Why you should have a professional author photo #WriterWednesday #AuthorMarketing #AmWriting
I’ll be brutally honest – I didn’t think much of the whole author photo thing when I started developing my author platform. And, yes, I still hate those words ‘author platform’ now as much as I did in 2013 when I published my first book and started researching all this author marketing stuff. Like most self-published authors, I used a favorite personal photo for my author profile. In my case, it was a picture taken during my 12 ½ year anniversary party (12 ½ year anniversary is totally a thing). When I started using that picture, it was already a few years old. At some point, I had to admit that it didn’t really look like me anymore. At that point, I grabbed a vacation photo and used that. But then that photo started looking a bit dated as well. I’d be damned if I yet again updated my author profile picture. No one needed to know I aged, right?
But the unfortunate truth was – I had aged. Not only that but I’d now written and published eleven books – twelve if we’re counting the book I personally translated. I was getting more and more serious about this whole writing thing. I even dared to tell people I’m an author when they asked what I did for a living. (Even though I still cringe a bit inside when I say it.) Darn. Maybe it was time to have a professional take an author picture after all. I had the thought and then – like so many things in life – I did nothing about it. But suddenly I found myself attending a gala (peer pressure sucks). I’m completely useless when it comes to applying make-up and making my hair look fancy so I made appointments to have myself made ‘pretty’. That’s when I remembered the whole author profile thing. If I’m spending the day getting all dolled up anyway, why not have a photographer come over and have a professional photo taken?
I thought all photographers had the magical power to make the subject of their photos look younger, prettier, or thinner. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Once I got used to the fact that my chin is more than leaning towards double-chin territory and those bags under my eyes are permanent, I was pretty happy with how the pictures turned out.
Through this whole process, I’ve continued to update my Readsalot blog on a daily basis. Naturally, I started to pay more attention to author photos while blogging and choosing which book I was going to read next. I was frankly shocked by how many authors don’t take the author picture seriously. There are a bunch of authors who don’t even bother to have any picture. What are they trying to hide? And then there are those who have cutesy gifs or cartoon characters. Really? That’s how you want to portray yourself as a writer? And finally, we have the authors who take a vacation picture and turn it into a profile photo.
I admit I made the above mistakes again and again over the years. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t learn from my mistakes. I initially started the process of getting a professional photo because I’d aged. But when I told people of my plans, everyone (seriously, every single person I talked to and I talk A LOT) said it was a great idea because I needed to look professional. And after I’d gotten the pictures done and uploaded them, I received tons of compliments as well as comments about how professional they looked.
There was that word again – professional. I guess the question is – do you want to be taken seriously as a professional author? If so, it may be time to get those professional pictures taken. Still uncertain? Just check out the difference between the two sets of pictures above. ‘Nuf said.
Although I agree wholeheartedly with what you say, I still cannot subject the world to my image. Plain ugly is not a good look, and there isn’t a photographer in the land who would disagree with me. I leave a trail of broken cameras behind, whenever I try to alter this situation!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. No one is plain ugly – unless they are ugly on the inside. You are most definitely not ugly on the inside.
That was a kind thing to say, and I’m probably not as ugly as all that because of it. I just don’t like the person I see in the mirror. For some reason, I don’t recognise her at all…
I think we all feel that way sometimes
Ugh, I couldn’t imagine anything more horrifying than a professional photo shoot. Can I just use a happy snap of my dog?
The idea freaked me out as well. But it was actually kind of fun
😊
Alright, alright already! It’s on the list. Not at the top… but it’s there! 😄😄
😜😜
You are spot on. I had a professional shoot done a few years back and was very pleased. But unfortunately, you are right about another thing. Time marches on. And now I realize I should make another appointment. Sigh…
All of your pictures are lovely. You look like a cheerful soul.
Thanks 😊
Reblogged this on Kim's Author Support Blog.
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
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Thank YOU for making this post about Author photos, Dena 😃
You have a point. I can’t truthfully say mine look ‘professional’. Except the meerkat one, of course. I took that!
Love meerkats!
Beautiful pictures, D.E.! And I totally agree. 🙂
Thanks 😊
I cringed because I felt that you were using me as your example. I used a younger picture of me for quite a few years. Next, I used a cartoon which I do like, by the way. I toyed with no photo for safety’s sake and almost deleted all images of me. I finally had professional shots taken of my older, more mature looking little self. I haven’t decided how I feel about revealing myself. 😏
I get that! I still cringe at the bags under my eyes.
I don’t see any bags. You look pretty and the wine suggest your writing may be a little sassy, sparkly, and even spicy! Ha!
I don’t know abour spicy but I’ve got sassy down!
Reblogged this on The Long and Short Stories of Life and commented:
We can at least pretend that we get out of our pajamas and dress professionally to write.
Thanks for re-blogging. Still in pajamas here 😁
Reblogged this on Writer's Treasure Chest and commented:
Author D. E. Haggerty informs us why it’s important to have a professional author photo. Thank you for this blog post.
You look good lady 🙂
Thanks 🙂