This is the second in a series of articles about how to get the best professional headshots and photos possible. Here’s the first article in the series: The Definitive Guide to Author Photos, Part 1: Before the Shoot
Today, we’re going to chat about some specific do’s and don’ts when it comes to getting great photographs. With a little planning and strategy, you can get excellent quality photos that further bond you with your readers.
I do see a lot of mistakes when it comes to author photos, but please realize I’m looking at this through laywoman’s eyes. I’m not a photographer. I just know what I connect with as a consumer.
Photoshoot Do’s:
(More on these in my next article about what to do during and after the shoot!)
Do prepare beforehand.
For an in-depth look at how to prepare, check out my first article.
Do consider your photos as part of your marketing arsenal.
Author Teri Case made the smart choice to be photographed with one of her award-winning novels. Photo by Gretchen Lemay
People connect with people. Your author photos are not just something to be stuck in the back of your book. They can and should be used in other marketing efforts–website, social media, etc.
Do know which shots you need.
This bears repeating from last month’s article. Don’t rely on your photographer to completely direct the shoot. Understand what you need from these photos and communicate that to your photographer well in advance. Make a list rather than trying to rely on memory the day of the shoot.
Photoshoot Don’ts:
This headshot of author Angelina Lopez is a great example of blurred background and authenticity as it was shot at one of her fav DC locations.
Don’t use a selfie.
Most of us aren’t adept at taking a selfie that makes us really look good. The exception would be if you’re some type of Instagram selfie pro, which most authors aren’t. 
Don’t use a fake background.
Remember the old-school backgrounds (barn and hay bale, anyone??) from Sears and Olan Mills? No, please. I hate fake backgrounds with a white-hot passion. They do absolutely nothing to enhance your brand or make you stand out in a reader’s mind.
This means that having author had shots done at a conference is not something I’m a fan of because everyone who had photos taken at that conference will look basically the same.
This headshot of NYT bestseller Carly Phillips is a wonderful representation of a current photo. Photo by Lauren Watson Perry
Don’t use a terribly outdated headshot.
Using 20-year-old head shots is not a good idea. As a reader, I find it highly disconcerting to meet an author in person who no longer looks anything like his or her author photos. Inevitably, the author looks much older than the photos, which none of us want.
We all want to look as nice and young as we possibly can. However, if the reader could not recognize you at an in-person event as the same person in your headshots, you have a problem.
Headshots and other author photos do not last the entirety of your career. If you want proof of that, take a look at the pictures of Nora Roberts in her early books versus the ones she has published most recently. You will also find her author photos in her different types of books are actually different as well. Those in her Nora Roberts single titles are not usually the same photo as in her JD Robb novels.
Don’t settle for a tired old pose.
Although not a headshot, this was such a fun vignette in my most recent photoshoot. Photo by Trashy Betty Photography
No matter what your photographer says, the chin on the hand or fist on the cheek Is a no-go. For one, it looks like everyone else’s stilted photos, and two, it’s rarely flattering. If you are going so far as to pay a professional photographer to take your photos, do not get lazy and fall back on standard business poses.
Photographer Toni McGee Causey says: “…no hands touching the face ‘artistically.’ People don’t sit around with their hands on their faces. There are better angles for someone who might be heavier and is self-conscious about their chins.”
One advantage of being a creative is that you can have much more fun with our photos, and it will only endear you more to your readers. If your photographer suggests poses that are either tried-and-true or ones that do not fit your brand, don’t hesitate to speak up.
Do not use a stock photo of some other human as your headshot.
If you plan to do any public appearances, this will most certainly confuse your readers. And honestly, it just feels fake as all hell. If privacy is an issue for you or you do not want to be publicly associated with your pen name, have a good author logo made and use that instead.
What’s Next
So you’ve got some solid background on how to prep for your photoshoot and some critical snafus to avoid – whoop whoop! I know this seems like a lot, but the efforts are soooo worth it!
Join me next time when I’ll finish up with what to do during and after the shoot!