I have a new book coming out soon. Charming the Devil will hit the shelves on January 26th. I’m considering making new bookmarks for it, because my last publicity photo makes me look like a realtor. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against realtors, I just have zilch ability to sell houses. So I thought maybe it was time for a change. That’s why I did a little research to try to figure out what I wanted. But comparing authors’ pictures is like comparing apples to chimpanzees. There’s a wide variety.
Some novelists go for the straight-forward face shot. If you have a face like Shana Aba that’s great. I sat next to her at a book signing once. It was extremely depressing, because not many of us get to have her face.
Authors frequently have their photo sessions done with something they love. Apparently Mary Janice Davidson loves footwear. I’m assuming Robert Parker has a thing for his dog.
Nevada Barr sometimes goes for the natural look, but no one wants to see how I look naturally.
Nora Roberts, aka J.D. Robb, can pull off drama. But I gotta tell you, if I were as successful as Nora, I wouldn't want an alias. I'd be Nora 24/7.
A few
brave authors set their sites on sex appeal. I assume that’s what Rosemary Rogers was aiming at here.Kim Harrison seems to be telling us something about her books...or she has a gravestone fetish.
Most of us seem to want pictures that tell something about ourselves. When I mentioned this to my daughter, she said, “I’ll go get the horses cleaned up.”
So there you have it. It’s almost impossible to portray the real me without including the equine species. That’s why my boy Sage appears on every potential publicity photo I currently have to choose from. But I still don’t know which one to use. Do I go dramatic? Girly? Silly? Here are a few of Sage’s favorites. But he’s very vain and frequently forgets how I look, so I thought I’d take a Top Down vote and give away a copy of Charming the Devil to someone who takes the time to help me out.
So…if you had to be the person in these photos (nope, you absolutely cannot be the horse...there is only one Sagacious Sage) which one would you choose?
www.loisgreiman.com
56 comments:
OK I would go with either the first or third. You can see your face the best in those two. Now with that in mind, the third has better lighting on yur face. (all that technical stuff aside the second is my favorite) OK I am no help huh? If I had too choose I'd say the third. :)
http://thecajunbooklady.blogspot.com/
ksg_amg(at)yahoo.com
Wow I had no idea...
If I had to choose one picture for myself I'd probably go for the simple face-shot. The idea to have a picture with your favorite pet or animal is good too. The sexy shot on the other hand... hm, not for me !! lol.
Now as for your pictures... I definitely prefer pic #1 ;-)
Congrats Lois for your new release. I admit I haven't read any of your historicals. I have a few contemporaries from you though and enjoyed your sexy humor immensely. I think I definitely need to give this series of yours a chance.
Congrats again !
None of them are bad shots. However, I like picture #3. You can see your face really well and also the face of your horse.
They all are good. I would choose #3.
I like #3 the best.... it's "softer" than the other two. Does that make any sense?
My choose will be #3. you look great on that pic :)
Definitely #2!! Your eyes are bright in that one and I love the horse's profile. For some purposes, you need just a head shot, so you can zoom & crop that same picture.
Unless Sage wrote the book, don't go for the middle one. hehehe.
Between 1 and 3, that's tough. #3 is a great photo and you can see you face much better, but I really like the arrangement of you with Sage in #1.
You probably should go with 3.
I really like the first one. It doesn't look so posed because your not on Saga. She is a beautiful horse.
Hi, Lois! Happy New Year! You are far too pretty to let a horse upstage you in a picture. I love animals, and the horse is beautiful, but I'd rather see a larger shot of your smiling face. I'd choose #3 from the pictures you posted.
gcwhiskas at aol dot com
Congrats on the new release, Lois!!
And oh, my. LOVE those photos. all of them are great but I'm torn between 1 and 3.
#1 is unique - great pose, different and it's just good all around. shows the trust you two have with each other and that sends a really positive message
#3 is perfect of the horse. It's so hard to get those ears forward!! And it's great of you. And it's soft, as someone else said. very friendly.
any chance you can chose 2 shots and alternate them on your promo material? No reason you can't have both or all three on your website here and there.
but if you want a bottom line, I think I'd go for #1 because it is so unique
I love #2, but I have to admit, Sage and I had a whispered conversation about it, and I can't be sure he didn't influence my decision. #3 is great of you both. Sage told me they caught his bad side in #1 but I like the one of you there with the smile.
I like the 3rd one. It looks fun!
I like the 1st and the 3rd, but I think I would choose the 3rd. To me in prepresents being relaxed and happy with confidence...
Okay, here's a question, is it best if the photo depicts the kind of book the author writes? Is the evening gown shot better for my romances etc? Or doesn't it matter?
Virginia, thank you so much for the compliment. But really, no one wants to see my face up close these days. I have a picture of me on a galloping horse and I swear my wrinkles are blowing in the wind.
There all good but I would pick the third one!
Lois, you and Sage are so gorgeous together, you should find uses for all three. You've never taken a bad picture, and I'm soooo jealous of you for that.
Without looking at anyone else's vote, I'm going to say the best of the best is #1 because it's such an unusual pose, and the horse frames you. You're both doing something you love--you're cuddling and he's eating--and your smile is particularly inviting. Second choice is #3 because Sage's ears are so pretty and you look great sitting sidesaddle, but since I'm less a fan of hand in chin than straight-on glad-to-see-you smile, I'm going for the shot on the left.
What fun to read all the opinions after I posted mine!
It was a difficult choice, but I'd choose #3.
Thank you, Kathy, but you know that's not true. Most of my photos are really scary. Sage, however, is really handsome, isn't he? Sigh. I'm his number 1 fan and even tho it maybe doesn't make sense to have my promo pic done with him, and just love to see him. Funny huh?
I like #2. It says "feisty and playful."
Congratulations on the release!!
Feisty and playful definitely seems better than old and weird!!
I like #2 but I think #3 shows your face more! You can't go wrong on any of these, they are great photos. There is also a beautiful back ground in #3 so over all its my favorite.
lead[at]hotsheet[dot]com
NUMBER ONE! I like the comfortable look of it and as Cindy mentioned, the trust you have with Sage. It really says, okay, that's her baby and not just some random horse she posed with.
Not big on number three. You look cold and huddled and barely squeezed in the frame.
Number 3 looks all right, but you look somewhat uncomfortable and Sage is overpowering you in the picture.
And let your photo reflect you! Great job. they're all wonderful (even if I'm trying to get you to lean to number 1)
Oh my goodness they are really all good. The first one shows your love for your horse, the second shows the sportsman in you (like the hat) and the third is more whimsical. All three say something important. Too bad you can't use them all. If I HAVE to pick just one I am going to say No. 3 because that seems more like what an author would want to portray. (you really can't lose with any of them).
I like the one on the far right (#3). It looks the most natural and relaxed.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
Yeah, the green background looks good this time of year, doesn't it?
I am partial to #2, but again, it may be Sage talking because he looks as fabulous as you do. They're all good, Lois.
I don't think you need to have different shots for different kinds of books. These days, readers know a lot about us. They know you're a devoted horsewoman (or should). It makes you even more interesting!
so pleased to join in here and thanks for sharing the news and all the pictures. I was quite interested in all. susan L.
I vote #3 as first choice, and #1 as second.
This is a picture to promote you and your work, I think the hat in #2 hides more than it shows.
Marcia in OK
I like the first photo. It is an unexpected pose and both you and Sage look comfortable and relaxed. I like these photos much better than a lot of author photos.
I kind of think that's a good point about # 1, Keri. We look like buds, which we are...if I've stocked up on treats. :)
They're all great shots but I'm going with #2. There's so much happiness in your eyes in that shot. I love it!
It's fun to see how different everyone is. Thanks, PJ.
the first one thanks minsthins at optonline dot net
I absolutely love the first picture.
Love, Hugs & Happy New Year
Pam
Kris, I've been meaning to ask you about your cajunbooklady status. Are you a bookseller?
I like the first one the most although they are all good.
Love all the pictures, but #1 is my favorite. I don't know of any author who has a picture with an arm wrapped around a horse's leg while he's grazing!
MaryC...good thinking...originality should surely be taken into consideration.
i'm going with #2. it's a fun picture and you look really cute in it :D
They are all great photos but I'd go with number 1!
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
I like the first one the most and my second choice is the third pic.
the third one for me.
yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net
You're too funny!
I would go with the first one.
The third one looks a bit like a high school graduation pose with the hand.
The second one I love the hat but the picture is too much horse. That would be my second choice though!
Obviously all pictures of this type are POSED but unless you want to go for the dramatic, I think that the less posed and more natural a picture looks the better.
Having said that, I think the first photo is the best.
Carol
I would go with picture #2 (in the middle) but crop it. I just love your smile in that picture!
They are all good and I think you'll be happy with whatever you choose.
mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net
If I had to be any of those women, I'd be the one in the third picture. It's the only one you're the center of.
The first one would be a better shot if you weren't in dark. The second one is more horse than you, and in the third, you're closest to the center of the frame.
I kind of like the one where you're sitting on the ground the best.
Margay
I really like #1. It's very unique and shows that you and your horse have a strong relationship.
ok, I swear I replied yesterday. hmmmm.
Anyway I'd choose #2, looks like having alot of fun and ready to ride.
I'd have a face-shot similar to Shana Aba's. Nice and simple.
I like them all but I picked #3 because you can see your face better
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
The second one is the most fun but the third one is the best photo. The lighting and energy are the best for you (and Sage)... weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com
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