YA/NA FANATICS discussion

Well this truly is a random topic but I don't know if anyone could help me out.

Recently I've been wanting to get into book cover designing (being a photographer and graphic designer and all) and I was wondering if any go you guys knew of any way how I could really get started with it? I don't like to just make a cover for an already existing book without being asked as I'd be slightly insulted if I was the previous designer. So yea, any ideas?

:)

I don't have any idea about how to design covers, but I would imagine if you could just come up with some random cover designs to no book in particular, but maybe that point toward a certain genre like YA, NA, vampires, Paranormal, magic, etc, then you could start a sort of portfolio for people to see. Hopefully that would get people interested and bring in some business.

If you are a graphic designer, you are already equipped to get going. I'll tell you how I did mine. I picked out my own photo on shutterstock and had my graphic designer put it together. I liked this because it saved her time and it gave me actually what I was looking for. I still felt like it was MY project (as a self pubbed) and she was a little cheaper because she didn't have to spend hours trying to find my vision when I had fun just doing it myself. Not sure if that helps, but it's what I do. I'll put my cover on here to show you what I've done. I have not had a lot of feedback on it being a good cover, but I love it and that is enough for me.

Hi Georgie I suggest you design a cover for an indie author for free. AND IT SHOULD BE GOOD! That way would spread the word quickly.
P.S. Do you design websites?

Kelly wrote: "If you are a graphic designer, you are already equipped to get going. I'll tell you how I did mine. I picked out my own photo on shutterstock and had my graphic designer put it together. I liked th..."

I love this cover:)

I'd say make several mock covers for fake books that show off your style of design. Then you can provide a portfolio to people interested and also you can sell them as premade covers. Also there are many groups here on goodreads that will let you make a thread listing your services.