Surprising, rewarding, challenging

Surprising, rewarding, challenging.  That’s how I feel about working with the Sisters in creating the covers for their books.
 
Surprising.  
Just think about it.  A retired, amateur photographer is asked one of those “would you consider...” questions by the authors. We had worked together in different professional capacities, and we found that our work complemented each other.  We agreed to give it a try.  So we did photo sessions in various locations involving some talented models.  It sounds simple but it is not.  These covers are the work of a team and we are proud of the results.
 
Rewarding.
Producing the covers has been more rewarding than I thought possible. It is so great working with, for example, Margaret Kay.  She has a clear vision for a cover and she is ready to make decisions. We agreed on the process early on: it is about the cover, that’s it.  We are both wiling to say when things work and when it is time to try again or even scrap it all and start over.  The covers are the outcome of many discussions and what-if options.  And we know when to call it done.  Having done quite a bit of photography for others, and just basically working with people, you know how unique and rewarding an open and honest collaboration can be.
 
Challenging.
I am so lucky.  We have digital cameras, Photoshop, Blender, and DAZ Studio and great ways to share the work-in-process covers.  Over time, we have created all-digital covers (using Blender and DAZ Studio), photo covers made better through Photoshop and a number of covers where we use a combination of the 3D rendering and photographs. Sometimes the vision for a cover pushes to the edges of the products we use.  
 
Those are some of the things I think you should know about what goes on to make the covers for Sisters Romance. And what a great way to spend retirement!  I am happy and so very lucky to be a part of their success.  I’m sure there are more covers to come.

by Harry R.