Steve, I'm schizophrenic on the issue of what I want the picture to convey. That's not a terrible thing, in that I can include several on my site. I currently have four on there, taken during the photo shoot I did nine years ago. I do have to choose which one to send event organizers who don't just go there and grab the one they like, though.

I'm thinking that some people want to find me approachable. Others want to find me glamorous, which is almost the definition of not-approachable. I think I should look smart in all of them.

There's an argument that a mystery writer should look mysterious. My charming photographer friend says that she thinks I'm established enough that I don't have to try so hard to look mysterious any more.

I also think I should look creative, which can go a lot of ways, but creative-and-approachable says Grandmother-who-likes-to-do-crafts to me. I am actually a grandmother who likes to do crafts, but that's not the persona of an author with aspirations of being a bestseller. Sexy/creative is probably closer to the mark.

Dol hit the nail on the head when she said that this is harder for women. Men can throw on a black turtleneck and jeans, make an effort to look earnestly serious, and be done. Women can look too sexy to be taken seriously. We can look too matronly to be interesting. We can be seen as ditzy or out-of-touch. Older male writers can seem proven, seasoned, and established. Older female writers can just seem boring. On the plus side, it's more fun to try different clothing and personas, so I'm glad I don't have to stick with turtlenecks and jeans.

Seven, ten, twelve.

Color me 12 and 14. Love them both. The black leather takes care of approachability and mystery both and the expression is smart but open.

Thirteen jumps out at me as the best one. But crop it so that your eyes are in the center of the vertical plane, then crop from the left to get the aspect ratio needed. Don't show the full bosom and no hands in the picture. Full focus on your eyes with nothing to distract. In thirteen you look mysterious and playful.

The other thing I like about 12 is with the dark bacground the eye focuses on your eyes.

Ok, my personal favorites are 7, 8, and 12. And the runners-up are 9 and 10.

But all of the ones from the second set are great. let us know which ones you keep, and which one you choose for when you have to pick only one.

quote:

Women can look too sexy to be taken seriously.

Hay, I have a lot of trouble with that too!

Ten or fifteen

Running out to work--but quickly I like this next batch so much more. But I also think you can monkey a bit with the exposures--some of them look a bit overexposed in some areas, and I think you can photoshop them so there's a more even light throughout the whole shot.

quote:

Originally posted by AdagioM:
Seven, ten, twelve.

Me too! I like the expression in 8 as well but there’s something about the way your hair is sitting (was it a bit breezy?) that I find distracting.

Really like 12. Followed by seven.

This popped up in Pocket. I don't know if it's good advice or not....

https://getpocket.com/explore/...source=pocket-newtab

Twelve is my favorite.

Thirteen.

I know nothing about photography. Just popping in to say you’re gorgeous and amazing.

quote:

Originally posted by Cindysphinx:
I know nothing about photography. Just popping in to say you’re gorgeous and amazing.

You should meet her in person. She is all of that and more.