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Poll: Behind the Scene Footage of IRON AND MAGIC Photoshoot

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So we are in possession of behind the scenes footage of the cover photoshoot.  The question is, do you want to see it?

When we first saw the images, I had some concerns.  Like why is her leg so exposed, or why is there this armor and not that armor, etc? The thing to keep in mind is that all images will be heavily edited.  For example, Elara’s leg is out, because the photographer wanted to capture a certain line of the dress.  The armor is there as a starting point.  In the final shot the armor may look completely different.  Three shots could be taken just to get the angle of the arms right.  An so on and so on. We saw the first mock up cover and it’s so good, I squeed.  And I don’t typically squee.

So Gordon and I would like to show you the video, but we have two concerns.

One, you have to civil.  There are real people involved.  Unedited.  Not only they are both remarkably attractive, but they are doing an awesome job. It turns out, this is a lot more complicated than “stand here and look pretty.”  They are professionals, but this doesn’t mean that if you start bashing their appearance their feelings won’t be hurt.  So you have to stay civil.

Two, this is pulling the curtain aside and showing you a little bit how the magic happens. Some people love that.  Some really don’t.

So, here is a poll. Let us know your opinion.

Do you want to see behind the scenes footage of Hugh's photoshoot?

View Results

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Comments

  1. I would love to see how a cover evolves from photo shoot to finish. The artistry that takes the raw product to the polished final product. Thank you for this!

  6. Since it’s a complex process, I am very interested in getting a rare glimpse with some tour narration. It will make me more appreciative of the art.
    Thank you for your genosity in educating us.

  7. If you don’t want to see behind the curtain, don’t look.
    As for me GIMME. Another author posted some of her BTS and it was playfully delightful. You can post it on the medium you feel you have the most control over commenting, though, if you have any trepidation.

  8. thank you SO much for this opportunity! Idk why anyone would nit-pick works in progress. I’m so thankful that y’all are so communicative. I love and appreciate your blogs!!

    • It’s up to 94%. And I want to know who the 6% are that would deny us the pleasure of more all things KD.

      • I would love to see the process and voted accordingly -but part of that is because i have an interest in photography too.
        However I can completely understand why some people wouldn’t.
        Once you see how something is acheived, sometimes you forget to keep looking at things at face value of said creation and you start to take things apart in your head the whole time, once you think you know what the ‘trick’ is. That can take away a little of its impact on you. So if you know your that kind of person- and I can be that way at times- I can completely understand why you’d want to just experiance the end product- so that you still have that sense of wonder when you first see something. Nothing wrong in that.
        🙂

  10. The generosity of the Author Lords is always appreciated….and if any members of the BDH do not acquit themselves well in the face of this largesse? Then off with their proverbial heads!

  11. I am one of those nerds that loves documentaries about how movies are made, etc. I never knew that book covers were any more than great drawings, until you discussed models and shoots in your blog. I would love to see the images, and to compare them to the final cover. If you are worried about reactions, perhaps you could post the real model pictures with the cover reveal, and also shut down comments.

  16. Oh, come on. You know your book-devouring horde. Of course we want to see the behind the scenes footage.

    If anyone is ugly we can let Teddy Jo deal with them.

  17. Yes please! Anyone who has done any sort of Photoshop, Powerpoint, etc knows the power of cut and paste and hide parts of pictures etc. etc. As long as the final result is not like the Vanity Fair cover where Oprah had 3 hands and Reese Whitherspoon had 3 legs it is all good. 🙂

  18. I’d love to see how you get how to the final product. I admit to always wondering if it was just a picture out of an artists head and if they’d even read what they were drawing about.

  19. I enjoy seeing how things go from one stage to another. Fascinating, and greatfull for the opportunity to see how the magic works!

  22. Being civil used to be the default (you know, like being polite and tactful, or if that fails, if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all) but today, with the over-propagation of the troll species, I fear not. Thanks for the education and the request for civility.

    • Agree. If this was another forum of day go with one of the other readers suggestions about maybe turning off comments. But so far i don’t think I’ve come across any really rude or any trollish behaviour on any of the comments boards that I’ve read here.

      I think that’s one of the main reasons I read them along with the weekly stories, as most are funny insightful and happy comments from nice people who (i don’t think) would look to troll anyone.

      Even the odd occasion where someone has kinda said something that sounds a bit like they are trying to teach the AL to suck eggs… (paraphrasing an old saying about grannies that we have in the UK…maybe in the US too?)…they are normally not overly rude or anything- just more like a debate captain wanting to make a point- and the responses, even in disagreement are always respectful and not personal name calling.

      So I’d be hopeful that it would be the same for any comments made re the photo shoot. But i think it’s wonderful that Ilona and Gordon care enough that they remember to remind people of the rules- as – given what I’ve seen on other sites- the reminder of the rules of engagement are not made often enough to people online.

  24. I voted “Yes, Gimme!” However, if exposing the models to the BDH worries you, then if you havn’t already done so, maybe reach out to them first and ask them if they are ok with the raw video being posted to social media.

    Or just disable comments on the video when you post it.

    I would definately love to see it though.

  27. I would love to see the behind the scenes. I agree with others, if you and Gordon are concerned with the models, disable the comments section.

    I can’t speak for the entire BDH, but I will be civil. 🙂

  28. To be honest, I’d like to see how much work is in it to be more forgiving and understanding of some of the worst final product I’ve seen. Like before I watch this anime about making manga I was like, “no! Hiatus!” And “grrr…so slow…” But after I’ve seen amd understood how they make it and that there are real people behind I got more mellow. 🙂 So yes, please.

    • I second this – I always appreciate learning the intricacies of how things are made in general. Some of the items I take for granted everyday – a cup, a spoon, chewing gum, and so on – all of it goes through this amazing process to make it to my storefront for me to purchase which, I am sad to say, 90% of the time I don’t give a second thought to. When I do watch the “making of” something, I find I am a lot more appreciative of the final product, and forgiving of errors (or things I don’t like). After all, no one goes out striving for abysmal failure, generally speaking we all try our best.

  30. Photography is my hobby, and I’ve manipulated some of my photos to look more like illustrations. I’m very curious to see professionals at work on this process.

    Thank you for making the offer.

  31. Knowing that the BDH is constantly looking for any scrap of information, you can’t be surprised by the poll results. And if anyone is clueless enough to post a disparaging comment, the pile-on by the rest of the commenters showing them the error in judgement will probably be drastic enough that no one else would dare.

    Thank you again for your consideration.

  32. It should be interesting to see the pictures and how they are taken to make a composite drawing.

  34. It’s sad, but I guess not surprising that you have to tell people – repeatedly – to be civil.

    I fall under choice c – I’m always interested in what you post, and lifting the curtain is neat, but I found you electronically and the covers really don’t matter much to me. So I won’t send you hate mail if you decide not to share.

  35. I once went to a conference where the keynote speaker was a photographer. He showed the progression of photos from okay to great. It was so interesting and educational.
    I would love to see what happens to make a cover. Thank you.

  36. I think it would be great!

    So much of the behind-the-scenes stuff is awesome and very entertaining and many times, educational.

  37. I love that you ask !

    I don’t know what it would take, but if you had a way to do a lock/password thingy for access? If you don’t feel comfy just throwing it out there.

    Otherwise I’m dying to see how it works!

  38. If it would be possible to embed the video so the magic lovers can skip it, then everyone can be happy.

  40. I find it hard to believe you even asked the question. Your reminder that the models are real people, though, was excellent.

  43. Off topic. Been struggling with sick and sad re reading Kate. Forgotten about bran. He was so good. Extra thanks for doing such great character. Happy days.

    • Whenever I start feeling melancholy, I’ll start listening to Renee read one of her books (then i have to finish the series). Works every time. And I always find something new.

  44. I would love to see the process! I think it’ll be fascinating to see how the cover artist edits the original pictures to whatever the final cover ends up looking like. Of course I’m also dying to know what Hugh looks like too lol

  45. I’m listening to the Hidden Legacy series on audiobook again this week while I work. I can’t wait for the next installment so I hope the talks with Avon go well. At least I have Kate and Hugh books to look forward to this year!

  46. I would love to see the process! I totally give a great deal of credit to people that can pose and portray these covers. I would love to see the video. Thank you for even offering the possibility!

  47. It is sad that you feel the bdh needs to be reminded to be on our best behaviour. You are so generous and giving to us ; we would punish verbally ASAP any crass outburst that might upset any models etc., or our mighty authorlords . Giver of all chapter goodies and other assorted tidbits.

  48. I love the idea of seeing raw samples but completely respect those who prefer to see only the magic. I’ve never had any difficulty compartmentalizing my fascination with the science of how it’s done from my pleasure and belief in the final magic. Seeing actors in a green screen does it in the slightest prevent me from believing in the end result. Its like loving my two children, one is not loved more than the other, but each is loved fully for their beautiful unique gifts as well as those shared. So I voted ‘Gimme’ please!!

  49. I love seeing behind the scenes shots! I know they look very different from what the final cover will look like, but it’s always interesting to see the process.

  50. I, too, would like to see the evolution of the cover; I’d like to peek behind the curtain.
    As an aside, when I first read about preliminary photos my twisted little mind started imagining pictures of magicians in the act of conjuration and vile rites.

  51. I would love to see it. I do a lot of photography (gemstones as a product and travel photos, often gem related due to the nature of my travel) and fully understand that “the perfect shot” might be one of dozens (in the case of product shots) or one of 10 out of a couple of thousand taken on a trip where you can’t control lighting, angles, facial expessions etc. Cropping and editing might add 10 or 20 to that last. And I am very glad it’s still not the age of actual film, because that is an art unto itself with no immediate feedback like you get from digital.

    • It would be fascinating to see what goes on at a cover shoot, I have always wondered about it. I once attended a lecture by a famous Knitting designer. The whole lecture was about how to shoot the models. It was fun and incredibly interesting.

  52. I would love to see it. It’s always interesting to see how things develop! On this occation i would like to say that I like the covers where there is more than a half naked man with a half naked woman and that’s also the reason I really like the Kate covers!

  58. I never knew til back in the Fabio days that covers weren’t completely someones’ drawings/artwork. Would be fun to see the “before” the cover photo shoot.

  64. I voted yes for those who want it. I don’t want to see behind the scene, but all I have to do is not look. But for those who do for all the excellent reasons I read, they can’t choose to see something that’s not there.

  67. Apparently the BDH is desperate for anything related to the series:) And I speak as one of the BDH itself.

  70. I am really split personally on this. I like the idea of seeing behind the curtain but than the “magic” might be lost just due to the amount of work involved.

  73. 4600+ votes! The Horde has spoken!
    (Que Gollum voice) We wants it, we neeeds it!

    Am I the only one wondering about the title, though? I thought it was going to be Blood and Magic.

  77. Grins… Need you ask? Its very gracious of you to even offer, of course most of the hoard will wish to see anything you two Care to share. Have A great week and thank you for again sharing the goodies that happen when you two create together. ☺

  78. Gimme. I’m pretty ok with anything except A.Jolie’s stuck out leg shot-anybody else’s leg would be ok, but not Jolie’s.

  80. Very cool! Thank you for showing us!

    Just realized that today is Thursday and that mean that tomorrow is…..

    Innkeeper!
    Innkeeper!
    Innkeeper!
    Innkeeper!

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