|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Jun 7, 2015 19:35:54 GMT -5
Just read this article in the NYT and thought it was interesting: www.nytimes.com/2015/06/07/opinion/sunday/how-to-pose-like-a-man.html It's about a female novelist's attempt to counteract unconscious gender bias in literary fiction (and a "girlie" cover, assigned by her publisher) by creating what she thinks of as male-style author photo. I think the resulting photo makes her look quite strikingly beautiful, which wasn't the intent! But she does look serious, rather than friendly or engaging. |
|
|
|
Post by ameliasmith on Jun 8, 2015 5:59:27 GMT -5
I'm not 100% happy with my current profile/author photo. It was actually the one my husband likes, but it shows my age/wrinkles. Then I thought, what the hell, I don't need to look sexy here. This is not about looking sexy. I don't need my author photo to look young and beguiling, because I'm solidly over 40 here and never was good at that game anyway (the beguiling part, though I was young not too too long ago).
I think that the author of the article got herself a fine photo, and I respect the choice to go with a more "masculine" pose. The traditional "feminine" look may not do us any favors.
|
|
|
|
Post by lindymoone on Jun 8, 2015 6:46:14 GMT -5
Interesting, Becca, thanks for the link.
I don't have an author photo. I don't really want one on my books, but I can see that it would be useful to have one for promotional purposes.
Off to read about the Goldberg study, hoping that it's been recreated more recently than the 1980s, and with better results. Not holding my breath, though.
|
|
|
|
Post by Daniel on Jun 8, 2015 8:19:50 GMT -5
I suppose I should come up with a more professional author photo. Mine is frivolous and probably amateurish. I've had professional photos taken in the past, but I don't care much for them. They worked okay for speaker photos on conference programs or websites, but they are "too happy" to use as an author photo. Here's an example:  |
|
|
|
Post by lindymoone on Jun 8, 2015 8:56:33 GMT -5
I don't know about authors being serious... It depends on their genre. This author pic of Christopher Moore  is just right for him. |
|
|
|
Post by scdaffron on Jun 8, 2015 9:07:35 GMT -5
I don't know about authors being serious... It depends on their genre. I agree. My author photo includes my fluffy white dog Fiona because my books include many canines and that's what most readers remember about them. Plus, my books aren't serious and Fi's smiling face is just plain cute  |
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Jun 8, 2015 10:26:09 GMT -5
My avi on here is exactly what I look like. I did try that manly pose. I think it worked...  |
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Jun 8, 2015 10:30:39 GMT -5
I like everyone's photos/avatars, here! It's odd that author photos are such a big deal for traditionally published writers. I don't know of any indies who are concerned about it. |
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Jun 8, 2015 10:42:49 GMT -5
When I set up my new website, the designer said it was very important to have good, professional looking photo. The quality is important too, with the right resolutions so the image looks clean and bright. He recommended having it taken by a professional photographer, and I'm very happy with the result.
I agree with him. The website of every author, be it Indie or trad, should look professional.
|
|
|
|
Post by Becca Mills on Jun 8, 2015 10:56:17 GMT -5
When I set up my new website, the designer said it was very important to have good, professional looking photo. The quality is important too, with the right resolutions so the image looks clean and bright. He recommended having it taken by a professional photographer, and I'm very happy with the result. I agree with him. The website of every author, be it Indie or trad, should look professional. Hmmm ... I think my gulls are reasonably high resolution ... |
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Jun 8, 2015 10:59:08 GMT -5
When I set up my new website, the designer said it was very important to have good, professional looking photo. The quality is important too, with the right resolutions so the image looks clean and bright. He recommended having it taken by a professional photographer, and I'm very happy with the result. I agree with him. The website of every author, be it Indie or trad, should look professional. Hmmm ... I think my gulls are reasonably high resolution ... Definitively. |
|
|
|
Post by carlos on Jun 8, 2015 11:03:41 GMT -5
The author photo is part of the promotion for the book--print books, anyway--so part of it is choosing a photo people will like 'like'. I thought her choice was pretty successful. She looked 'interesting' to me, but no matter how annoying gender profiling may be (especially to female writers who think they aren't being taken seriously enough)--people are 'interesting' to other people for all kinds of reasons, (including sex, oddly enough.)
The curious question it raised in my mind was how a 'nom de plume' photo might appear, if for example 'Frankie Hill' or 'The Marriage Counselor' were to be published as if written by a woman, or 'as told to' a woman.
Would the addition of a generic 'female' author photo add 'authenticity' to the female voice of the narrator, or the 'suspension of disbelief'?
ETA: The avatar is not really me (surprise!) It's my grandfather--looking dapper around 1905.
|
|
|
|
Post by Daniel on Jun 8, 2015 11:31:12 GMT -5
I suppose I could go for a (much grayer) Jim Butcher look. This photo was from the same shoot...  Still too happy, though. |
|
|
|
Post by Pru Freda on Jun 8, 2015 11:37:05 GMT -5
Quick, someone, help! Daniel's turned into a Agnetha/Bjorn hybrid!
|
|
|
|
Post by carlos on Jun 8, 2015 11:48:39 GMT -5
Quick, someone, help! Daniel's turned into a Agnetha/Bjorn hybrid! I think he may have answered the question I raised. |
|
|
|
Post by Suzy on Jun 8, 2015 13:45:35 GMT -5
I suppose I could go for a (much grayer) Jim Butcher look. This photo was from the same shoot... View AttachmentStill too happy, though. She is the dancing queen... Or... Money,money money... Or... Does Your Mother Know? |
|
|
|
Post by vrabinec on Jun 8, 2015 14:08:41 GMT -5
I suppose I could go for a (much grayer) Jim Butcher look. This photo was from the same shoot... View AttachmentStill too happy, though. Yeah. You can't go with happy. I'm going with this one from my youth. It says "buy my book, or else"  |
|
|
|
Post by carlos on Jun 8, 2015 19:04:07 GMT -5
Sort of reminds me of the mysterious "Jake Barton" formerly on Authonomy, who published a couple of wild and bloody thrillers, then disappeared.
|
|
|
|
Post by lindymoone on Jun 9, 2015 3:04:03 GMT -5
Smoldering 1970s movie villain?
|
|
