The problem with stock photography is the major agencies don’t allow much creativity, and that is why you see so many pictures of smiling girls wearing headsets and fake corporate staff images. There are a ton of excellent stock photographers whose abstract material would make for excellent CD or book covers. Many of them are breaking away from the traditional agencies and beginning to sell on their own. This should raise the creativity level.

Exclusive photo usage can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and I have not met the photo yet that was worth it. The key component to a “selling” cover design is creativity.

And why don’t you point out the masters’ works that are used over and over and over. How many times has Vitruvian Man been featured on a book cover?