Front/Backcover

For my front cover i wanted something simple but hinting as the what the theme is about. I didn't want to put a picture i had previously taken because then the 'surprise' would of been spoiled.

So I began by thinking of something that you can find in all shops that when looked at people know exactly where it is from: receipts!

I began by trying different setups to see which was the best to go on a front cover:

I wanted something that was sleek and clean but to the pound. I Used felt tip to write the title to keep it very natural and to tie it in with the creased receipts. 

For the graphics of the cover i wanted something that wouldn't be too distracting, and what inspired me was a very well known logo: Supreme Logo

What stood out to me from this was the bold look in the middle and the rest blank. 

This was the main image that i thought best represented the book:

This was then tested on a simple white background:

I really liked this look and so decided to go with it.

Back cover:

For the back i wanted the same design of a strip of image against a blank background.

I added some money with the receipts to add another element without it being too overwhelming.

Trying many different angles i chose one that i felt was balanced and visually clean to go onto the back cover:

The image I chose

The layout

I began by drawing my designs out:

layout of left hand page with text

For me, colour coordination is going to be a big thing for my book. I want the pages to flow with the image opposite it.

Colour scheme:

To begin with i was going have the name of the shop with an image inside the words that correlated to the image in the opposite page. This was seen to be a bit distracting so i then decided to do a colour scheme for each image with the text on the left in the same font as the shop sign, or as close to it as possible.

The main text on the coloured page will be the font that corresponds to the shop, and the font to the questions will be Bebas Neue.


For the page numbers i have used the font Raavi to keep it clean and simple, not taking away from the rest of the text.

Introduction:


When it comes to an introduction, i feel that you don't want one that is too long because a person isn't going to sit and read it all if they wanna get to the pictures!


So for me a simple paragraph or two with a collage next to it adds an interesting edge to show a little sneak peak to what they will see on the next couple of pages, and to also add an image that is well known when thinking about shops, the receipts.

Chapters:


Seeing as i wont be having any chapters to my book as this would make it too long, i decided to give the audience a slight preview as to what images are in the book.


I wanted to keep it similar to the previous page with the receipts to keep the same design and not make it too busy with a lot of different layouts and designs throughout the book.

As you can see i have added a quote to the opposite page, so the reader can reflect on the pictures whilst reading the quote to questions what they will find through out the book.


Pictures:


For my images, i want them to slightly overlap to the next page, so that the image is the dominate piece of the page. Full bleed to show as much as possible, making it stand out of the page.

Glossary:


As i have said before, I wanted to add a glossary to give more background information to the shops i have been.

I have added the collage that I had at the beginning to add symmetry to the layout and to create refection on the body of work.

For the whole book i just want it to reflect colour, symmetry, and links to the main subject - People reflecting the shop they work in/own.

A Glossary

When i look through photography books that contain fashion, or a place that is interesting, their is mainly always a glossary or shopping list at the back of the book.

What i like about these is that it gives you more information about what the person is wearing or where a particular shop is.

With my book seeing as i am focusing on shops i thought it would be a good idea to add a glossary at the back of the shops and their information to give more information to the audience about what is in the book.

Such as The Nylon book of street fashion, at the back a shopping list is given in all the cities it focuses on and the shops the people talk about in the book

The Tokyo Look Book:

Again  in another book Tokyo Look Book, a glossary and shopping list is found, to give more info on the looks and shops talked about in the book:

I will most defiantly have a glossary in my book to give more background information to the shops i have gone too.




My Glossary:


For my personal glossary i have included the names, addreses, telephone numbers and websites of these shops, so that if a person wanted to know more about a specific shop that it would be easily available to them.

Rokit.co.uk

oi polloi.com


many i did have to Google and try my best to search for their address because they do not have a website..

A simple design is something that i feel is best so that it isn't too distracting and is straight to the point:

More questions - London/Manchester

Because some pictures i had taken were taken in London i had to go back and ask them some questions as i thought to myself, if i'm gonna do something i might as well do it properly!


Rokit:


Lucky the same girl was their, even though she was a lot less Egyptian - esque, and more punk rock chick.


After she has finished serving a customer i said i am a university student going to shops and asking one simple question.


She seemed interested so i asked: Why do you work here?
And she replied: Why? hmm..to be able to wear what i want and work in a great part of london

Vintage Store:


When looking for this store i thought i wouldn't find it because i couldn't remember where it was! But after awhile i stumbled upon it.


Upon entering no one was their, so i waited for awhile and he came from downstairs and asked me: can i help you?


This is when i explained i am a student and i would like to ask him a question about his shop.
I asked him: Why do you work here?
He replied: Well, this is my own shop which i have had for many years, and it allows me to sell what i love because i'm big fan of the 40's/50's


I learnt that he used to be a student of fashion and then went and bought his own shop to sell clothes he loves.

Labour and Wait:


I really like this shop because it sells such lovely household items.
The men working in this shop seemed quite busy sorting out stock. Again i waited awhile to not annoy them, and when the guy i photograph before was on his own I quickly asked him a question so I didn't bother him for too long.


I asked him: What is your favorite item in the shop?
He quickly replied: *pointing* The espresso Maker, its a life saver

Whilst in London I gathered some information on the shops themselves, such as the address, website etc, to go into the glossary at the end of my book.


Further more i Gathered the information of the shops i had been in in Manchester to add to my glossary.


Again because in my first and second shoot i had not thought of the idea to ask questions, i had to go back and ask them again to be able to add them to my book!


Totally Doomed:


This man was very helpful and remembered who I was.


We were talking about how my work was coming along, and so i told him i'm now having to ask questions about the shop.


I asked him: What is your favorite piece in the shop?
And he replied: *walking to a tshirt on the rack* this tshirt my friend printed i really like the design, hes really talented!

Chase Music:


As i went into the shop it was a different man at the counter which got me worried because i wanted to ask the man i photographed! But as i was talking to the man at the counter the man i photographed came out from the back and so i was able to ask him.


I asked him: Whats your favorite piece in the shop?
He replied: The guitars, because my passion is music

Projekts: 


As i walked into the shop the same man was their, with a familiar look in his eye which told me he remembered who i was, which made it a lot easier to talk to him.


I went on to explain why i was their again and asked the question: Why do you work here?
He answered:  I work here because Its my friends shop and i'm a skater so we sell the kinda stuff i like


He went on to talk about his skateboarding and how hes been doing it since he was in primary school, it kept him out of trouble!

Oi Polloi:


As i walked in the shop was quite busy and i couldnt find the man i had photographed before, i asked if there was a guy who worked here whose hair had a kinda quiff.
The man looked at me as if i was a little crazy but then he came to the desk to put some leaflets behind it and so i caught him quickly to ask him a question.


I said do you remember me and he said yes, which made it a lot easier.


I quickly explained why i was here again and asked the question: What do you like about working here?
He answered: I like working here because i like the people i work with, the environment and the clothes are my sort of style

Shoot #3 The questions.

In this shoot i went out to also as questions.


At first i kept forgetting the questions i wanted to ask the people i approached, but then after getting into the swing of it i began to think of questions that suited each person i came into contact with.


The first shop I went into was Forbidden Planet:


He was a friendly guy, telling me it will be easy to get people to take pictures of them in the smaller shops because they are mainly students and would want to help!


When asking him the question - What do you like about working here? He said:
I like that i'm surrounded by what i like and that i get to meet alot of interesting people

The Army/TA shop:


Unfortunatly i forgot to ask this man a question! This was at the beginning to me asking questions and i was a bit nervous with having to further interact with the public.

Candy Shack:

Here i did remember and i asked him the question:

What do you like about working here?

He replied, well, its my own stall so i like being my own boss and getting to sell a lot of interesting things, and hey..there is always a nice snack at hand round here!

He was a cool guy to talk to and i learnt that he himself had created the art behind him.

Zeffa:

This lady had said that she had already had her picture taken today by another student, and so was happy to help me out.

She is the friend of the person who owns this stall in Afflecks, and when asking, why do you work here?

She replied: I like to work here because i get to see my friends and its a nice atmosphere.

Pagan Planet:

This lady was a very interesting character, she is a tarot reaader and a pagan, whose been reading tarots for over 30 years! When asked if i could take her picture she grabed her tarot reading hat and sat down ready for her picture.

When asked, what do you like about working here?

She replied: I like being able to use my talent to help people.

Vagabond Vintage Vinyl:

This lady was extremely cool, which was a bit intimidating at first! She was straightening her hair when i arrived and so I hung around till she had finished so i could talk to her a little.

When I asked her: What do you like about working here?

She replied: Well its my own shop so I don't have a boss and i can do what i want whenever i want!

By the end i really had enjoyed meeting new people and getting to know them a bit better. I was intrigued by the answers i got and thought they would make a great addition to the book to give the audience more of an incite into the people they are viewing.