MODELING INFORMATION (WHAT TO BRING, ETC.)

Before the shoot: 

Book cover photography is very different from portrait/portfolio photography on the business side, therefore it is important to demonstrate professional courtesy relative to shooting with other book cover photographers after scheduling a session with Furious Fotog. 

Keep things in mind such as:

• The proximity of other sessions with another cover photographer to avoid overlap with that photographer's marketing of your Images.
• Any retrictions/emargos other photographers may contractually impose which may  prevent shooting with Furious Fotog (note that Furious Fotog does not mandate such a thing, only asking that it be kept in mind).
• The number of book cover photoshoots you do in a given timeframe. This will help avoid potential issues such as repeating looks that are sold exclusively (more on that below) or being overexposed.

The Model Release section below contains important information on Furious Fotog's paperwork.

On your shoot day, try to arrive on time for your session (normal start time is 9:00 am or 9:30 am) to allow time for mandatory paperwork (the Model Release). Be sure to bring a driver's license or official government-issued ID. 

My studio is located in Athens, Alabama.

This small town is situated about thirty minutes north of Huntsville International Airport (code HSV), about an hour and a half north of Birmingham Airport (code BHM), and about an hour and a half south of Nashville Airport (code BNL). Several classes of hotels are available nearby if needed, close to I-65 and in the neighboring municipalities of Madison and Huntsville.

The FuriousFotog® brand specializes in male model/couples photography and licensing for romance book covers (including those with diverse characters, genres, and storylines). As such, I no longer shoot general portraiture, cosplay, weddings, events, or gym/sponsorship shoots.

Recommended items for every FuriousFotog photoshoot:

• A selection of jeans with plain, well-fitting tee shirts and tank tops/a-shirts (for general clothed and shirtless stock). Note: brands cannot be shown in the final product, so smaller logos are preferred.
• A button-up shirt (any solid color).
• Footwear will not be photographed, so wear something comfortable.  If shooting in outdoor water, bring shoes (flip-flops, etc.) for wading.
• It is better to have too many options than not enough.

Optional items to bring for themed book cover photoshoots (if owned or available):

• Full suit or business casual clothes like khakis (for businessman stock)
• Zip-up hoodie (for fighter/bad boy stock)*
• Leather jacket (for bad boy stock)*
• Caps/hats and other accessories.
• Sportswear (plain shorts, etc)
• Themed looks from work or daily life, such as cowboy hats, firefighter equipment, or construction wear.
• Specialized props.
• Logos or specific rank/firehouse/department information will not be present in the final shots that are posted online or used on book covers.
• I will provide wardrobe and props for themed sets if required. See the Shoot Looks/Theme page for more information.

Clothing Tips:

• Solid colors are best. Try to avoid patterns and extremely bright colors as they do not photograph well.
• Clothes should fit well and be free of wrinkles. Tighter fits are preferred but not required.
• Clothing with various textures and layers (vests, jackets) can add interest. Worn or distressed clothing can also add some distinction to the shoot.
• To make your eye color pop, consider the following: Blue eyes may be enhanced by a blue, green, brown or gray shirts. Green eyes with earthy tones or subtle grays. Brown and hazel eyes tend to have a wider range of colors that enhance them.

The number of looks:

There is no set limit to the number of looks in the photography session; the only limit is time.

Where photos will be taken:

General shoots occur in studio on a black backdrop, interiors (only if relaxed lifestyle, bedroom, or shower/wet shots are taken as part of book cover photo shoots), and on location for country and urban backdrops.

Costs and/or Payments:

For book cover shoots, there is no cost to the modeI, and when I license a photo for a book cover, I share payments with them once the client (authors) pay their invoice in full. This payment - called internally a talent fee - is typically $300 for the model per image licensed ($289.04 after business invoice fees). For those payments, I use either PayPal or Venmo. 

Note: Although I’ve licensed over 2000 photos to date for several hundred authors across the globe, there iisn’t a guarantee of any sales, since that part is out of my hands and up to the authors and their particular book characters. There may be a lot licensed right away, or over time, or there could be none at all.

Types of Images Taken:

Due to Amazon and other retailer restrictions, the looks for the photos themselves are more commercialized “sexy” so there shouldn’t be any worries about anything too risqué. Mainly things like shirtless in jeans or wearing simple tees in studio and on location, plus other specific themes with wardrobe and props (like football gear, biker vests, bad boy/leather jackets, etc.). It all depends on what best fits the particular model’s looks. 

Types of Books: 

The images taken will be offered for popular romance and/or erotica books. 

The storylines may include diverse characters (lgbtq+, interracial, etc.), places, and events  (motorcycle club, mafia, action-adventure, paranormal, etc.). 

The final cover designs and book titles will reflect the genre and are not under my control.