Smile Please

A few weeks ago, I  decided to have some new author photos done. Not because I don't like the ones I'm using but because I've had them for a while now and it's time for a change. I don't want to be that person who, on being met in the flesh, has someone whispering after they've left, "They look a bit like their photographs but I bet it was taken a few years ago."

Not that I've ever done that of course :-)

What I really wanted was a photograph that was reasonably flattering while not trying to make me look younger/more intelligent/more attractive. I just wanted to look like the best version of me now (not five years ago).

This sounds easy enough but it actually isn't because I'm not photogenic. Really I'm not. The photos of me that I choose to put on my blog or on social media will have been the only good one out of many duff ones. I hate my photo being taken for various reasons a) in repose, my expression looks hangdog b) I look better when I'm smiling but it always looks lopsided and, if I smile too long, it becomes rictus c) my fine, flyaway hair, means any outdoor shots are a nightmare d) I look awful side view.

Poor photographer.

But then I told myself not to be so silly. I only needed one good photograph - two at most. The other ninety eight could be consigned to the recycle bin. Surely it was possible. With this thought in mind, I put out a query on Facebook. Did anyone know of a photographer who was a) local b) could put me at my ease c) could give me one good picture. I had lots of suggestions, some of whom I had to discount because they were too far away and I don't like travelling. 'Stressed out' wasn't the author image I had in mind!

Then friend and author, Deirdre Palmer, came to my rescue (Deirdre was guest on my blog last week and  you can read her guest post here). She'd recently had some author photos done by a family friend, Sue Kwiatkowska, who is a wedding photographer. Why didn't I try her? I really like Deirdre's author photo as she looks relaxed and natural. It was exactly the sort of photo I'd had in mind, so I bit the bullet and rang her. A few days later Sue arrived on my doorstep with camera in hand.

I was more than a bit nervous but Sue was friendly and professional. It wasn't long before she'd put me at my ease. She established which areas would would work best light-wise (the conservatory, the dining room and a corner of my garden) and then, after a chat to find out what exactly I wanted, the photo-shoot began. Surprisingly, after a very short while, I found that I was beginning to enjoy myself. Sue's a joy to work with and I often forgot there was a horrible camera pointed at my face. An hour later, we were finished and then I had a wait of a week while Sue chose the best ones to send me.

When the link to my photographs dropped into my inbox, I was dreading it. I scrolled through them and there were the inevitable ones that I didn't like (nothing to do with Sue - purely my own vanity) but, in amongst them, were a few I really liked and I'll share my favourites with you here.

I think there's something here for every author eventuality. Now I just need to get a book published!

If you're looking to have some author photos done and live in the South East, you can view Sue's website here.