You don’t need to understand the book concept above to see how powerful and evocative conceptual imagery can be. Only once a book concept is established is it possible to conceptualise coffee table book photography in this way.
Our book concept stage includes a mood-boarding exercise exploring broad design themes and creative approach. It is during this stage that we visualise different ways for how a book concept might be expressed. This is often done through a combination of a clients pre-existing photography (primary imagery) and other more conceptual photography (secondary imagery). At this stage we are less concerned with final image selections and practicalities surrounding where the conceptual images come from, and much more focussed on finding beautiful, evocative ways to express the book concept through imagery.
Image sourcing & budgeting
Obviously at some stage practicality and imagery budget must be considered. We are very mindful of this and will always propose multiple imagery concepts to suit various budgets. Assuming more image assets are needed, there are broadly three options – an art directed photoshoot, image sourcing or commissioned illustrations/image makers. In our experience as professional book makers, some of the best coffee table books we have created include a combination of all three. Concepts may well also include an element of photography retouching to work effectively.