The layout of the artist image featured on the front cover of my magazine will depend on whether I'm featuring a band, or a singer songwriter.
If my featured artist is a singer songwriter, they would be the center of the image as, of course, they are alone. I would have a midshot of the artist, showing them close enough to establish who they are yet far away enough to ensure that it's not just their face taking up the room. A midshot would be the best option because that would allow enough room for props, such as a guitar, to be featured in the image. This would then tell the reader what kind of music that artist plays, and also the genre that the magazine mainly represents. This is important to appeal to the audience as they will see that they will definately like the artist/magazine. Here are some examples:
Whereas, if my feature artist is a band, I will arrange the band so that they are all stood together, lined up, to ensure that there is no favouritism or ignorance shown by the magazine. Most music magazines with a band on the front cover will arrange them so that the lead singer is in front of the rest of the band, but some people may see this as unfair, as the lead singer is 'most popular' and the rest of the band seem to be ignored, but I want the image to make the band look like equals, because they're in this together. On the other hand, some magazines set up the band in such ways as height order, this is to make the image seem more artistic to draw the readers attention to the image which will then interest them in the article, and the magazine, resulting in higher sales. Music magazines with bands on the fron cover may also photograph the band huddled quite close together, this may be for one of two reasons: Firstly, the band are photographed close together to leave more space on the front cover for other important titles, subheadings, or storylines. The second reason, would be to give the impression that the band, as people, are quite a close-knit band, they may be friends outside the band and are intimate and friendly, they would want this to be shown in the photograph to incourage readers to like them as they give off an impression that is aimeable.
Here are some examples:
Some good images here. there is another reason why often bands are grouped with some behind the other - it allows them all to fit in and still retain quite a close shot... it also can create an pleasing structural shape - triangle or diamond, although a line-up can create a strong lien effect, leading the eye. You could also interpret the close cluster as emphasizing their closeness??? You may want to explore some of these ideas or not, as the case may be - it may help you justify any change of plans... Try taking band shot in a range of ways and see what looks best!
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