Several years ago, I set up for headshots at a speakers’ event. Every subject who headed my way struck a pose I had not experienced. They positioned themselves angling toward the camera (so far very familiar), then they would point the foot closest to me directly at the camera (yep, I’m still onboard), then, sliding that same foot toward me, they would tip their shoulders in my direction (at that time, this is the point where I started scratching my head).
Although I thought it to be peculiar, it looked darn good. I’ve been using it ever since. It doesn’t work for everyone, nor should it. However, for men with broad shoulders, it works like a charm. It also helps alleviate double chins, and it is a very engaging pose.
So back to my day at the Addison, Texas, pub where I was offering the headshot special. At the culmination of the event, I perused about the event, visiting the various vendors. Every person whose headshot I had taken that day had authored a book. It makes sense. Oftentimes, speakers do not get paid for their insightful (sometimes teasing) presentation. However, they can make some cashola by having a book to sell while also offering a deeper dive into their subject matter. And, yes, their author pose was the one they had struck in front of my camera. From that day I forward I’ve called it the author’s pose.
Some of my friends from the Speaker Co-op have gone on to use those headshots for their more recent publications. Other book authors have also since solicited our services. While my team and I keep our egos in check (as taking professional headshots is not about us), there’s something great about knowing our work will be housed in a book. Books live forever. Once read, they are either proudly displayed on a bookshelf, are passed on to a friend, returned to the library, or sold to be loved and appreciated by someone else.
Whether that image is inside the back flap or proudly displayed on the cover like my friend Leslie Hassler’s “First This, Then That,” the image used to promote the book and its author is an important one. Honestly, it is oftentimes more than just a headshot. In Leslie’s case, it was a branding shoot, as her image needed to come to life, deliver personality. For another one of my clients, we transported her image to the greatness of the Carolinas. As much as I would have liked to head to the mountains of North Carolina (the setting for her Christian romance novel), we accomplished this in my home studio (and she saved some money, too).
Usually, portraits for published works include hair and makeup services (which, honestly, we would recommend for all professional portraits). After all, these images have a long shelf life (clever, huh?). Yes, anything on the internet can, too, rear its outdated head at any time, but oftentimes those images/posts are buried deep within a matter of a few days. There’s no updating a portrait tied to a hard-copy book (my preferred way of reading), so we better make it great.
Heck, we’ve even been involved with cover designs, color themes, and feedback on the verbiage. We like to think of ourselves as more than “just” photographers; we are passionate about people, their personal & business stories, and their printed work.
Whether you choose our team to make this visual book magic happen or you go elsewhere, make sure the conversation is deep and insightful, you get to talk more than you have to listen, resulting in an on-brand image.
If you aren't sure what services are best for your goals, contact Photography By Misty so our team can help! Specializing in Professional Headshots & Branding Photography in Plano, Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, and surrounding Texas areas.
2 Comments
Jan 29, 2024, 4:55:27 PM
Misty Hoyt - Congratulations on all your hard work!! And, thank you for reaching out, Ron. We are getting in touch now.
Jan 29, 2024, 1:00:07 PM
Ron Levi - I am nearly completed writing my first Christian book (actually, it is spiritual writings and prayers). I read your online post regarding the "author pose." I live in Plano, TX, and I believe you may be the right photographer for this entry into the publishing world.