Creating Cover Concepts
by art director Krista Oliver
I arrived at photographer Robert Gagnon’s studio to shoot the November 2010 American Romance covers.
American Romance is a “Home and Family” series, so the set is always buzzing with lots of babies, children, dogs, horses, and even a police car on one occasion.
For this cover, Jesse: Merry Christmas Cowboy by Lynnette Kent, we had all the western wedding paraphernalia, wedding gowns, rings, bouquet, western suit with bolo tie for our dapper hero!
Today I was accompanied by our marketing team, who came a long to see the final cover of the mini-series The Cody’s wrap with the big wedding.
Shooting four covers is a full day. On set we have always have the photographer, his assistants, hair and make-up and the stylists who brings all the clothes and accessories. We have a pose and a feel we’re trying to achieve and a lot of time is spent in prep and lighting, so that the models look as great as possible.
Meanwhile there is always great food around and I always seem too eat too much, even before our lunch break…and yes models eat too…sometimes :)
Once the shoot is finished the image of the couple is sent to an illustrator to have the background element put in.
I find when I tell people what I do for a living, they are surprised that every cover has a concept, is cast and shot and illustrated..it’s a lot of work, but it’s fun job!
