I understand that many people want to pick out their own character photos and that's fine with me to an extent. Here's what you'll do: Go to
DepositPhotos.com to search for pictures. When you find one you like, copy and paste the direct URL link to it in the space above along with the item number and the description. That way I can go directly to what you want instead of spending hours trying to find it again. You can also add any comments about the pictures that you'd like in the above space.
When you're looking for pictures please find something as close to what you imagine as possible. Here are some examples:
1) Please do not pick pictures where objects or the character's heads are cut off. The images need to be complete. I do not want to work with half a head or half a wine glass, sword, or other item because I'll have to recreate the rest of it to complete the picture. I'm not willing to do that when you can easily select a picture where the whole head is included.
2) If your heroine is a brunette that wears her hair in a ponytail then find a picture of a brunette with her hair in a ponytail. Please don't send me a picture of a redhead with her hair flowing around her shoulders and ask me to make her into a brunette with a ponytail.
3) Please don't send me several pictures and say take this face, these biceps and this other guy's stomach and put them together to make a new person wearing a cut off shirt. I'm not doing that many changes for the low prices I charge. If you want to pay $3500 for a cover with this much detailed work, then that's another story.
4) If your character is standing in the wind, pick a picture where the person is standing in the wind and their hair is blowing back. Don't send me a picture of a short haired guy in a suit in an office and ask me to give him long wet hair and put him outside on a boat. Find a wet, long haired guy on a boat instead. Easy right?
5) Pick pictures with the face angles the way you want it. Please don't ask me to change the angle of faces. If you want the character to be looking straight on at the camera, please don't send me a picture of someone looking to the left.
6) If you want the person to be wearing specific clothing, please find a picture with someone wearing that clothing instead of asking me to add it to the person.
7) Please don't send me links to fifteen pictures and ask me to combine them to make five new pictures.
While I don't mind authors looking for their own pictures, I also reserve the right to not use those pictures if it means an incredible amount of extra work or difficulties to make the cover. Remember that the most expensive package I offer is only $320, which is very inexpensive for graphic design work that includes the cost of five photos. I have to set a limit and not go over the number of images stated in each custom cover design package, otherwise it's not cost effective for my time. When I have to piece multiple pictures together, then you're using up the included pictures. When picking character images, please choose images as close as possible to the end result you're looking for. If you have any questions, please ask before purchasing a package.
