Author Photo Tips

Welcome to my first ever A to Z Blogging Challenge. You'll find 26 posts dedicated to . . . writing! What else? I hope you find them all useful and entertaining.

A is for AUTHOR PHOTO TIPS!

As authors, we are in the business of words, not visuals. Readers get to know us through black and white lines, not images, but it is important for writers to have an author photo for the backs of their books (if they are lucky to have one included) and for our social media sites/blogs. Putting a face to our names and the stories we create can help us form a bond with our readers, and vice versa. I know I like to see what my favorite authors look like. If nothing else, it confirms they are human. *wink*

Here are 6 steps and 13 tips on how to take a great author photo:

1.    Background

·         Outside

Posing beside a tree, in a garden, or in front of water always makes a beautiful picture without much effort.

TIP #1: If you are surrounded by blues and greens, wear white or another color that’ll standout. Orange/yellow stands out well with a blue background and red/pink pops with green backgrounds.

·         Backdrop

A black or white backdrop is a classy choice and is great if you want to pull off a literary-educated look.

·         Desk

Sitting at your desk (a clean, uncluttered desk) is a personal touch I enjoy because it shows the writer in their “nest”, where they create their work.

TIP #2: If you can’t get your picture taken professionally, hang up a sheet of (wrinkle-free) fabric and position a chair before it. Don’t be afraid to add color or patterns to show your personality.

TIP #3: Wherever you decide to pose, make sure the background isn’t messy!

Tip #4: Avoid using candid shots in your house or at a bar. This is not the type of impression you want to give as a professional.

1.    Clothing

Wear clothes that are fitted and comfortable, and make sure the colors don’t clash with the background.

TIP #5: Patterns can become distorted with the camera lens. Instead, try to wear a solid-colored shirt.

·         Casual

There’s no need to go all out. You can wear a nice pair of jeans and still look authorly. Just leave shirts with catchy phrases in your closet.

·         Formal

Wearing a button-up shirt, or a blazer over a plain shirt, is a look that can never go wrong.

Tip #6: Ladies, don’t show cleavage. You wouldn’t go on a job interview with an obscenely low cut shirt, so don’t wear one for your author photo. 

TIP # 6 continued: (Thank you, David, for this one.) Men, no chest hair. Keep your shirt buttoned! This is not a photo shoot for a cologne ad.

·         Jewelry

Keep your jewelry to a minimum; one pair of earrings (or one big pair with studs) and one necklace. Too much jewelry can look gaudy.

Tip #7: A long pearl necklace adds a touch of elegance, which is perfect for romance authors.

TIP #8: Use your jewelry to make a statement of your specialty genre. Example: If you write fantasy, you could wear star earrings.

·         Makeup

Keep makeup simple. This is not a Vogue cover shoot. Add a touch of blush, neutral eye shadow and eyeliner (if you use it) and a natural lip color.

Tip #9: Leave the clear lip gloss for selfies. A glare on your lips is the last thing you need. Swap it out for lip balm.

Tip #10: Don’t be afraid of a red lip, especially if you’re a romance/erotica writer. This is the perfect way to embody the sensuality of what you write without going overboard.

4.    Pose

Shift your body slightly away from the camera for a better profile that is less shoulder.

TIP #11: Experiment with different angles. I’m a head tilter, so I take pictures by tilting my head to both sides then choose the better one out of the bunch.

TIP #12: Avoid the hand/fist to face pose. This is outdated. Just sit up straight, face the camera, and smile. That’s all it takes!

  5.  Say cheese!

Smile as you normally would when having a picture taken, or dial down your smile for a more mysterious appearance.

TIP #13: Whatever you do, don’t do the broody stare into the camera; you don’t want to scare your readers or appear moody. Be human and crack a smile! After all, you published a book and that is something to smile about!

4.    The Final Product

Check for clarity. You don’t want to use a blurry picture. Then choose between color and black-and-white. Color is great, especially if you are outdoors, but if you are in front of a plain backdrop you can opt for black-and-white for a sophisticated photo.

The story behind my FIRST author photo:

I was just getting over a cold and was still groggy and sneezing when my sister came over to help me with my “photo shoot”. I nailed two sheets of fabric on the wall. One was black and the other was the orange one in my current photo. I also had three different shirts with alternating jewelry. I worked hard on my makeup to hide the fact that I was sick.

During the shoot, I tried full smiles and half smiles. Afterward, I picked my favorites and asked my friends and family to vote for their favorite. In the end, I chose the picture I have because, at the time, I was hoping to publish my supernatural-thriller series, which is why I used a bright background, fanciful jewelry, and a mysterious smile. I’ve kept it though because I like how it stands out.

The two other popular choices voted on by friends and family.

QUESTIONS: Do you have a story behind your author photo? Do you have a favorite author photo?

I personally always enjoyed the photos on the back of Danielle Steel’s novels. I remember seeing her in ball gowns, in rich rooms, and even sitting in an antique car.

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