Every writer needs a great photo

Part of putting together a business look is having a great photo you can use on your website, your one-sheet, and even on the cover of a book. You’re much better to have one taken ahead of time than to have to rush to do it in a day or two when it’s desperately need it.

I would strongly advise every writer or aspiring writer to:

1. Have several good photos taken by a pro so that you have a great background, good lighting, etc.

2. Make sure you tell the photographer exactly what you want the photo for and make sure he/she understands and doesn’t just take different poses for the sake of it.

3. Take different outfits along and use at least three-four of them. One dressy or glitzy; one business-like; one casual, one mysterious, and so forth.

4. If you don’t know what to wear to make you look good, watch TLC’s What Not to Wear or buy their book (Dress Your Best with Clinton and Stacey). It’s amazing how much a different set of clothes or a different background can alter the message the photo sends.

5. Get said photos on a cd in different formats if you don’t know how to scan and work with them yourself. I’m forever having pictures sent to me that are low-res jpg when I need a high res tif or 8 x 10 studio shots when I need a 2 inch head shot, etc. If you have a variety in size and density, you can send what’s needed to whoever needs it – or use them yourself on your promotional materials.