[EydieG]

This really isn't a Kindle issue, but I noticed it today while looking at Kindle books on Amazon and it is bugging me that I don't have anyone to tell about it. Two different books by two different authors have the same couple on the covers.
Samson's Lovely Mortal by Tina Folsom and Eye of the Beholder by Emma Jay.
I wonder if this happens often and I wonder if the authors/publishers know and do they care?
Oh well, just a thought.

 

[Ilyria Moon]

I'm sure it does. When using stock images, it's rare to get the image before anyone else has bought it.

 

[grahampowell]

The Rap Sheet, a (mostly) mystery fiction blog, has a series of amusing posts on this phenomenon:

http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/search/label/Copycat%20Covers

Graham

 

[yomamma]

Basically you are looking at a stock photo. If you go to a website that sells the stock photos, you can license for cheap ($10-15) or you can buy outright for really expensive ($300+).

Most people just license. That's why you'll see the same couples on a lot of covers over and over again, because it's a great shot and everyone wants to use it.

 

[WestofMars]

I think it's the Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books (who are absolutely brilliant women; they're more than smart) who keep a running tally of this cover replication. Lots of folk do, actually. Even GalleyCat, the hot industry gossip blog and feed, posts about it from time to time.

 

[Ilyria Moon]

Basically you are looking at a stock photo. If you go to a website that sells the stock photos, you can license for cheap ($10-15) or you can buy outright for really expensive ($300+).

Most people just license. That's why you'll see the same couples on a lot of covers over and over again, because it's a great shot and everyone wants to use it.

The problem with buying the exclusive license is there have usually been sales before you find the image.

 

[Mike McIntyre]

It happens with CD covers, too. The image on the cover for Bob Dylan's "Modern Times"--Ted Croner's 1947 photograph "Taxi, New York at Night"--was previously used on a 1995 album by the band Luna.

 

[EydieG]

Wow, I've never noticed this before.  Now with my Kindle, I look at the covers even less.
Thanks for keeping me up to date everybody!

 

[SuzanneTyrpak]

Interesting post! That couple gets around.

 

[Grace Elliot]

What sharp eyes you have!
To get round the problem I'm thinking of having my son (who is a gifted artist) paint the art work for my next book....certainly should be unique then.

 

[Cindy Borgne]

Interesting. Well, at least the overall design is somewhat different. Thanks for sharing.

 

[heatherjustesen]

I know after my book came out I had a friend point out another writer we know who had used the same cover art for one of her books that she'd gotten the rights back for and was putting it out on ebook. She's a much better known author than I am, (since she's published ten times as many books) but isn't pushing her backlist, so I'm just not going to worry about it. I does make me think about how to make future book covers more original, though.

 

[Sandra Edwards]

Happens all the time. Even when you pay (some) cover artists hundreds of dollars, it doesn't mean your cover won't have some recognizable elements.

 

[Joseph Robert Lewis]

I've seen the same airship on a number of steampunk books. It gives me a chuckle, but it doesn't bother me. It's a great piece of art!

 

[India Drummond]

I'm actually surprised it doesn't happen more!

I've seen the model on my Ordinary Angels book on another cover before, but never the same pose. I'm glad, actually, because it's a pretty distinctive photo. My publisher didn't do a lot to tweak the image to make it unique. (Just added some background texture, I think.)

I did the cover for Blood Faerie myself, and I'd bet even the photographer would do a double-take if he saw  my version. I changed her hair colour, eye colour, added all the shadows, removed her make-up (she had sparkly eye shadow and bright pink lipstick) and even skewed a few things. So, even if someone did have the same picture, it wouldn't be too same-same-same.

For my third book, I have a completely custom illustration, and I have to admit I'm excited about that. It feels good to know it'll be mine-all-mine.

 

[history_lover]

This is the one I keep seeing:

Obviously a popular stock image, lol. This is why it might not be best to pick among the most popular or bestselling stock images.

 

[IndiaLeeBooks]

Being in the entertainment industry, I look at these and think of my poor friends who have done stock photo modeling and it's just crazy how their faces can appear everywhere and they don't see a dime for it. That last model on four different books though is pretty crazy!!!

But as everyone said, it happens to big names outside of self-publishing.

Even Stephanie Meyer's not immune!!!

 

[Grace Elliot]

I feel really sorry for authors who find a fantastic image, only to discover that someone else decided to use it.
Who can afford to buy the rights to an image? - it's big money.
To get round this I'm getting my son (who does happen to have a great talent for art) to paint a picture to adapt for my next book cover - he started drawing some concept ideas today and it's exciting and nerve-wracking, in equal amounts.

 

[history_lover]

Just spotted these:

 

[Harry Nicholson]

Just spotted these:

Gordon Bennett!
I'm glad I painted my own.