Author Topic: Selling Book Covers Blog Post (Read 9363 times)

Brasilnut · « **on:** July 10, 2020, 14:28 »

Hey all,

After many years of trial and error, I'm finally having some success with selling book covers at Arcangel.

Happy to share with you my latest post, which includes tips on what makes a good book cover and my latest sales:

https://brutallyhonestmicrostock.com/2020/07/10/tips-on-making-money-with-book-cover-photography-update/

Book covers, as a niche, certainly make a great alternative to diminishing returns on micros.

If it's something you're interested in, please get in touch and/or comment below or within my blog post.

Best regards,

Alex

gameover · « **Reply #1 on:** July 11, 2020, 07:58 »

Congrats, you deserve it! Nice shoot wit intriguing atmosphere

Hollyharry · « **Reply #2 on:** October 31, 2020, 18:03 »

I have been following Alexs helpful posts about book covers with interest, thank you.

When you applied to archangel did you create a separate website for your portfolio or direct them to one of you micro portfolio like Alamy or adobe? Just for the application process.

How many images did you use?

Brasilnut · « **Reply #3 on:** November 01, 2020, 04:19 »

Quote from: Hollyharry on October 31, 2020, 18:03

I have been following Alexs helpful posts about book covers with interest, thank you.

When you applied to archangel did you create a separate website for your portfolio or direct them to one of you micro portfolio like Alamy or adobe? Just for the application process.

How many images did you use?

Was a long time ago but from what I remember, I sent them a link to my Photoshelter website where I had/still have a lightbox of fine artsy type shots. Otherwise, Instagram could be a good option if you don't have your own website.

Highly recommend not to include any links to your port at microstock sites. Alamy stuff shouldn't be relevant for book cover market.

Good luck!

amabu · « **Reply #4 on:** November 01, 2020, 04:36 »

Quote from: Brasilnut on November 01, 2020, 04:19

Quote from: Hollyharry on October 31, 2020, 18:03
I have been following Alexs helpful posts about book covers with interest, thank you.

When you applied to archangel did you create a separate website for your portfolio or direct them to one of you micro portfolio like Alamy or adobe? Just for the application process.

How many images did you use?

Was a long time ago but from what I remember, I sent them a link to my Photoshelter website where I had/still have a lightbox of fine artsy type shots. Otherwise, Instagram could be a good option if you don't have your own website.

Highly recommend not to include any links to your port at microstock sites. Alamy stuff shouldn't be relevant for book cover market.

Good luck!

Hi Alex,

I was thinking the same thing, if it is wise to list your microstock portfolios... but in their application form they explicitly ask if you are with other agencies (and which). Did you use the application form or did you just send them an email?

Brasilnut · « **Reply #5 on:** November 01, 2020, 04:50 »

Quote from: amabu on November 01, 2020, 04:36

Quote from: Brasilnut on November 01, 2020, 04:19
Quote from: Hollyharry on October 31, 2020, 18:03
I have been following Alexs helpful posts about book covers with interest, thank you.

When you applied to archangel did you create a separate website for your portfolio or direct them to one of you micro portfolio like Alamy or adobe? Just for the application process.

How many images did you use?

Was a long time ago but from what I remember, I sent them a link to my Photoshelter website where I had/still have a lightbox of fine artsy type shots. Otherwise, Instagram could be a good option if you don't have your own website.

Highly recommend not to include any links to your port at microstock sites. Alamy stuff shouldn't be relevant for book cover market.

Good luck!

Hi Alex,

I was thinking the same thing, if it is wise to list your microstock portfolios... but in their application form they explicitly ask if you are with other agencies (and which). Did you use the application form or did you just send them an email?

Was in 2015 when I applied and they had a different process. I recall now that I included a link to my Fine Art America and Robert Harding ports.

Other agencies, I believe they mean other Rights-Managed agencies...Alamy...Robert Harding...Trevillion, etc. Microstock shouldn't be relevant for book covers and would actually hurt your chances to being accepted.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #6 on:** November 01, 2020, 10:09 »

Quote from: Brasilnut on November 01, 2020, 04:19

Quote from: Hollyharry on October 31, 2020, 18:03
I have been following Alexs helpful posts about book covers with interest, thank you.

When you applied to archangel did you create a separate website for your portfolio or direct them to one of you micro portfolio like Alamy or adobe? Just for the application process.

How many images did you use?

Was a long time ago but from what I remember, I sent them a link to my Photoshelter website where I had/still have a lightbox of fine artsy type shots. Otherwise, Instagram could be a good option if you don't have your own website.

Highly recommend not to include any links to your port at microstock sites. Alamy stuff shouldn't be relevant for book cover market.

Good luck!

Oh now you tell me! Their application said links to sites with your images, so... SS, AS, Alamy, My personal site = OK I blew it.

"We've looked through your work and unfortunately we feel it is not right for our collection.

Your work is not really suitable for the industries we work in, primarily book

Publishing. "

Oh the Humanity!

Hollyharry · « **Reply #7 on:** November 01, 2020, 14:55 »

Thank you both for replying, I found the thread on the SS site too which was helpful, I think I will set up a separate web collection to use for an application as these will be completely different images from my stock ones. It’ll be fun to get artsy again.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #8 on:** February 15, 2023, 07:23 »

Dear Colleagues,

I've just published a short guide highlighting some of my practical experiences as a book cover artist at Arcangel. Mainly trials and tribulations from a multitude of rejections/feedback going back many years.

It’s 100% free to download as a PDF (6.5MB) and up to you if you want to share widely. Best viewed on PC.

https://brutallyhonestmicrostock.com/2023/02/15/free-guide-five-brutally-honest-tips-to-achieve-book-cover-photography-success/

Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed drafting it. Book cover isn't for everybody but there are still some nuggets to be used more widely in the stock photo business such as thinking like a designer and targeting a niche.

Alex

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #9 on:** February 15, 2023, 12:28 »

Did the one with the woman behind or surrounded by bars, originally look like that or was there some modification after the fact? Do they license images and then alter them very often?

You have said that one sale might equal 100 Microstock sales. What's your average reward for a license on Archangel?

Nice useful review and instructional story.

cobalt · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2023, 06:06 »

Thank you! I shared it in various stock groups and on my page.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2023, 08:12 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on February 15, 2023, 12:28

Did the one with the woman behind or surrounded by bars, originally look like that or was there some modification after the fact? Do they license images and then alter them very often?

You have said that one sale might equal 100 Microstock sales. What's your average reward for a license on Archangel?

Nice useful review and instructional story.

Cool, glad you found it useful.

Here's what the original image looks like and the final. Glad I shot it with the full-frame so there were ample megapixels to work with. With a smaller sensor, no chance. Very common for designers to make major changes to the original.

My average differs to others, but 100 times is probably on the conservative time, on average....probably closer to 250x. So, about $300/net or so. Sales to US and the UK earn considerably more than anywhere else.

chillbilldill · « **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2023, 16:33 »

Interesting. Selling book cover art is something I never really considered. I could see this going hand-in-hand with the self-published Amazon/Kindle book people, that could be a target audience to market towards.

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Author Topic: Selling Book Covers Blog Post (Read 9363 times)

Brasilnut

gameover

Hollyharry

Brasilnut

amabu

Brasilnut

Uncle Pete

Hollyharry

Brasilnut

Uncle Pete

cobalt

Brasilnut

chillbilldill

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