This week, I got the results from my photo shoot. I’m pretty happy but naturally, I think I might be a little “too close” to the issue to be able to decide which author photo I like best. When I see how big some people appear on the back of their books (has anyone else been shocked by the ginormous Rebecca Wells on the back of the latest Ya-Ya?) I want to make sure I look okay larger than life. So I’m doing a survey. I’ve narrowed it down to the top six (was going to be top five, but hey, I’m in decisive that way). The contenders are listed in no particular order below. Please note that any of these photos can be cropped and touched up by my photographer, who is an absolute whiz with Photoshop. So any slightly dark circles (I had these taken at the onset of the Cold From Hell) can be erased. Also, if you want a closer look, simply click on the picture for a blown-up version. I’d love to hear your thoughts, either in the comments section or by email to diana@dianapeterfreund.com. Thanks!
Photo One: I really like my hair in this one, but I’m a bit worried about the black background *and* the black shirt. I think the photog can probably fix that in photoshop, though.
Photo Two: I love this one, but I’m wondering if I should save it until I start writing gritty thrillers or am a shoo-in on the NYT bestseller list. There’s something very “successful” and “serious” about this picture. My friend wondered if I should save this for post-debut books, once I actually *have* a reputation to look so smug about. LOL!
Photo Three: I think I look like Scully in this picture. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Kind of a happy medium between 1 and 2 perhaps?
Photo Four: I don’t know if I like my hair as much in the “pink shirt” pictures, but these have been most people’s favorites. Something about what the pink does for my coloring, I suppose. And this and photo six have the most realistic smiles. This is my “I got a book deal!” smile.
Photo Five: Pink with a smile that doesn’t make my eyes crinkle up. Not as real perhaps, but one doesn’t want to look TOO ebullient on the back of one’s book, right? I think you wouldn’t know it wasn’t as big as I normally smile unless you knew me.
Photo Six: I’m partial to this one because I’m wearing very little makeup in it, hence I think I look the most like I “usually” do. Also, the smile is real. My college roommate liked this one and the one of me in pink with eh big smile (4, above) because it was the most “realistic”. But how big do I need to be smiling? I remember during the shoot my friend Sue kept trying to get pictures of me NOT smiling, and I refused to do it. I don’t want to look dour. I write comedy.
Okay, that’s it. Love to hear what you think! NOTE: All photos can be cropped. If you like the idea of the close up, any photo can be cropped to be a close up. Thanks!
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