by Mrs.Stoklosa, there I found an article on what makes a successful cover page, and lets just say I learned a lot.

One of the main issues stressed was how the person featured in the cover looked, buyers do judge a book by its cover in this case and the cover page is the center of attraction for the buyer. The person featured should look directly at the camera, as if they were looking at the buyer. The cover page should also be simple and stick to the main concept of the magazine, this includes the cover lines and the masthead. The cover lines should be concise and to the point, they should attract the reader with minimum words and should be enticing, numbers and lists are a great way to attract readers.

I also looked into some art direction for the cover as well. The covers for Love magazine had incredible art direction, I am thinking of basing my cover page off of one of their covers. Their covers are different and are concurrent to the theme that they are expressing in their issue, its not just some smiley celebrity or model. I also love that their entire magazine is also more on the artsy urban side, I want to express this in my magazine as well, I want to embrace all kinds of beauty and turn it into a combination of fashion, lifestyle and art that is attainable to the public.

Next I conquer Indesign....

"55 Best Tips for a Successful Magazine Cover." Magazine Designing. N.p., 18 Feb. 2014. Web. 24 Mar. 2016.

The real update

Why hello there reader, how are you? me? I am great thanks for asking!!

Currently  I am on break, but that does not mean that I will fall into the tempting hole of laziness and Netflix (I will not be compromised). This is a short little update post on what I plan to do this week and what is to come (get excited). 

A blog post about cover pages will be heading your way in the next 24 or so hours, as well as the start to my editing journey (yes, I will be facing the might photoshop program that is In Design). I am the least tech savvy person I know so mastering In Design will be quite a feat, that is something that I need to start right away. Also a nice little post about layouts, models and the general vibe of the magazine will be in the works (just giving you some spoilers). 

I have lots to do, this little chat has been fulfilling....

The real research: the double-paged spread

I promised a post on my research for my double-paged spread and here it is!!

So, after some much needed exploring and reading (as well as searching), I found my much needed inspiration/model/format/holy grail. Because of Mrs.Stoklosa's recommendation, I have ultimately found my holy grail, it is a quirky little column that the New York Time's fashion section does called Life as a Runway, and I am in love (I have reached Nirvana).

Life as a Runway's writer; John Ortved, takes people off of the streets, in certain locations or events (such as the MOMA) with unique style or outfit choices and asks these street fashionistas questions on their choice of attire as well as takes a candid picture of the individual. It is exactly what I want to do for my double-paged spread, I also really like the format (formatting is my biggest feat with this spread) and I am modeling my spread after this column, with a few tweaks for it to meet my vision. What I like about Life as a Runway's format is how it is basically a conversation transferred onto print, Ortved flawlessly captures a nice little conversation that he has with the individual he chooses, asking them about certain pieces of their attire that stands out, by having this free flowing conversation the reader is also able to experience the individuals personality as well (which I also want to focus on). This format proves to be extremely successful and highly entertaining, but since I have to also elaborate on my experience photographing and interviewing strangers I plan to keep the conversation a little longer and go into topics such as the definition of fashion or true beauty ( I want to get more juice out of the individual). That's where my spread would model after Humans of New York, I want to encompass that journalistic storytelling aspect that Brandon Stanton (the author and creator of Humans of New York) is able to encompass.

Back to the research...

"Humansofnewyork." Humans of New York. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.
Ortved, John. "Spring Fever Hits Bryant Park." The New York Times. The New York Times, 13 Mar. 2016. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

The real meeting

I am on cloud nine.

Today we had the opportunity to meet with our Aice Media Studies teacher (Mrs.Stoklosa) for some feedback and discussion on our blogs and chosen topics for this final portfolio project and all went fabulously.

Mrs.Stoklosa had very positive feedback on my blog posts (this makes me very proud since I wish to pursue this as a career) and she also gave me some advice for the layout of my double-paged spread. She enjoyed the Humans of New York inspired spread, but recommended that I add a more journalistic aspect to the spread (which I am happy to do since writing about street style is pretty entertaining). Due to this feedback, I think that my double-paged spread will not only consist of pictures and mini descriptions, but one page will concern my experience in photographing these people and elaborate on the most interesting stories. With this idea though, comes a great focus on layout, I would need to find case studies and model my layout after these magazines.

Thankfully Mrs.Stoklosa recommended The New York Time's fashion section, which also models after this Humans of New York format and goes out on the streets of New York to photograph certain outfits that pertain to the topic of fashion chosen. I am excited to look into this because formatting is really one of my biggest feats.

Expect a post about formatting real soon (I will conquer the format)...

"Fashion, Style News & Trends." The New York Times. The New York Times, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.