Headshots and short bios are useful to have around.
Even if you don’t yet have a book deal, you’ll need a picture and biography for any contests you might win or guest posts you might write.
And these days, it’s a good idea to build an author platform before you’re even published. A platform is simply a professional internet presence—a personal blog or a website, and maybe a Facebook or Twitter page. What needs to go on these web pages? A nice photo of you looking happily professional and a pithy bio to introduce you to any editors or agents who might look you up.
Headshots
Having my picture made isn’t my favorite thing to do. In fact, my photographer told me in exasperation that the toddler she’d had before me was an easier subject. I’m sure she was right. I had a pained grin in many of the pictures she took.
There are many chain studios that do headshots. You do need to be careful and inquire who holds the rights to the pictures—you want to be able to use your image wherever it needs to go: websites, books, etc.
I used Portrait Innovations which seems to be a fairly good-sized chain. They saw me the same day I called them. They asked me to bring a change of clothing—they’ll take pictures of you in more than one outfit to make it appear that you’ve had more than one sitting (and it’s just a nice change to have different looks for different purposes.)
Unfortunately, I forgot to bring a change of clothes. There are many, many pictures of me in a black dress floating around.
The cost was not prohibitive. I purchased a CD full of different pictures (although I usually use the same one over and over) for about $100. You could get it much less than that if you just purchased two or three pictures.
If you are getting a headshot for your author picture for a publisher, you’ll want to make sure that you follow their art department’s specifications. Most don’t want a full length shot (although studios like taking them)—they only want the shoulders up. And they like you looking right at the camera and not a side shot. They’re also not fond of pictures where you’re resting your head on your hands. So you might want to check in with your publisher before you get your picture made.
Author bios are another useful thing. You’ll need one even for some queries and cover letters (check the agent/publisher guidelines to see if they want it included.)
Bios are written in the third person.
Bios are really short…usually four or five sentences, max. Two or three would probably be better. The important thing is to list your qualifications for writing your novel, poem, or flash fiction piece.
Author bios usually mention the writer’s college degree, writing organizations they’re members of, and any publishing credits, like articles they’ve written or contests they’ve won.
Even if you don’t have any professional credits, you can still state something like “Jane Doe is a paranormal romance writer living in Arkansas. She is a member of the SFWA and RWA and is currently working on a …..”
Because Jane Doe is a writer. She’s just not published yet.
Once you have your headshot and bio, it’s a great idea to post them on your website, especially if you’ve got a book coming out. That way, a news organization can just download a copy of the picture and take the bio off your page.
As a reminder, I’m opening up Fridays, starting this Friday (Jan. 29) for guest posts on the writing process. In addition, the blog is available for promo spots for authors with upcoming and new releases. For more information, please check the post: http://tinyurl.com/ybm3s58 . I’m booked every Friday until April—so you’ll have plenty of time to come up with a post if you’re interested. :)
Terry Odell will be kicking us off this Friday with her post, titled “Plotting? Moi?”
Elizabeth – Thanks, as always, for your very useful advice. I always learn from you. I’m glad you mentioned how useful it can be to have a “presence” even before one’s published. Blogs, Facebook pages and Twitter can help get one noticed. More importantly, they can put one in touch with a network of people who can offer advice, help, critique, ideas, etc… I think one of the best decisions I’ve made in the last year was to have a blog.
This is a great post, Elizabeth. I hate having my photo taken but I really need something professional taken…maybe with lots of filters.
I will write up a bio and get it all ready for when…it happens.
Should that day come… should I create a new blog just for writing? Should I work on it before that day? I’m not sure I can take care of two blogs.
Thanks for all the info.
Very helpful post. These are things that anyone in the writing field should have. Never know when it could be useful. And from a journalist viewpoint, it is most helpful if the person you are interviewing has this.
All good info, Elizabeth. One thing I’d add: make sure you have the right resolution for your photos. On the web, you can use a lower resolution, but for printing you need a higher resolution (300 dpi). This caused (causes?) me a lot of confusion.
Such a useful post. I have figuered out some of these things in advance so it won´t surprise you that even when I am very busy, I try to keep joggling all my blogs (my platforms), and even though I don´t like displaying my photo and my e-mail, I have learnt to do so.
So the only thing I have not done yet: sold´m a text ;D
I haven’t really thought about this yet. Good advice all the way around. I guess my rose avatar just won’t cut it? :)
I am SO fortunate that my son is an excellent photographer (he’s written several books on using Nikon software and add-ons for Photoshop). Downside is his studio is half a continent away, but he can even work magic with a picture taken here.
Last time I visited, we did a ‘studio’ shoot in his basement. I think he did a fine job on my head shot, but we shot a LOT of pictures and he did a fair amount of retouching. I told him I needed to look about 35. Not sure that was possible, but I think he did a decent job of making me look semi-human.
Very helpful, as usual. We have used Portrait Innovations for our children, with good results! I hadn’t thought of them for headshots so I am glad you wrote this.
Also, another tip for author bios–run them past other people (blogging friends, complete strangers, spouses, whomever). I ALWAYS read the bio. I am fascinated by where the writer is coming from and where I might find more information about them. Therefore, when an author lists EVERY award they have ever won and puts nothing personal in their bio, it’s kind of a turnoff. Readers want to know you! Even though you have to keep it short, keep it human.
Great post, Elizabeth.
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
I’ve been meaning to get the headshots done. My father, fortunately, does portrait photography. Yay for family discounts!
Thanks Elizabeth. Another helpful post. Many years ago, I read a Grafton book where her cover pic was her in the middle of a country road, lounging on a motorcycle. Cool. But, of course, she was a well-established author. The rest of us should follow your advice and stick to a head shot.
Helen
Straight From Hel
I have a really difficult time with Bio Pics. I hate to see myself on film. I did a photograph for me for one of my sites but I took it down the next day. For me, it’s such an invasion of my privacy. I don’t know.
Bio is no problem for me.
Your photo looks wonderful, though.
ann
Margot–I’ve been hearing quite a few stories lately from people who have gotten picked up by agents, etc, via their Twitter identity and blog. It’s really amazing!
Teresa–I think your blog would be just fine for a pro presence…the important thing seems to be being “out there” online with people who know who you are.
Simon–Lucky! And he’ll likely get a better smile out of you than a chain place. My poor photographer eventually had to resort to making funny noises.
Helen–You’re so right. I think JK Rowling could get away with hanging upside down on a swing set, but we midlist types (I might be lowlist?) should do the standard head shot.
Mason–And you would know! You’re right…we get more press if it’s easy to do a story on us.
Alan–There’s quite a dichotomy between the two media, isn’t there. I don’t really get it either, which is why I didn’t mention it in my post! :) I can tell when something looks blurry and I adjust it by making it higher res. But I do know, and you’re absolutely right, that you need a HIGH-res image on your website for the press. If you get a CD from a portrait place, you’ll be able to adjust the quality of the picture, depending on where it’s going (web, newsprint, etc.)
Dorte–It’s definitely a pain, but you’re right–people like to see who they’re commenting to or getting emails from. I guess it’s human nature. Hope you sell a story soon!
Ann–You know, it really is. And the funny thing is that, for whatever reason, my headshot didn’t make it into my last book! Oh well. I’ve certainly gotten some use out of it.
Thanks for the advice and the reminder. This is something I’ve been meaning to work on.
Not ready for that head shot. Hoping I can do something in shadows.
I’ve long been envious of that great headshot you have on your blog. Now I know how you got it! Thanks for the very practical advice. I think I might hunt down a good photographer so I canpost a pic of me on my site too, rather than continue to rely on my far more photogenic cats to greet visitors.
Jemi–It’ll definitely cut it for at least some of the time! :) But when your steampunk novel is published, they might want something a little different. :)
Terry–You ARE lucky. And I bet being shot by him really helped you relax. It’s a great picture!
Michele–You’re right about that. It might be a good idea for everybody to have several different kinds of bios…some short/long, personal/strictly professional, etc. Then you’ve got one that’s sort of a resume-type bio, one for a website or blog, etc.
Alex–Actually, I think that would be a really cool look!
Paul–Good luck with it!
Lorel–It’s not the most fun way to spend an hour or so, but it’s definitely a good thing to just go ahead and knock out…before you suddenly really need one!
For some strange reason I am 100% incapable of writing an author bio! UGH. But I’ve got a great head shot!!!
I think yours is a great headshot- I will kill for one like that.
Great info here, Elizabeth! I was *just* thinking about headshots!
But since I write in SF/F, your Jane Doe example made me giggle. If she’s a member of SFWA, she CAN’T be unpublished, since one requirement is to publish at least 3 short stories at professional rates. That’s my big goal this year!
I appreciate this post. I just set up a website for this purpose but did it all in first person because it felt more personal and open. I didn’t think about the convenient aspect of copying a bio/picture right off the site.
I hate getting my picture taken too!!
:) Corra
from the desk of a writer
A handmade trackback since I can’t figure out how to do it the official way. :) I mentioned this article at my blog in a january in review post. Cheers! – Corra McFeydon