Help Me Pick (very important)

I've been working on getting a head shot or something of the line for the cover of my upcoming novel, The Reluctant Prince: Book I of The Infernal Empire, and I think I'm nearly there. I have it narrowed down to one picture, but there are four different versions of it I like.

So, tell me which you like best.

Full Color:


Black & White:


Sepia Tone:


Spooky Sepia Tone:

Well, what type of story is it?

Now, I am anti-black and white. B&W looks so unprofessional, like you did it with your cheap laser printer. I thus nix the B&W. Are you doing historic fiction? If you are, then sepia is all right. I believe that you are doing horror, so that 'spooky sepia' could work. I still voted for color.

I think dark fantasy is the best way to classify it, but I generally hate genre labels.

Thanks for voting!

All of those pictures of you look good, but since you write dark fantasy I'd pick 'Spooky Sepia Tone'.

Do you already know what the whole books color's gonna be? If it's a black it would look awesome with the spooky one.

There are still some issue with the proposed cover art, but cover will be either black with green or black with gold/tan and green.

Yeah so definitely the spooky one. Right now it has a kinda yellow tone to it, what if you'd change that to a greenish one? How I imagine it right now it looks pretty cool too. Might be worth a try!

I like the spooky one the best. It makes things a bit mysterious.

I just like the regular sepia tone.
Just because its a dark fantasy doesn't mean that it always has to have spooky in it or the picture itself has to be scary.
I find what scares me the most is the unexpected of what is to be scary.
And that is why I chose regular sepia tone.

Here is the sepia tone with a 'spotlight':


It is sort of between the regular sepia tone and the 'spooky' one.

And the full color with the spotlight:

Kellycakes wrote:

I like the spooky one the best. It makes things a bit mysterious.

Yeah, see, that's sort of what I'm going for. I don't really like too many pictures of myself and I think I like that one because it is a bit more surreal then the other or just a standard straight forward head shot. It's the one I was learning towards before posting, but I wanted to get some outside opinions on them before making any final choices, you know?

Thanks everyone for your advice. I really do appreciate it.

I still like regular sepia tone.

I would suggest a little less bust in the shot, trim the bottom off and bring the center of the fade to the center of your face , most notably your eyes, as opposed to your lips and neck being the highlight point.

That way you have the full head shot while your body fades away in the nifty fade to black effect.

As for tone, I like the Normal Sepia Tone as the spooky one gives you an orange/yellow glow to your body which reminds me of liver failure (that might be just a personal thing on my part).

In any regard, I would suggest playing with crop and center tools to ensure you give a full head shot and then fade from view.

Also if you changed the center point to your eyes the full color might also look really sweet, give it a try and see what you think.

Urs wrote:

I would suggest a little less bust in the shot, trim the bottom off and bring the center of the fade to the center of your face , most notably your eyes, as opposed to your lips and neck being the highlight point.

That way you have the full head shot while your body fades away in the nifty fade to black effect.

As for tone, I like the Normal Sepia Tone as the spooky one gives you an orange/yellow glow to your body which reminds me of liver failure (that might be just a personal thing on my part).

In any regard, I would suggest playing with crop and center tools to ensure you give a full head shot and then fade from view.

Also if you changed the center point to your eyes the full color might also look really sweet, give it a try and see what you think.

I actually tried cropping the image off at the bottom and I HATED it, but then I in general don't like close up shots of just my face.

I don't think either of these are exactly professional looking for a book cover, but I really like each of them in their own odd ways.

The top or bottom one's would be the most appropriate for a "author photo"

But with the top one, again I would suggest the center be on your eyes not your lips.Is there a way for you to change the focal point of the fade?

Truthfully, Hydra, I am glad that you are proud of the way that you look, but those pictures do not flatter you (that shaved head look -- well, no). I would not use any of them. As a general opinion, these pictures look defiant and uncaring (and the second one is just grainy, which gives the impression of cheap). They would probably scare away interested readers and entice none (those that purchased your book will be won over by the blurb).

Yep, that is my opinion, but I suspected such was what you wanted.

I agree with Terish, I mean they are beautiful in its own way but I wouldn't pick one of them for a author photo on a book. I don't think that they would scare away the people, but the ones you put up first are more professional. You can see who you really are on the first ones but in a professional way.

I like all pictures of you, because they show all your different faces, which is very impressive, but wouldn't pick 'em for a book.

I agree with you on all points except TerishD saying my hair style is unflattering and/or might be a turn off for people or not draw them in, because the real life reaction has been so far in the other direction I even find it a little unreal at times myself.

Just last night I ran down to the Target to get some things and three different prefect strangers walked up to me and told me how much that loved my hair. I just about had to stop using one grocery store because one of the clerks damn near started stalking me after I cut it he liked it so much. I got neighbors (plural) who I've lived on the same block with for years now, but who suddenly after I cut my hair want to hang out with me and give me free books. And these aren't all young people or kids or 'punks' or anything like that. Some of them have been men and women who are old enough to be my parent or even grandparent; all races, all genders. It's insane.

Maybe it's just one of those things that doesn't translate into photos well (which I personally don't think it does), or it's a personal taste issue, but when I go out and DON'T want to draw flattery or attention from others is when I wear my hair down or put on a hat. Otherwise, I can about promise you someone is going to stop me.

I don't think that it would stop people from buying your books. It might sell even better, you never know. Since your second part of pictures look kinda unique and interesting as well, it might be that even people who never really read a book stop and buy it. Everything is possible, even with a picture other people think wouldn't pick for a book photo.

Well if you want to see how good your book would sell with one of the other pictures, you can pick on of them, but if you want to be certain about it, I'd pick one of the first ones.

Like I said before, they all look good. You're lucky because you have the ability to wear your hair whatever style you'd like to. Not a lot of people can do that. But I'm sure that people come up to you and tell you they like your hair. I think that;'s awesome!

Yeah, well, I HOLD TO MY OPINION. It is my opinion, and I am proud of it. I call it George and love it and pet it.

Hair styles are hair styles. I have mine slightly long at the moment, and I like it that way.

I let you know my opinion. As I said, I figure it is what you expect. If I didn't, I would be in wrong. Still, it is MY opinion, and YOUR decision. I wish you well.

I course, I could treat you like they treat me in the education system. They tell me their way. If my works, they do not admit that I might be right - only that it SEEMS to work for me. Now, if my way does not work, WELL, they let me know BIG TIME that I was WRONG. No, I will not treat you that way. If your way does not work, I will sympathize with you and praise you for trying.

No, TerishD, I do respect your opinion and more so the fact that you are person who recognizes that your opinions are just that OPINIONS. So, I'll never give you a hard time for having one. It was just SO disagreeable with what has been my experience with this hairstyle and people's reaction. Otherwise, I'd be the first person to admit that something I've done or said is a turn off to the masses.


Also, just so you guys get an idea of what a shock my haircut was to the people around me, here's what it was before... for years.



But then of course I had the dreads for about a year in-between.

HYdraMStar wrote:

I don't think either of these are exactly professional looking for a book cover, but I really like each of them in their own odd ways.

I think this one would be the best, because it demands that you "Look into my eyes and see the soul of the creator" or something along those lines.

Again however I would say try to make the highlight around your eyes (I know I sound like a broken record).

Like anything a Book has a target audience, the people that would enjoy reading this type of work. In that regard you want to appeal to them in your writing and your image.

With that said, I like this image because I feel a sense of madness when I look at it which might attract your target audience. (Since I do not know what makes up this audience my feelings and knowledge on this matter are highly limited)

Urs has a good point there. It might be a good idea doing it the way he just suggested it.

Btw...I think you look so much better with short hair. And you can tell that you've lost weight. Very nice Hydra.

Keep working at whatever you are doing, Hydra. You have my support.

Snacker wrote:

...And you can tell that you've lost weight. Very nice Hydra.

That may be part of the different reaction form people I'm getting as well.

... and thanks.