Another post in the series between me and Chris Barton…

Chris: What makes a good author photo?

Me: You’re asking me because you know I’ve been thinking about this, right?  I am about to do a new author photo shoot – first one in years – so I’ve been pondering this very question.

I’m tempted to answer “A good-looking author” and be done. But that is too glib, even for me. Besides, it isn’t true.

I guess, to me, what makes a good author headshot is authenticity. It should look like the author. That sounds like a “duh” statement, but I’ve seen photos of people I know – or met people after seeing their photo – and felt that the headshot didn’t accurately capture them. This is one reason why I really need new photos. My old ones don’t look like me anymore. My face has new lines. I’ve put on a few more pounds. I wear my hair differently.

If there are rules, one big one would be that author photos should not resemble mugshots. For two reasons: A) Security checks are pretty standard with educators and event organizers, and it might hurt your career if you look like you were just yanked out of a holding cell. And B) You want the photo to reveal your own singular charm. The object is to present your personality, not just your face. Thus, a line-’em-up-and-shoot type of photo session is only good for embarrassing 7^th grade yearbook portraits. Better to take the time to relax and be yourself, allowing your photographer to capture your true essence. (Of course, if you have a second career as a petty thief or write memoirs about your all-night benders, the mugshot photo might work in your favor.)

Similarly, I feel author photos should not resemble shopping mall glamour shots. Go easy on makeup, hairspray, leather and lace. Please no come-hither looks or paint-spattered denim. As much as I want to look like a beauty pageant contestant, I also know that – even if photography could make it possible – such a photo would mislead my readers.

I guess the number one rule of an author photo is to be you. If you smile a lot, smile. If you are quiet and somewhat brooding, brood away. As a reader, I always love getting a glimpse of the author on a back cover. By the end of a good book, I often feel as if I’m pals with the author, and a good photo can only enhance that sense.