10 Tips for Shooting Your Own Cover Photo

By Julie Musil, @juliemusil

Part of the Indie Author Series

When Jeff Fielder created my cover for The Boy Who Loved Fire, he used stock images. When it came time to design the cover for my next release, The Summer of Crossing Lines, we hit a roadblock.

My protagonist infiltrates a theft ring and crosses moral lines. I envisioned a teen boy and girl...plus police tape. Try searching for that on stock photo sites, and you’ll see some strange images. Seriously. None of it worked for me. While my designer explored other options, I worked to create the image I saw in my head.

Even amateur photographers can create cool cover images. Here are some things to consider when taking your own photos:

1. Recruit a friend or relative who can take decent photos

My sister has always been the family photographer. It’s not a profession for her, but a hobby she loves. We set a date to have some fun with photos.

2. Recruit models who’ll work for little or no pay

If your ideal shot includes real people, try recruiting people you know. Lucky for me, I have a handsome teen son who has a beautiful girlfriend. They agreed to be models just for the fun of it. The girlfriend’s parents were also on board. If your friends or their kids are willing to be on a book cover, be sure to tell them you may not use the photos but you’re exploring your options. This will avoid hurt feelings if you don’t use them.

3. Coordinate clothes

The models can bring a few wardrobe changes. It just so happened that my son and his girlfriend wore shirts that worked together. One thing I didn’t consider was the girl’s white shirt. It created some issues with font color, but the cover designer figured a way around it.

4. Bring props

I knew I wanted police tape and a padlock, so I brought those. Bring anything you think will be fun to place in the photo. Worst case is you don’t use it.

5. Choose a location with scene changes

Consider choosing a location where you can switch things up. We chose my sister’s house, because she has great landscaping. But we quickly moved from there to the local elementary school, where the final image was shot.

6. Unless harsh shadows are a part of your design, shoot in the shade

It took us a few camera clicks to realize the sun was messing up our shots. We moved to a shady location, where we could get the lighting right.

7. Be open to ideas and unplanned moments

The final shot hadn’t even been part of the plan. It was at the end of the day when my son and his girlfriend were just hanging out. My sister and I saw them side by side and shouted, “Don’t move!” It was the perfect accidental shot.

8. Take an abundance of photos

We took almost 300 photos that day. Different locations, different poses, different angles. You never know which photo will be “the one.”

9. Photo release form

Even though we’re really close with the girlfriend’s parents, I asked them to sign a release form. The mom totally understood and had no problem signing it. You never know where life takes you, and it’s a good idea to protect your models and your work. Information about photo releases and sample forms can be found here.

10. Deliver photos to a pro

Once I narrowed down my favorite photos, I emailed them to J. Allen Fielder, my cover designer. He then went to work on creating a professional cover for ebook and print.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for on stock sites, or you want an original image that no one else can use, consider taking the photos yourself. My best advice? Just have fun with it!

The final cover...

Do you have any friends or family members who like taking photos? Would you ever consider taking your own cover shots? If you’re an expert photographer, is there anything you’d like to amend or add?


Julie Musil writes from her rural home in Southern California, where she lives with her husband and three sons. She’s an obsessive reader who loves stories that grab the heart and won’t let go. Her Young Adult novels, The Summer of Crossing Lines and The Boy Who Loved Fire, are available now. For more information, or to stop by an say Hi, please visit Julie on her blog, on Twitter, and on Facebook.

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