Photos from Morguefile.com
How old is the photo on your Web site or business card? If it’s more than two years old, it’s probably time to get another one. If you’ve changed your hair color or style, that’s another reason to have a new photo taken. If now’s the time, stop and think about what you want you want your photo to say about you.
Do you want to appear cool and professional?
If you’re promoting a book to a major publishing company, you probably need to have a professional photographer do your photos. Be sure that he or she can provide digital versions so that you can use your new pics on your Web site or blog.
But—make sure your photo isn’t so touched-up that people won’t recognize you. At a writers’ conference, I sat with a professional psychologist who wanted to write for the Christian market. She gave me her business card. The design was super, but her photo didn’t even look like her. She had sandy blonde hair and a healthy tan with freckles peeking out from under her makeup. Her photographer had air-brushed out all the “imperfections.” She had no wrinkles to show that she had been around for a while (with the experience to show for it). The freckles, one of her most alluring features, were nowhere to be found.
If you spend the money for a photographer, don’t let someone else, even the photographer, talk you into too many touch-ups. Also, don’t settle for photos that you don’t really like. It would be better to have amateur photos that really look like you than to present an inaccurate impression.
Do you want to appear friendly and approachable?
If you’re a freelance editor looking to find critiquing or editing clients, you want your photo to present you as professional but approachable. You can still use a professional photographer, but I’ve seen numerous Web sites and business cards with photos that were taken by a writer’s friend or spouse. Just the fact that the photos are more casual makes the site or card more inviting. Avoid being too casual, though. For example, don’t have your photo taken with your pet(s). The focus should be on you.
Take your photos indoors or out, but try to avoid clutter in the background. I made new photos recently, but I didn’t realize that the tree behind me was so close. See my home page photo. I tried to edit the tree bark effect out of the background, but it just wouldn’t work. We’re planning for a do-over soon.