Judah S. Harris Photographs Online


FAQ

How many book jackets feature your photographs?

More than 40 to date. The first one was in 1995, the cover of a Doubleday book The Standoff, written by Chuck Hogan. Interestingly, I also had a photograph on the cover of a Sandra Brown novel titled Standoff. I hope to reach 100 covers in the next few years. Then I'll have a small party and invite people. Don't think I could ever reach 1000.

How would you describe the focus and style of your photography?

People seem to be intrigued by the fact that I have photographed a wide range of subject matter - landscapes and locations, objects, situations with people, portraits, abstract images... I describe my work as highly narrative with strong composition, and I guess I'll leave it to others to categorize it as they see fit. I consider myself a photojournalist and a fine art photographer, as opposed to, say, a sports or fashion photographer. There's a lot of overlap in genres, and as all creatives probably know, the individual style is much more what differentiates one photographer from another.

Besides licensing your images as stock, have you also done commissioned assignments for original book jacket photography?

Most cover art is obtained from available stock. There are literally millions of pictures out there to choose from, though finding the right one is not always a simple task as we all know. Most of my images that have appeared on covers are ones I'd taken already. A designer will see a photo and try to work with it, then get a cover approved. Sometimes I do the research (have even read parts of manuscripts) and come up with possibilities from my collection. I have done some assignments when there's a need for a very specific image. A few Elmore Leonard books were assignments and I've also been commissioned to photograph authors such as Cornel West and Martin Duberman for the covers of their collected essays. When I write a book someday, maybe I'll even do a self-portrait. Then again maybe not.

What might it cost to shoot an original image for a cover?

At times it can be almost the same cost to shoot an original image as to license an existing one. My fee is comprised of a creative fee and the fee for usage rights. If it's a larger press run or more important book with a bigger budget, the cost will be higher. The cost to photograph an original image can be as low as $1000 and as high as $4000, depending on a number of variables. If there are prep-days, model fees and travel expenses, it can add to the overall cost. In general, I try to be sensitive to budgets. If someone tells me they only have this amount to work with, or they've already spent on art and need to now try a different direction, I'll listen and try to help out. I've even done assignments on a semi-spec basis. If the cover is approved, it'll be the agreed on fee; if not I charge only half the amount (plus expenses). It's basically a kill fee, though I don't like that term.

What other types of photography do you do besides book covers?

In addition to photography, I'm also starting to do promotional film. I have always liked film, and I trace the origins back a few decades ago when I bought a used Super 8 camera with some of my bar mitzvah money. Film is similar to photography, another way to tell a story, which I like to do. I'm also a writer and publish articles or essays from time to time. In terms of my photography, it's used in editorial (magazines) and advertising, and I do projects for non-profit organizations and companies, photographing for marketing materials, annual reports, and the like. I'm especially skilled at photographing people in real situations and this is a quality that many companies and organizations are looking for. I also photograph events, including weddings, featuring very journalistic imagery, and I design all the wedding albums personally. I create the albums in Photoshop and even design a dust jacket. They're very much like coffee table books.

Of all the pictures you've taken, do you have a favorite photograph?

People sometimes ask me that question. I tell them that I have favorite photographs - many of them - but no favorite photograph. Maybe I will in the future. I'm proud of my work, but I hope the best is yet to come.

To read more about Judah S. Harris, visit www.judahsharris.com/about.htm

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