Have you ever wondered how a Vogue cover comes to life? It’s quite a journey! Imagine planning a big, fancy party; it takes lots of people, creativity, and super-organized planning, often starting many months, or even a whole year in advance. In this article, we’re going to look behind the scenes at the industry’s leading magazine and meet the people who make it all happen to create the Vogue cover.
When you see a beautiful cover of Vogue or any other fashion magazine, it doesn’t take just the photographer to do a quick shoot and that’s it. In reality, crafting a magazine cover is a colossal endeavor. It entails the collaboration of many fashion and media professionals, each bringing their unique expertise to the table. Also, there’s much work behind the scenes that we don’t see by simply looking at the result. Producing a Vogue cover includes a blend of creativity with lots of planning and deploying various skill sets to create the final product.Â
Whether you dream of working at a fashion magazine or you are simply curious to know how your favorite covers come to life, here is a closer look at the making of a Vogue cover – the steps and the key players involved.
The Making Of A Vogue Cover: What Are The Steps?
Step 1: Conception of the Vogue cover idea
Theme Selection
So, the journey typically begins with selecting a theme, influenced by upcoming fashion trends, cultural events, and sometimes, global issues. The conduct editorial meetings where Vogue editors, creative directors, and the editor-in-chief discuss and finalize a central idea or message. Mood boards are then built with the vision of the cover.Â
Cover Star Selection
Choosing the face of the cover involves various considerations: cultural relevance, current projects, and alignment with the selected theme. Also, the selection may involve celebrities, models, activists, or even politicians, resonating with the magazine’s vision and theme chosen for that issue.
Step 2: Reaching out to the Vogue Cover Star
Initial Contact and Contract Agreement
Once a cover star (or cover stars, if more people are invited on the cover,) is chosen, the magazine’s representatives, usually the booking editor or a similar role, get in touch with the star’s management team to discuss interest, availability, and initial details about the shoot. The contract outlining expectations, dates, and other pertinent details is then signed. It’s crucial that confidentiality is maintained to keep the cover a surprise for the public.
Step 3. Planning the Vogue shoot
Choosing the location and building the set
Based on the theme, a location is scouted and chosen, or a studio set is designe. This depends on whether to shoot – indoor, outdoor, or in an exotic location. The location choice is key to ensure that it complements the clothes, accessories, and overall aesthetic as well as the theme of the specific issue.Â
Creative Team Assembly
It’s time to put together the team who will take care of the Vogue cover: from shooting the photo to selecting the looks and putting together the design for the set. Also, a cohort of professionals, including photographers, stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists, art directors, and set designers are brought together. Then, Vogue often collaborates with renowned photographers and stylists who understand the aesthetic and prestige of the brand.
Choosing the looks
The editor/stylist who takes care of the Vogue cover story starts planning the looks in advance. One image for the cover is chosen. The remaining images/looks are then available inside the pages of the magazines for the cover story section. The editor/stylist will meticulously decide on the looks up to the small details including accessories and jewelry. The stylist will also talk to the hair stylist and makeup artist to get the perfect look. Editors might already have an idea of the clothes, shoes, and accessories they want to feature in the issue far in advance. When they attend fashion shows during fashion month, they take notes of their favorite looks or pieces.Â
At this point, the stylist assistant or interns of the magazine reach out to the fashion PR teams of the brands to pull the looks or pieces. They inform the PR team what they need the samples for, which editor is requesting them. Also, which celebrities are going to be on the cover, etc. The PR will then send the clothes and accessories to the stylist who starts planning and trying on the looks to decide the final ones. After the shooting, the assistant stylist or intern will have to pack again all the clothes and accessories to send them back to the PR teams.Â
Step 4: Vogue Photoshoot
On the day of the shoot, the photographer, stylist/editor, art director, assistant stylist, and hair and make-up artists come together to bring the envisioned concept to life. The set is arranged, and lights and cameras are placed while the stylists take care of the model/celebrity who is getting ready for the shoot. Hair, nails, skin, makeup, accessories…every detail, from the model’s posture to the fall of the fabric, is scrutinized and perfected.
In addition to the main shoot, behind-the-scenes content is often captured, providing readers and social media followers with an insider’s look into the making of the cover.
Step 5: Post-production at Vogue
Selecting the Perfect Shot
From potentially hundreds of photos, the editorial team selects the one image that will make it to the cover. So, the decision is influenced by multiple factors, including alignment with the theme, visual impact, and how well the image will reproduce in print. They also select some more images that will go inside the pages of the magazine for the section dedicated to the cover story.Â
Retouching and Editing
The image they choose undergoes meticulous editing. The team balances the colors and subtly adjust any imperfections. Also, this ensures the final print maintains its authenticity while adhering to the visual standard synonymous with Vogue.
Step 6: Writing the story in Vogue
While the visuals are being perfected, fashion writers and editors work on the cover story and other editorial content. Interviews are conducted, articles are penned, and all pieces are meticulously edited to align with the theme.
Step 7: Layout design for Vogue
Designing the layout, including the image and textual content, to ensure a coherent, visually appealing cover. Also, the team will check the previews to ensure that colors, text, and images render perfectly in print and digital formats.
Step 8: Publication and promotion of the Vogue cover
Up to a month before the cover hits the newsstands, to create anticipation and buzz in the leads-up to the release, the team disperses social media teasers, press releases, and other promotional materials.
The final cover is sent to print and subsequently distributed to newsstands and subscribers. The digital edition is launched, often accompanied by additional online content.
Step 9: Revealing the Vogue cover
Finally, they reveal the cover to the public, emerging as a culmination of months of planning, collaboration, and creativity.
Did you imagine it takes all this effort to create a superb Vogue cover?
Now, you might have a better idea of who is involved in the Vogue cover-making process, but let’s break down all the roles and see in detail what they do from conception to completion.
Who is working on Vogue covers?
Vogue Editorial Team
Editor-in-Chief: Setting the tone and theme of the shoot, approving final photo selections, and overseeing the entire cover-making process.
Senior Editor: Curating content, deciding on the angles of the cover story, and managing specific sections of the magazine that include that story.
Writers/Journalists: Conducting interviews with cover stars, and writing the cover story.
Vogue Art and Design Team
Art Director: Overseeing visual elements, working with photographers and layout designers to align images with editorial content.
Graphic Designers: Working on the layout, typography, and ensuring the visual appeal of the page.
Photographer: Capturing the cover image and other photos within the edition, working alongside the creative director to align with their vision.
Retoucher/Post-production: Editing the chosen images.
Vogue Fashion Team
Fashion Editor/Stylist: Coordinating outfits, accessories, and looks that coincide with the decided theme.
Fashion Assistants: Assisting stylists, managing clothing and accessories movements (calling clothes and accessories in and returning them to the press), ensuring items are available and in optimal condition for shoots.
Vogue Beauty Team
Makeup Artist: Creating makeup looks that complement the theme and enhance the cover star’s features.
Hair Stylist: Styling the hair of the cover star, aligning with the aesthetic, and ensuring consistency with outfits and makeup.
Nail Technician:Â Ensures manicuring the nails and that the nails are visually complementary to the overall look.
Vogue Production Team
Producer: Managing logistics, coordinating between teams, and ensuring the smooth operation of the shoot.
Production Assistants: Assisting with various on-set needs, from managing schedules to handling equipment.
Vogue Models and Celebrities
Model/Celebrity: Featuring on the cover and embodying the essence of the theme and narrative.
Booking Editor: Coordinating availability, managing contractual aspects, and meeting the needs of the model’s or celebrity’s.
Vogue Marketing and PR Team
Public Relations Professionals: Managing communication with media outlets, promoting the cover, and handling press releases.
Marketing Team: Developing campaigns to promote the edition, and creating buzz through various channels.
Vogue Digital and Social Media Team
Digital Editor: Ensuring coherence and appeal in the digital version of the edition/digital cover, managing online content.
Social Media Manager: Creating content and promoting the cover-making process on social media (backstage photoshoot, preview of the cover, etc.).
Vogue Legal Team
Legal Advisors: Managing contracts, ensuring compliance with regulations, and mitigating legal risks.
As you can see, it takes a village to create a Vogue cover, and there are many steps to do before, during, and after the day of the shoot to make it happen. Take a look at the 24 best Vogue covers of all time.
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