The Deer & Headlights Redux
Sep 18th 2007
Suzanne EnochOn Writing!
I got a phone call from my agent two or so weeks ago. After some chit-chat, the following transpired:
Agent: Suz, I have something kind of…awkward to discuss with you.
Me: (Oh God, she doesn’t want to represent me anymore!!!!) Just go ahead and tell me.
Agent: Okay. You…need to get new author photos taken.
Me: But I’m fat now! What’s wrong with my current pictures?
Agent: They’re fine. They’re great, in fact. You just…you look too…friendly.
Me: Friendly?
Agent: Yes. You’re in a different place now, and I think something more sophisticated would serve you better.
Me: Okay. I can be sophisticated. I think.
So I called my hair stylist and made an appointment, because when I’m on deadline I tend to get a little shaggy. Then I called my youngest sister and nominated her to be my unpaid photography coordinator. She found a great local photographer for me, and yesterday we did the shoot. Dina Marie (of http://www.dinamariephotography.com/ ) came to my house, which I had diligently shoveled clean, but my walls are all white. Decorated, but white.
Dina (this is not her) specializes in natural light photography, and she had envisioned something more dramatic than white walls. So my unpaid photography coordinator suggested we visit a local high-end model home. We hopped in the car and off we went. The realtor gave us a thumbs up, so we spent the next hour in a home with wall-sized aquariums, wood-paneled libraries, and accessories that were hard to move out of the way because they were glued down.
My cheeks are tired now from smiling in a sophisticated, coy (but not friendly) manner, and if I may say so, my pretend house made a great setting. I can’t show you any of the pictures yet, but hopefully I’ll have them in the next week or so. The ones she showed me in the camera looked amazingly good.
Have you or anyone you know ever had pictures taken professionally? Those cute kid photos, or family portraits? Was it a painful experience, or were you happy with the results?
39 Comments »
39 Responses to “The Deer & Headlights Redux”
zambonigirl on 19 Sep 2007 at 12:01 am #
Ah, this brings back childhood memories. Mombo would pack up Brozo and me and take us to Olen Mills for every major holiday. I have pictures of us in red and green lederhosen (him) and a drndl (me), pictures of us in red, white and blue, pictures of me holding easter baskets, pictures of us with reindeer and fireworks, and lord only knows what else. When I got older, we tapered off to only school photos.
I like having the photos. It’s nice to be a part of this family thing that you earthlings enjoy so much. I just remember hating to take the pictures. We had to look at the flash which caused spots in our eyes. All the family snapshots are of two blond kids with their eyes firmly closed.
ladydawgfan on 19 Sep 2007 at 12:10 am #
I have had my photo taken professionally several times for weddings, graduation, and for a formal family portrait. I have never been satisfied with them, mostly because I don’t think I’m very photogenic. The camera seems to play tricks with my complexion, my hair, and the angles of my face, and I come out looking like a caricature of myself. I much prefer being on the other side of the camera.
BTW, check the color “dot” you see in front of you after a flash photo is taken. If it is blue, your eyes were open for the photo. If it is red, your eyes were closed and you saw the flash through your eyelids. I learned that from the photographer who photographed my sister’s wedding.
dbrown3400 on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:43 am #
My engagement and wedding photos for the “first” wedding were great. Only to look like that again. But that was forty years ago and the clock still doesn’t work in reverse. Only candid shot were taken for the second one but they were good for casual shots. My father-in-law, who had money, was so cheap he made a wedding book from the proofs rather than paying the photographer to compile one. I was making about $2.50/hr at the time and wished I could have put him to shame, but no.
I had some professional shots done for a business journal. There was one I liked from a panel of twenty-five or so proofs. At least there was one. *g* There were two candid shots across the years I wish I could find now to pass down to my girls. They represented two phases during their lives and might be good for their scrapbooks and were probably better than professional shots because they didn’t look posed.
Cont.
dbrown3400 on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:54 am #
We had a great photographer when the girls were small who managed to capture the best of their personalities without much effort. We never went through the crying jags during a session as both girls pretty much liked to ham it up. They were even good as babies.
I’ll never forget a casual shot we took of Mer, the soon-to-be 29 yo, in the Dominican Republic when she was 2 1/2 months old. She was dressed in a short pink jumper with matching bonnet, held up by an adorable nanny we had hired, sitting on a balcony with lush greenery in the background. A perfect picture.
dbrown3400 on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:57 am #
The on-the-cheap wedding book was from the first wedding. It was funny to look at our pictures, which were quite good, and see “Proof” stamped across each one.
Karen Rose on 19 Sep 2007 at 6:21 am #
Suzie - what a great idea - using a model home! My walls are white, too. Covered in DH’s movie poster collection, but white. I’ll remember that.
Author Brenda Novak and I had a photos professionally taken for the cover of Romantic Times last year. We donned evening gowns and posed for these suspensy looking pics to promote the Whodunnit game we just finished - some of us looking scared, others of us holding a rope, or candlestick (you know, from Clue). A few of me discovering poor Brenda’s “body” draped over a jewelry cabinet, then vice-versa. She made a better looking “body” than me. I looked alive and very uncomfortable, LOL. Then in a moment of whimsy (I love that word), the photographer handed us two fedoras and we plopped them on jauntily and leaned against the jewelry cabinet. I was standing on a box, HA, because Brenda is much taller than me.
Karen Rose on 19 Sep 2007 at 6:22 am #
That’s the pic we LOVED and the one we picked for the cover of RT. Then the photographer said, “You want to order the retouching?”
We gave him a dumbfounded look. “DUH,” we said. “YES.”
Best money I ever spent.
FreshEChelle on 19 Sep 2007 at 7:26 am #
Some many good ideas - the model home is genius and free. The blue dot/red dot - who knew? Antoher piece of trivia that will dazzle fellow party goers.
Dancing school photos were my faves as a kid. Mom’s advice in high school - wear something not dated for your senior year photo to minimize cringe factor when looking back years later. She is a wise woman.
These days, cameras pointed at me are kryptonite. Is there reverse body dismorphic disorder. I think I look great when I look in the mirror, then I see my self in a photo or worse a security camera screen!!!! Oh the humanity.
PJ on 19 Sep 2007 at 7:32 am #
I’m fortunate to have always had a loving relationship with the camera. I rarely take a bad photo, from professional portraits to candid shots. In fact, if I could live my life as the camera sees me I’d be a very happy camper. Alas, the face I see in the mirror every morning is the one I live with and a far cry from the one that shows up for the camera’s lens. lol
Ellen the Foodie on 19 Sep 2007 at 8:09 am #
I love digital cameras. All the shots from our trip to Maine were downloaded on the computer and then I got to play with them. Every shot of me on the beach, became a close up. I just loved cropping out dozens of pounds of flesh from my body.
Ellen the Foodie on 19 Sep 2007 at 8:11 am #
For the rest of the day, I am Elle Mac Fatson
SuzyQ on 19 Sep 2007 at 8:13 am #
LOL, PJ! I am the same way. I once had glamour shots taken for my DH, and every picture came out great. In fact, the photographer had me sign a release form to use them for advertising. Now a days, I am either behind the camera or watching my kids.
I do remember a couple years there when I took my kids for their Christmas photos. What a disaster! After waiting 45 minutes for our turn, the kids had already pretty much had it. Now put them in a small dark room and try to get them to smile. Yeah, right. One time I had to reschedule because I could not get my daughter to stop crying. After that, I never went back to the department store’s studio. I now take them to Picture People. I like the fact that it’s open, so the kids don’t feel so closed in. They take a bunch of pictures (instead of just 5 shots) and really work well with the kids.
Lisa H on 19 Sep 2007 at 8:33 am #
I am just putting together a web page for myself. I have enlisted my 14 year old daughter as my photographer and was horrified to discover that the look I seem to be capturing is “Ninety year old pregnant hag”
That is not the image I want to portray, so I thought I’d try dressing in black—sadly the stomach still sticks out!
We went outside, but there all the unattractive marks on my face are blindingly brought to light.
I think I’ll just have a web site sans picture!
Lisa H on 19 Sep 2007 at 8:34 am #
Ellen the foodie - I think the idea of closeups is a great one!
doglady on 19 Sep 2007 at 8:55 am #
Lisa H I laughed out loud at the “Ninety year old pregnant hag” line! I feel you, sister. I am preparing to do a website myself. My BFF’s husband is an Emmy award winning news photographer. They have decided to give me an early birthday gift of photographs to use for my website and eventually, maybe hopefully, my back of the book photos. We always take our vacations together so this year (end of Sept) I am going to their house and he and the BFF are going to treat me to a real professional photo shoot! I have not done that since I retired from singing. I had great photos done when I was singing, but as they are now 15 plus years old and we will not even DISCUSS how many pounds later I cannot use them. And Karen, I love those RT photos of you and Brenda Novak!! It has been suggested that I begin to change my online persona to my “nom de plume” (Snort!) What do you ladies think? When and how should I make the switch and introduce everyone to LOUISA CORNELL??
Casee on 19 Sep 2007 at 9:23 am #
Just yesterday my 7 year old son had his school pictures. He just lost one of his top two teeth, so he has the CUTEST gap when he smiles. I just loved the fact that I’d have a school picture with him toothless. The problem? When he poses for pictures, his smile is soooo forced. Usually photographers can get kids to smile, so I had faith. Then I picked him up yesterday and our conversation went something like this:
Boy: I didn’t smile like this [showing fake smile].
Me: How did you smile?
Boy: Like this [closed mouth smile].
*waaaaaahhhhhhh*
Julia London on 19 Sep 2007 at 9:30 am #
Oh man, the dreaded professional photo. Several years ago, I had one done at a studio where they plied me with wine and music to get me to loosen up. I loved those photos.
But then a few years went by….and a few pounds came in…and I thought it was not a fair representation of the Goddess who is Julia. So I had some more done. Ugh. Ugh Ugh Ugh. Either the photographer sucks or I got old and fat.
I am going to have more done. Just as soon as I lose 20 pounds.
Darla on 19 Sep 2007 at 9:54 am #
I’m the photographer in the family, mostly for hobby but I do a pretty good job. I purchased a high end digital canon and have gotten some beautiful pics.
We’ve had a few pro shots taken and most have turned out great. Me, like many others I imagine don’t like pics taken of themselves.
cail on 19 Sep 2007 at 9:57 am #
for me, i look good in pictures as long as i know i’m being photographed. 80% of candid shots where i do not realize a camera is out has me in some form of mid sentence or mid chew looking like an idiot.
i’m always on guard once i see a camera is out.
Ronlyn on 19 Sep 2007 at 9:58 am #
Oh how fun! I can’t wait to see the photos. I’ve had my protraits done more times than I can count. Back in college I helped a friend out by posing for some pics for her art projects….somewhere out there are pics of me whelding a whip while wearing a toga. *shudder* LOL My mom was a photographer while I was growing up, so I got pretty used to being in front of the camera. Most recently I took my two boys in for their pics and I wound up in a few of them. I have fun with photos.
elsiehogarth on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:18 am #
Does anyone remember “Glamour Shots”? I don’t even know if they are still around. My sister and I had them done as a gift to our parents. Individually and together. I really don’t envy models: hair, make up, costumes, bustiers, accessories, smile, don’t smile etc. It’s a lot of work. I have one shot of me with feathers, gloves etc., I look like a Vegas showgirl or a stripper, one with a leather jacket (biker chic), a fur wrap etc. When I look at them, now, I just shake my head and laugh.
Suzanne Enoch on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:28 am #
ladydawgfan, I had no idea either about the color dots. I’m going to sound so smart when I tell my sis about that.
And the dreaded school photo days. I’d forgotten about those (odd, since I only graduated high school last year *g*).
Nicole Jordan on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:28 am #
I hope you had fun with your shoot, Suzanne! But I sure know what you mean about not wanting to get new author photos made. I was dreading having mine done, even though my old photos weren’t very good cause they were taken by my amateur photographer bro-in-law many years ago. And the only pro photographer I ever went to was awful. Not as bad as Glamour Shots, but still made me cringe.
But Goddess Rachel’s fab new photos inspired me to take the plunge a couple months ago. And it turned out to be a great experience because the photographer was so amazing. Having the right photographer who can bring out the best of your features makes all the difference — like Cinderella before her fairy godmother intervened so she could go to the ball.
Claudia Dain on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:31 am #
Suzanne, I’m LOL at your agent’s dismay at your photo looking too friendly. We can’t have that now, can we? People might get the impression that you’re not an actual writer!
There is a ‘look’ that seems to be “the look” for professional shots. I love looking at author photos on the back of books to compare them. Romance authors are allowed to look attractive and approachable, but scifi/fantasy authors have an unapproachable air. Dare I say it? Otherworldly!
Thriller and horror authors look the least approachable, often wearing sunglasses to hide their eyes and they rarely smile, certainly never with teeth showing! That would give the wrong vibe completely, right?
Lit fic authors look gravely serious and super intelligent, the shots most likely to look done by a camera-talented friend. They’re too busy being literary to get professional shots done.
I can’t wait to see your photos! And the idea of the model home is genius.
Karen Rose on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:31 am #
Elsie - I have a Glamour Shots photo of me in leather, too! Leather hat and jacket, people, get your minds out of the gutter!
It was my biker chick look, LOLOLOL.
Karen Rose on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:36 am #
Claudia - you’re right. I’ve been told by mystery booksellers that I am NOT to smile in my photos. NO serious mystery author smiles. And when you look at the all the book jackets out there, it’s very true.
I had to make this a VERY BIG DEAL when I gave my photos to my publisher. I was going for a very serious, thriller-writer look when I got my photos taken. Not a smile in the bunch. THen DH shows up at the studio, stands behind the photographer and starts doing all the dirty signs in Sign Language, darn him! I broke up laughing and the photographer got some “smiley” photos that everybody loved EXCEPT ME!
I was successful in lobbying for the non-smiley look and for my book jacket we went with the photo that’s stuck on the marble body of my goddess on our site here. It’s not mean, but not smiley. When I send out an e-letter, I use the smiley pic. Makes DH happy.
Karen Hawkins on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:39 am #
Oh, Suzanne, I feel your pain!
I’m in the same place and was given The Awkward Phone Call. “Karen, we love your photos, but we want them to be more … professional.”
Sigh.
Can I just phone in a professional photo? Hire a professional model who “sorta” looks like me and use her, instead? Ask Angelina Jolie if she has a free hour to donate her face and body for the new KaHa photoshoot?
Btw, why do they call it an ‘unretouched photo’ when it’s never been touched before? Does anyone know?
Sabrina Jeffries on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:53 am #
Either my publisher doesn’t care or my pictures are okay, because they’ve never asked me to do anything different. If they did, I would say, “Hey, you want a new picture, pay for it!”
Seriously, though, I hate taking pictures. I hate it that I always look fat, and that my hair never seems to look anything but flat. I don’t mind looking old, truly–it’s the fat part that bugs me.
I had a serious photo shot once that I really liked and my girlfriend vetoed it because she said I had such a nice smile and I should be smiling. It looked so “smart,” though. And what is it about serious photos always making us think we look “smarter”? Why can’t happy be smart, too?
Suzanne Enoch on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:06 am #
Apparently there’s a fine line between looking thoughtful and looking mean, and apparently my face goes from one to the other without warning during photo shoots. I guess “mean” is better than “constipated”. *g* I tried to avoid that look.
RachelG on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:17 am #
I hate to have my picture taken. I always end up looking inbred. For my publicity photos, I have a really good photographer who takes about 250 pictures. Out of those 250, we probably get 3 or 4 I can use. He told him that the next time I need my photos done, I should get drunk first.
RG
Claudia Dain on 19 Sep 2007 at 12:24 pm #
Getting drunk first sounds like the exact right way to face a camera! I’m going to try that next time (hoping there is no next time).
Suzanne Enoch on 19 Sep 2007 at 12:25 pm #
The difficulty of getting a good photo makes me feel sorry for those celebs out there. So they put on their own make-up to go out to dinner — of course 75% of the photos taken of them are going to look like crap.
On the other hand, if I made a hundred bazillion dollar a year, I would have somebody around full time to make me look good, which would hopefully improve my odds of taking a good picture.
And Julia and Rachel, being drunk doesn’t seem to help any of them look good on camera. *g*
Froggie on 19 Sep 2007 at 12:44 pm #
I very much hate seeing myself in pictures. I recently superimposed a ’smiley face’ over my own face in a family portrait taken by my brother. He sent it to through email and with the really neet ‘PhotoFiltre’ program on my computer I altered it and sent it back to him. I also pointed out that his super-expensive digital camera had a nifty little feature that allows him to delete crappy pictures (of me!)
If I have no choice of being taken in pictures, I DO NOT show teeth when I smile, and I have to smile ’cause I’m one of the people that look mean when I try to look serious or wise. My 11 yr. old son has a saying for what I look like smiling: Bucktooth McBeaver Face…
Karen Hawkins on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:12 pm #
Suzanne, I can’t imagine you ‘looking mean.’ Not even sober.
Froogle, 11 yr old sons have painfully poignant descriptive powers. Everything has to do with either 1) livestock or 2) bodily functions. I’d say you came out pretty good with Bucktooth McBeaver Face.
Kelly Ann on 19 Sep 2007 at 9:04 pm #
Bucktooth Beaver face….kids are sooo mean! and unfortunately funny - I’m sorry I’m laughing. My son (9 yr) poses! I can’t do anything to get him to take a nice picture -he has the peace sign up, he will give a goofy or cheesy grin, bunny ears behind his sisters head, muscle flexing etc etc. the list goes on and on! For the last 2 years it looks like I’ve been getting him drunk before every picture!!!! I know where he gets it though “sigh” I love a funny photo shoots. My best friend in college and I have amazing photos - pretending to be Madonna, trying to move the speed bumps off the road so we can go faster through campus, playing with mens bouncy balls. Not the hairy ones, the real bouncy balls, leaping through the air to land on a pile of matresses while trying to pose, dressing crazy and running though the halls -I miss those days!
Your photo shoot sounds sooo fun though, I would have never imagined going to a model home - what an excellent idea. I can’t wait to see them!
Kelly Ann on 19 Sep 2007 at 9:05 pm #
I also wanted to say that now I understand why Stephen Kings picture always creeped me out - it was the effect he was trying to create! IT WORKED!
Manuelita on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:33 pm #
I like Suzie’s current author photo. But I am looking forward to seeing the new ones in the fancy house.
My family and I once took a formal photograph where we all wore black and white, the guys wore ties, the gals in fancy dresses. The one weird thing about the photo shoot was that the photographer had us not show any teeth. This was just this studio’s style, not a knock against our teeth. =) Now I rarely have a close-mouthed smile. So it was actually a difficult thing to do. I kept feeling as if I was smirking. Try it and see how well YOU do. LOL! The photo turned out great, and it is one of my all-time favorites.
darkshire007 on 20 Sep 2007 at 7:05 pm #
The only professional picture that I can remember is one that was taken of the family back in the 70’s (we’ll leave it at that). All the ladies were wearing hideous baby blue polyester dresses and the guys had on tuxes; can you say tacky? After that the only other professional picture I have had taken was one for the government (after basic training). I think they took that one to see how traumatized everyone was after six weeks of being screamed at! LOL! I take most of my own photos now. My 35mm has a remote control for it; I set it up, get everyone where I want them, then take the picture. I think these turn out better then what we would pay someone professionally for.
Phoebe on 25 Sep 2007 at 2:42 pm #
Only when I was a little kid. If I were a Big Author, I wonder how “professional” a photographer could make frizzy white dreadlocks look!