Front Page: Planning the setting, positioning and lighting

Deciding on a setting
I have decided based on my magazine research and other contributing factors I have chose to have a synthetic background. I will do this by cropping around the artist during the editing process. Firstly, I think a plain background will make the artist stand out, I also think it will make it easier once I am adding my masthead and other surrounding text, as there will be more space. The question is what colour my background will be.
The first option is having white as my background colour. This being the most typical, it also obviously fits with my chosen colour scheme. White is also the plainest colour out my colour scheme, meaning it is the most suitable for a background as it will contrast with the brighter colours in my colour scheme.
The second option is having pale blue as my background colour. Again, this is a colour from my colour scheme. By using a pale blue I will be creating the same contrasting effect as the white and the darker blue fonts will match the background colour more. However, it may take attention away from the artist.
The third option is having red as my background colour. Red also fits with my colour scheme. One significant worry is the thought that red may take attention away from the featured artist, the masthead and any other text. It may also deduct from the professionalism. Red is also associated with seduction, as it seems it is a seductive colour, this could give the wrong message.
My final choice of the colour of background/setting for my image is going to be white.

Deciding on the models positioning
Direct/Indirect address?
It is more conventional to have the artist looking directly at the camera, this is interest the readers, it also makes the magazine seem more personal. An indirect address is usually used on a magazine cover, either because it is signature to the artist, or to convey the artist in a more impersonal arty way in order to communicate an indirect message or to make the cover look less as conventional. By having the artist look at the camera in my cover will make the artist look stronger, and again make the cover look more edgy. It will also be a more modern portrayal of women: having the artist looking almost intensely at the camera. I think by having the artist giving direct address with catch the readers eye and subsequently will be appealing to the target audience.  
Strait on or at an angle?
It is conventional for the artist to be looking directly in front of the camera, strait on, as appose to the artist being positioned towards the side, or at an angle. This is so you can see the artist clearly and from a natural position. This again enforces the personal theory. It also allows the audience to clearly see the artist, which will attract them to the magazine.

Deciding on the lighting within the image
Natural or Unnatural?
A natural light is familiar in terms that it makes the magazine look more down to earth everyday (which is fitting with the theme of my magazine) however, it may also make the magazine look relatively cheap. It would be more appealing to have the pictures taken using natural lighting, or only using the 'flash' on the camera when needed then later digitally editing them, making the lighting look less as natural.
It is common in other magazines for the lighting to be unnatural, and lights to be used to make the artist look brighter and to be shown more clearly. But I think it would be more convenient, if I use natural lighting. Also at times by using unnatural lighting a shadow can be made, considering that I have decided to picture my artist in a close up, I have decided that natural light would be better, in order to make any visible shadows less as accentuated. This again, creates a sense of naturalism and familiarity.