The document discusses how the author's media product represents social groups through its front cover images. Specifically, it analyzes the front cover of a magazine about indie music. The central front cover image depicts a serious-looking male model in a casual, laid-back pose to represent the target audience of indie fans and musicians. Lighting was used to make the model stand out from the background. While efforts were made to make the image high quality, the author acknowledges the picture is not professionally produced due to budget constraints, unlike larger magazines in the same genre.

1. How does your media
product represent
particular social groups?
By Aaron Bradley

2. Social Group
• My magazine represents its audience, as
throughput the magazine it’s main aim is to please
the customers therefore by containing it with all
the appropriate features and pictures which the
audience are interested in then it expresses the
similarities between the producers and readers of
the magazine.

3. Front Cover
• Within my front cover the central image is
portrayed across to the audience in an
intriguing way.The model is looking directly into
the camera therefore creating a sense of
involvement and connection with the reader.
The facial expression of the model is kept very
serious, it includes no smiling but a facial
expression which shouts out ‘dedication’ and
‘inspiration’.The model looks like ‘he means
business’.This hasn’t been chosen randomly, we
have specifically changed the facial expression
and make-up on his face in order to create a
different sense of involvement with the
audience. It comes across in an intriguing
manner therefore the reader will see the
central image and be enticed into buying the
magazine to see what the article will be about
etc.

4. Angle and
connotations:
• The angle of the photograph which
has been taken of the model helps
to see the body posture as well as
just the facial expression. He is
situated in a comfortable and laid
back manner, this portrays the
social group which the magazine is
going for.The reason for this is
because stereotypically teenagers
are laid back and relaxed therefore
having an image of someone who
fits that criteria helps customers
within that age range to relate. As
well as the age range the music
genre (Indie) is very casual and
chilled therefore the image fits the
magazine perfectly.
This man specifically fits what the model looks
like within my magazine due to him looking
extremely casual and relaxed but with a serious
facial expression and no hint at that he is going
to smile.

5. Lighting:
• Within the main picture on the double
page spread the lighting was edited in
order to help the model stand out
over the road sign.This was due to the
bright colours of the road sign
therefore we needed to make sure
that the model didn’t blend into the
background.The way of stopping this
from happening is by increase the light
on the model’s face and body.This was
what I did in order to make it look
more attractive on the customers eye.
This then represents the social group
of indie fans and singers to be lively.
This can be portrayed through one
single photograph due to amount of

6. Difference:
• Within my pictures it is clear that mine
aren’t professionally taken although
they were taken with a high quality
camera.This can be the difference
between buying and not buying a
massive. As if the central image isn’t
good quality then it shouldn't be on
sale. Even though we took a great deal
of consideration in making sure the
models hair is perfect you still get the
difference in ability of the models.This
is because magazines like NME will
have a bigger budget therefore
spending more money on the make-up
artists etc just to make sure that they
look that bit more professional.
This image contrasts against my
final front cover as even though
NME and myself have similar
target audiences we don’t have
similar budgets therefore they
can pay to make sure everything
is to its best standard.

7. Difference:
• Within my pictures it is clear that mine
aren’t professionally taken although
they were taken with a high quality
camera.This can be the difference
between buying and not buying a
massive. As if the central image isn’t
good quality then it shouldn't be on
sale. Even though we took a great deal
of consideration in making sure the
models hair is perfect you still get the
difference in ability of the models.This
is because magazines like NME will
have a bigger budget therefore
spending more money on the make-up
artists etc just to make sure that they
look that bit more professional.
This image contrasts against my
final front cover as even though
NME and myself have similar
target audiences we don’t have
similar budgets therefore they
can pay to make sure everything
is to its best standard.