I Need Your Help Choosing A Cover for "The Bodies Of Mothers!"

(Cover Idea #5)

I received an email today from a beautiful woman voicing concern about the image she thought I might be using as my 'cover' image for my book The Bodies Of Mothers. The image she thought I was going to use is Cover Idea #3 in this list of images with the tattoos and gorgeous stripes from growing 3 lives. The woman who wrote me expressed that she thought it was too much like what is already accepted in our culture as beautiful (meaning the woman is 'thin and young' and white) and thought it was both un-powerful and not a good choice to convey my 'redefining beautiful' message. It got me thinking and while I don't necessarily agree with everything she wrote I do strongly agree with some of what she expressed to me. Plus I love listening to other people's ideas and I would love to hear your ideas.

Here are 6 ideas, all numbered below the image, including the image above these words.

The book is going to be 12x12 inches, sustainable paper and printed in the USA.

Ultimately, I want the most powerful image (big surprise). An image which attracts people to he book who don't even know about this project while encouraging those who own it to keep it out in the open as opposed to hiding it away in a book shelf because perhaps nudity might offend them or their family. I want it to REACH as many people as possible before they dismiss this work based on a cover. INSIDE the book there are nudes and there is a wide representation of women.

Please tell me your thoughts. Each image has a number underneath and if you feel so inspired , please comment why you do or don't like what number, and I would be eternally grateful for this collective of ideas on how to make the most powerful and inviting book cover for this profound work that tells the story for so very very many of us.

**Please note these cover ideas are all sketches/drafts. The font etc will most likely change.**

(*Stephanie* cover Idea #2)

(*S* Cover idea #3)

(*Jane* Cover Idea #4)

(*Kasthuri* Cover Idea #5)

(*Lulani* Cover Idea #6)

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commented 2014-01-02 16:55:49 -0700 · Flag

5 or 6

commented 2014-01-02 16:51:10 -0700 · Flag

- it exudes everything about being a mother without anything being construed as sexual… it is a beautiful photograph and work of art… mother and child glowing with contentment. no question in my mind that this is, without question, the strongest choice for this book by a longshot.

commented 2014-01-02 16:08:24 -0700 · Flag

I love #3. Coupling her ink body art with her mothering body art helps me understand that she is her own person in the world through multiple avenues and the stripes of a mom’s tummy is as beautiful as the ink of the flowers. I also love that her body looks like a regular body. It is soft and round and fleshy and lived in. Plus, she can be anyone. The lack of a face let’s me imagine pretty much anyone onto this body. Who else has something beautiful hiding under her shirt?

commented 2014-01-02 15:54:23 -0700 · Flag

They are all SO BEAUTIFUL. I love seeing your photos they brighten my day. I like number 6 a lot! I love everything about it…her body looks like mine :-), the love in the children’s faces, the woman as the support that they lean on…it’s all so true.

I love 5 because they both look so at peace with each other and themselves. and they are absolutely gorgeous to look at.

I love 4 because it shows how moms’ bodies and babies are like one…and my goodness that baby is adorable!

commented 2014-01-02 15:53:39 -0700 · Flag

Without a doubt no 6 all great but my personal favorite! the composition is perfect and so very original :)

commented 2014-01-02 15:52:57 -0700 · Flag

I love cover 5 you can just feel the love, comfort and acceptance of the mother and the baby. Just love that photos - to me the woman represents the universal mother, happy, full and embracing.

commented 2014-01-02 15:51:10 -0700 · Flag

because it’s the photo that started it all!

commented 2014-01-02 15:48:50 -0700 · Flag

I say 6. I love them all, but I’ve seen 6 so many times and can never stop staring at it!!! Second choice is #5. But #6……that wonderful belly. The adoration on the children’s faces—and the way the eye moves down, across, and then down again the page to the title—perfecto!

commented 2014-01-02 15:44:31 -0700 · Flag

My favorite is #3 and 6. I prefer when we see the signs on the stomach because its a clear link. I think it’s better too, when we dont see breast. Not because i’m not confortable with it and I would prefer to see that before MANY publicities…. But maybe to not “afraid” persons who would have some shy to see it on the cover I would keep it for the inside of the books. Just to join more people.

commented 2014-01-02 15:41:12 -0700 · Flag

Number 6 beautifully represents all what mothers give to the world.

commented 2014-01-02 15:39:17 -0700 · Flag

All of the pics and the women/children in them are beautiful and inspiring!
I vote for #4 because she and her baby are an awesome representation of breastfeeding, how loving and tried we are together and also our post-partum bodies.
I agree with the comment about also having several women in a group together. Lastly, while I love #6, 3, and 2, I have a hard time with images where women are faceless just because I feel like we are portrayed that way so often.

commented 2014-01-02 15:35:20 -0700 · Flag

It’s sooooo difficult to choose, but I’ll go with 5 or 6… Ok 6 it is. Love the love in the children’s expressions. Love knows perfection!

commented 2014-01-02 15:34:54 -0700 · Flag

I like 5 and 6

commented 2014-01-02 15:30:24 -0700 · Flag

is my choice. I joined this site for it. I agree with Alexandra: our children know we are beautiful

commented 2014-01-02 15:29:08 -0700 · Flag

:) yes yes yes. Second choice is 5, however any one of those would be perfect.

commented 2014-01-02 15:27:40 -0700 · Flag

#6! This is the image that brought me to your project. There is so much love expressed for that beautiful belly - that belly that many of us would find difficult to love if we were seeing it in the mirror.

commented 2014-01-02 15:27:10 -0700 · Flag

I vote for #6 :-)

commented 2014-01-02 15:20:22 -0700 · Flag

would be my choice. I think it most clearly communicates “mother” and “beautiful body”.

commented 2014-01-02 15:19:01 -0700 · Flag

is my choice. I was moved to tears the first time I found your site and saw that image, uncropped. To me, it is the very beginning of the message you are trying to convey with your book… our children already know we are beautiful, we just need to believe it ourselves.

commented 2014-01-02 15:17:30 -0700 · Flag

I love #3, but I think it would be more powerful if you could get an image of several mothers together of different sizes, ages, life paths, etc…and do one of them with linked hands or arms across the front of the book.

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I Need Your Help Choosing A Cover for "The Bodies Of Mothers" Please

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