Whatcha Think About Wednesday (7)

Just a little observation.

What do you think when you see covers which look alike or are using the same picture? What about the outbreak of covers with girls in dresses (worse, when the girls don't even wear dresses in the book.)


*In no way is this meant to offend anyone.  Nor is this a reflection of the Author, Publisher or the content of these books.  This is merely a discussion on book covers, the coincidences and the trends.

What do I think?  On having the same picture:  I get it, I get how when you use stock photos (e.g. www.istockphoto.com) you can't guarantee your chosen photo won't be used elsewhere.  My thing is, if you see that your proposed cover/arc has the same image as one already released, or releasing before yours, wouldn't you want to maybe rethink your original cover image?  I know it takes time and money to create covers... but let's face it, bloggers are observant and I'm pretty sure people would notice notice if the two books happened to share a shelf.

On having similar covers:  Some covers irk me, being so alike.  Yet, others, not so much.  I'm not sure why this is... I'm guessing it is a mixture of being familiar with the titles and authors.  Then maybe also the fact that some books, no matter how much alike, have their own characteristics that they all stand out for one reason or another.  Maybe it is only when I'm unfamiliar with the books it bothers me because I can't come up with a personal identifier when I see the book floating around.

On having girls in dresses on covers:  Some covers, the girl in a dress belongs.  Example, The Vespertine.  Despite the use of that photo on another book, that cover actually looks like one of the scenes come to life.  Then there are books with historical significance and it makes sense- period dresses.  But, I can't lie.  There are a handful of books out there that no matter how much I try to understand, despite how beautiful the covers are, I just can't come up with the 'why' on why there is a girl on the cover in a dress.

Want some examples?  

  Here are a few covers which are alike but, honestly, doesn't bother me much.  They each have their own charm, no pun intended (HA!), and I could match the title with the book easily.

    

These aren't exactly the same but somehow they are even worse... these have the same look AND name.  I wouldn't want to go to a book store and say "I need a book, called The Fallen, with a angel guy on the front."  Despite one of these being YA and the other Adult, you must see my dilemma here?

  

And here are two books using the same girl, in the same dress...  I love both covers, and I KNOW The Vespertine's cover is very justified (it depicts a scene from the book)  It is just hard seeing the same girl, in the same pose on Dark Angel.  

(That you Kreag for helping me find Dark Angel when I was pulling up a blank on the title)

  

And correct me if I'm wrong, but this may be the same model, in the same dress, from another angle.

And more stock photo oh-nos.

      

And some more... It is the same guy.  

I also know there is another cover with that guy and that girl on it somewhere out there.  I just can't find it.   

    

Now for girls in dresses..  

So beautiful, but I will admit a few of these I just don't get.  

       

   

I think you get it..

Your thoughts on Girls in Dresses, same cover photo, cover lookalikes?