Cover Photos?

flyfishnevada · Jan 7, 2011

Looking at all the signatures and avatars everyone has, where do all the pictures of the beautiful people on the covers of all the books come from? I guess I understand that major publishers either hire models and photographers or buy the images from photographers, but what about the small publishers and the self-publishers? Stock photos? Do you invite you hot friends over for a photo shoot?

For my e-published collection I borrowed an internet photo, but that's only for personal consumption. I'd never do that without permission otherwise. Just curious where all those pictures come from.

Alainna · Jan 7, 2011

Best place to find some awesome stuff is here:

www.romancenovelcovers.com - Jimmy has some amazing sensual photos you can purchase for use.

Actually -- the photo used in the cover in my avatar is one of Jimmy's.

I highly recommend.

Alainna

BJThornton · Jan 7, 2011

I get a lot of images from shutterstock.com

dangerousbill · Jan 7, 2011

flyfishnevada said:
...what about the small publishers and the self-publishers? Stock photos? Do you invite you hot friends over for a photo shoot?

Several websites provide 'royalty-free' photos. This means that for one price, which can be nominal, you can use the photo indefinitely without paying an ongoing royalty on each copy of the book. I like istockphoto.com, where a good photo can be had for about $9 (with sufficient resolution; low-res is cheaper). Also photoxpress.com

Some artists provide entirely free photos on flickr.com Best to contact the artist to make sure they're really free first.

Both sites, and other sites, contain moderately explicit photos suitable for use on erotica covers.

Be sure to read the user agreements on each site.

LiteraryLiz · Jan 24, 2011

Hmmm...I guess I am the only one that used a hot friend. My cover can be seen here http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IZL6GA/?tag=absowrit-20 I edited for a few hours and then added my name and title. Of course, this is my first book so I did what I wanted. I may go to some of the sights above and see if I can find something for the short story I am publishing later in the week.

thethinker42 · Jan 24, 2011

I know several of the artists who've worked on mine use stock photos...shutterstock, istockphoto, etc. At least one hires models and takes her own photos, then manipulates them as needed.

I've been toying with the idea of hiring some models and taking some photos of my own, then seeing if a cover artist is willing to use them. I can hold my own as a photographer, but I definitely defer to others for putting a cover together.

mariedees · Jan 26, 2011

Mine is one of the covers for my book. Actually this is a good thread to see if it's the latest cover which would be "Lair of the Jaguar God."

GregS · Jan 26, 2011

I got two of my images from a photographer named Paul Myers. He's got a nice selection of models and props, and does amazing things with photoshop (creating backdrops, fantasy-morphing people, etc.). istudio.com/paulmyers

jenrising · Jan 26, 2011

LiteraryLiz said:
Hmmm...I guess I am the only one that used a hot friend. My cover can be seen here http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IZL6GA/?tag=absowrit-20 I edited for a few hours and then added my name and title. Of course, this is my first book so I did what I wanted. I may go to some of the sights above and see if I can find something for the short story I am publishing later in the week.

I don't have friends who look like that. Ahem. But I would be happy to make some new ones.

/perving

Ann_Mayburn · Jan 26, 2011

For utterly f'ing delicious male bodies I love this photographers stock.

http://www.shutterstock.com/g/energyboy

If I win the lottery I'm going to buy a bunch of pool boys just like them.

scarletpeaches · Jan 26, 2011

I have the raging ladyhorn for one particular male model and I've been twitter-nagging Amanda Kelsey to use him one day if the stars are aligned, I sell a book to a publisher she works for and his photos are still available and affordable.

Can you fkn believe it, she actually agreed?!

Cover Photos?

flyfishnevada

Alainna

Reincarnation of Someone Else

BJThornton

Writer, and stuff.

dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus

LiteraryLiz

New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin

thethinker42

Abnormal Romance Author

mariedees

GregS

jenrising

eep!

Ann_Mayburn

Smutty McTitters

scarletpeaches