Angela Scott
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Some author photos scare me. What does your author photo say about you?

3/26/2012

16 Comments

 
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I love this! So funny! So true!
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I can see the problem. Can you?
I love the part in THE DIARY OF A WIMPY KID where Greg talks about Shel Silverstein's author photo on the back of his book THE GIVING TREE. It scared him as a kid. I'm certain that wasn't Silverstein's intention (but it does make me laugh). Poor Shel, did you know he was often asked NOT to include his author photo? That's gotta make you feel awesome. I mean, you can't help what your face looks like.

But, I will tell you, I have seen some pretty awful author pics over the years of talking with and interacting with other authors on various social networking sites. Some of the worst have to be authors who hold their arms out away from themselves and snap a picture--I can see your arm. I can. You're not fooling anyone.

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Kinda cool back in the 80's. Not so much now. Don't do it.
Another big no-no would have to be an author photo cropped from a family group photo such as a wedding or crazy party where you can see parts of other people in the photo. I don't care how great you think you look in that photo, if I can see parts of other people, it makes the whole picture look amateurish. Sorry, but it does.

Oh, and for the love all things good in the world, please, please don't do a glam shot. They were cool once (or were they?) but they are SO outdated now.

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Anyone who knows me, knows I HATE feet--hate them. So what the heck, Shel?
You definitely should want to look your very best in your picture because this is the picture that will be with you for years to come, but you don't stray so far from your everyday look. You want to be recognizable. You don't want your readers to do a double-take.

So, here are some tips to help you have an awesome photo:

#1: Don't glare at the camera. And try to do your very best not to look like a serial killer. If you do happen to look like a serial killer, consider not including your photo--anywhere. You don't want people turned off from reading your book because of your face--cruel statement, I know.

#2: Please watch your lighting. Some photos have such a harsh tone to them like you're in a dark room and the flash blasts you in brightness. It'll make you appear as though you look vampirish. Not good--unless you write vampire books. Then it could possible work to your favor. Also the reverse is true too, watch your shadows and make sure you're not hiding in darkness. This could make it difficult to see who you are.

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Are you trying to scare me into buying your book, Terry Goodkind?
#3: Do not wear bright, bold, patterned clothing. You're an author. This isn't a vacation trip to Hawaii. Also, make sure the items you chose to wear can withstand the test of time--nothing that is trendy now, because it will be outdated in a few years.

#4: Be careful not to be a floating head--->

Dark background + dark turtle neck = Not good. And no glaring at the camera. It's scary.

#5: NO, NO, NO cleavage. This applies to guys as well :)

I guess my biggest bit of advice would be to have a professional picture done. If you can afford it, do it. This is how people will be relating to you, the author, so you want your picture to be as good as it can be, don't ya? I would think so.

My husband just so happens to be a photographer, and though my author picture might not be the best out there, I love it. I think he did a very good job, especially with the subject he had to work with :) Actually, this photo means a lot to me. The day we went to find an ideal spot to take some pictures, ended up turning into one I will always remember. We laughed together, we joked together, we had a blast together as I shyly stood and tried not to feel stupid as I posed for my husband. Why should I feel embarrassed posing for my husband--I have no idea. I guess it made me feel like the young girl who first fell for the guy behind the camera, all giddy and girlie-like.

I think he did a great job and whenever I look at my author photo, I remember that day and smile a little on the outside and a whole lot on the inside.

So what do you think makes a scary, horrible author picture? Does an author picture affect how you view an author's work? Pulls you toward it or turns you off? What say you? I'd love to know.  

16 Comments
Sally Odgers link
3/27/2012 12:13:49 am

Hands under chins bother me. I can see why we do it but c'mon. The men don't give a rats about their jawlines. I've seen some delightful author pics that look like casual snapshots. I think modern pro shots are better than they used to be, though.

I had a pro pic done in the 1980s that was very scary. I went off to the photographer with make-up and a nice top and... his camera wouldn't work. "Come back tomorrow," he said.

The next day I was over it, but I had to go again. Not-so-nice shirt and no make-up (I rarely wear any and I didn't feel so good that day). Pro camera bloke used his back-up camera and bounced a flash at a shiny umbrella. It turned out I was getting flu, which is why I didn't feel good. I look scary in that pic. I look so old in the harsh bounced light it's hard to believe I was 23. In fact, I looked younger in the pic I had taken in the 1990s for another book. Years later, someone decided to do a poster of me (it was in a set). You can guess which pic they dug out and used. Yep. Scary me. Newspapers also seem to discover and reuse the worst pic they can get from the archives. Or am I paranoid? These days I try to pose with a dog. Gimme a break - I'm 54. The dog is prettier than me.

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Angela Scott link
3/27/2012 01:06:22 am

Hands under chins...yeah, I hate that!

Sorry about your photo experience...sounds awful. That is funny that people will find the old picture and use it. That's not nice. I like the dog idea :) You cracked me up.

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Nancy Lauzon link
3/27/2012 12:32:17 am

So funny. I hope my author photo tells others that I don't take myself too seriously ;)

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Angela Scott link
3/27/2012 12:48:58 am

I love your photo! I think it's great :)

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Rebecca L. Fisk link
3/27/2012 01:05:54 am

I laughed so hard at this article! As I am preparing to get some pictures done in a couple weks with a dear friend-turned-professional-photographer, it was incredibly apropos. I hope that between the two of us, we get a couple normal but fun shots. It makes sense now why she told me to bring a basic black shirt, a basic white shirt, and a solid brighter colored shirt, and several different lipsticks ;)

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Angela Scott link
3/27/2012 01:07:39 am

Have fun at the photo shoot and then be sure to post and share :)

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Emlyn Chand link
3/27/2012 02:45:14 am

OMG, great post and so needed! How do I convince you to lend it to Novel Publicity as a guest post? *smiling real pretty*

Emlyn :-D

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Linda Adams link
3/27/2012 07:16:01 pm

I disagree about the bold colors and patterns. I think it depends -- not just on the color and the pattern, but also the person. Certain colors are me, and I will always wear them because they make me feel me. If you told me I had to put on a matching suit for an author photo, I would probably not look good because I'm not comfortable in that kind of clothing.

But I can think of several things I spotted on a truly awful author photo this one person had up on her site. She wore a sloppy t-shirt that just looked thrown on. Hair was long and stringy like she hadn't combed it. Both those made her really look sloppy and trashy. Worst, she was scowling at the camera like, "All right. I have to let you take my picture but I'm not going to like it." I should note she wrote children's books. Her publisher must have gotten on her because a new photo showed up. Hair cut short, no longer stringy. Changed t-shirt for a suit, and she was smiling.

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Tasha Harrison link
3/27/2012 10:01:27 pm

Great post. I related to your account of posing for your husband. My husband is into photography and he took my author shot - although it wasn't intended to be one. We were just mucking around on the beach on a winter's day. He is obsessed with getting a good quality artistic shot, while I just care that I look half decent in an uncontrived way! So we rarely agree when the subject matter of the photograph is me. My author shot is one of the few photos we both like, for different reasons!

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Margo Kelly link
3/27/2012 11:09:19 pm

Great post. I've been thinking a lot about photos lately, because our family is past due for a family portrait, and my boys are high school seniors. *sigh*

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Ara link
4/12/2012 03:20:25 am

Great post and list of tips! I'm a professional photographer and you hit all of the big no-nos I see out there when I'm looking at author photos or taking portraits. Keeping things simple is really the best way to go--that includes clothes, backdrop, and the pose itself.

I've also noticed some author photos are too darn rigid, where it looks like the subject is slowly being posed to death. When you're having your picture taken, try to relax. Also, don't take yourself too seriously for God's sake! I can't tell you how many books I've opened and burst out laughing because the author is staring daggers at the camera (yup, like a serial killer) or just appears to be *trying* too hard. Picture your friends looking at your author photo. Would they laugh at your picture? Unless it's intentionally tongue-in-cheek (which could be fun), you can go overboard quickly with awkward posing or facial expressions.

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Mona Risk link
4/25/2012 03:21:46 am

Hi there, I found your blog link on Twitter. Hilarious post and the pictures are even better. I 'll keep in mind your advice.

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Elizabeth Twist link
4/25/2012 03:28:26 am

I like your photo, Angela! The colours look great and you look super pretty.

I *hate* having my photo taken. I hate it so much I make terrible faces and look just awful. I don't know exactly what Shel Silverstein was up to in the scary pirate photo, but I get a similar look on my face when someone's waving a camera at me.

I kind of like the feet portrait, but then again I don't mind feet.

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Rachael Phillips link
5/27/2012 04:24:26 am

I think your photo is great. It's well thought out and you look very natural, happy and radiant. I use one that is fairly recent taken when I was feeling relaxed and happy. The head to one side thing on a lot of photos is amusing to me and I often wonder if there is a 'best side to lean towards!' Getting something specifically for my image as a writer may be a good idea and I'll consider it when I have some time! :)

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Zantippy Skiphop link
5/27/2012 04:46:13 am

"Why should I feel embarrassed posing for my husband--I have no idea. I guess it made me feel like the young girl who first fell for the guy behind the camera, all giddy and girlie-like.

I think he did a great job and whenever I look at my author photo, I remember that day and smile a little on the outside and a whole lot on the inside."

awwwww!!! :) :) That is just so sweet!

I like for children's writers to have a cartoon face. It shows who they are when writing (or always) anyway! I always kind of wished Shel Silverstein had done that. His writing is adorable but he really was a bit scary-looking! Sorry, Shel *hug*

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internet savvy link
10/1/2012 11:06:57 am

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