Promote your album by using a photograph of your band as the album's cover art. Though many music lovers connect with a song's lyrics, some connect with faces of your band members. You can hire a professional photographer or ask a friend to take band photos. Hiring a friend is always the cheapest option, but you may have to wait longer for the final product. Decide on a location for your photo session. The background of your photo should intrigue your audience and draw them to your album.
Your design can reflect your inspiration for the album. Lyrics have a powerful influence on people. From messy breakups to political opinions, your lyrics tell a story and inspire listeners. They also provide a direction for your cover's design. You can also design a cover that reflects the atmosphere of your album. If your lyrics are dark and moody, you may want to replicate that theme in your overall design.
Many indie artists have chosen quirky artwork for their album covers. Exhibiting your unique personality and style through an odd design can attract many viewers. Your artwork should be visually arresting and persuade people to purchase your album. From cartoon skylines to optical illusions, the possibilities of designing unusual artwork are endless. You may also want to consider hiring a graphic designer or an artistic friend to create your imaginative, artsy cover design.
In some instances, a simple design can effectively captivate an audience. Many top-selling albums, including works by The White Stripes, Incubus and Interpol, have cover designs that stray from cluttered artwork and focus on simple text and color themes. Whether you use Photoshop or a Microsoft's free Paint, you can experiment with this technique. Choose a solid color for your background, add your band name to the canvas, and experiment with the text font.