To gain perspective, I created a PDF showing all four covers and shared it with friends and colleagues. Over lunch with two retired friends, both immediately favored the fourth option—San Pablo Pier—describing it as more distinctive and visually interesting than typical photography book covers.

Finding the perfect book cover photo isn't always easy. This behind-the-scenes story follows the search through stock agencies, licensing restrictions, and custom photography—revealing why choosing the right image is an important part of the book design process.