How About that Author Photo?
Most publishers want you to have a photo for the back or inside of your book. So what are you going to do?
A professional photograph is no doubt the best. The photograh I used for years was one of those glamor shots where my hair and make-up was done ahead of time. I brought my own what I thought looked "authorly" tops to wear. I used this photo for a long time, until someone asked me how long ago I'd had it taken.
Since that time, I've used photos that others took that I thought looked good. And that's probably what I'll keep on doing.
Since I'm old I am never going to look like a movie star, but I do want to be presentable.
Use a photograph that looks like you. You don't necessarily have to be smiling.
Make sure the photo isn't blurry.
It can be a headshot or a head-to-toe shot.
Having a pet in the photo with you is always a good touch.
Save it as a .jpg so you can easily send it to someone whether it be for a guest post on someone's blog or the photo you're going to use for a book.
Name the photo something simple that will be easily recognizable to the recipient, such as last name photo.
The same goes for when you are sending a copy of the cover of your book, Name of the book, author name, anything that will easily identify it.
Keep photos of you at different events. When you are on a blog tour, followers of the tour get a kick out of seeing different shots of you and what you are doing.
And that's my advice, such as it is, about author photos.
I've never used any of these.
Marilyn
A professional photograph is no doubt the best. The photograh I used for years was one of those glamor shots where my hair and make-up was done ahead of time. I brought my own what I thought looked "authorly" tops to wear. I used this photo for a long time, until someone asked me how long ago I'd had it taken.
Since that time, I've used photos that others took that I thought looked good. And that's probably what I'll keep on doing.
Since I'm old I am never going to look like a movie star, but I do want to be presentable.
Use a photograph that looks like you. You don't necessarily have to be smiling.
Make sure the photo isn't blurry.
It can be a headshot or a head-to-toe shot.
Having a pet in the photo with you is always a good touch.
Save it as a .jpg so you can easily send it to someone whether it be for a guest post on someone's blog or the photo you're going to use for a book.
Name the photo something simple that will be easily recognizable to the recipient, such as last name photo.
The same goes for when you are sending a copy of the cover of your book, Name of the book, author name, anything that will easily identify it.
Keep photos of you at different events. When you are on a blog tour, followers of the tour get a kick out of seeing different shots of you and what you are doing.
And that's my advice, such as it is, about author photos.
Marilyn
Comments
I change my mind quite a bit, so I'm sure the photo will change as well.
Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com
I've used the same author photo (taken by a professional photographer) on the backs of my first two books and I'll probably use it on the third. After that, I guess it'll be time for a new one. I use other, more candid shots, for guest blogging, etc.
But I've been disillusioned to read books about, say, a thin, blonde, young woman who everyone falls in love with, then the author is revealed by her picture to look nothing like that at all. As an author, I should know better than to expect the author to resemble the hero/heroine, but at the same time, looking at that picture took me entirely out of the story. So I don't want any photo of me on my books to do that to a reader.
If they are really burning to know what I look like, go to my website. While you're there you can get some of my homemade pie recipes, which will give you part of the reason that I look the way I do! ;-D
Madeline
Marja McGraw