Note: To avoid anything that could be interpreted as mean-spirited, I've stuck to dead authors to illustrate each of these species of author photo. All of these types can be either good or bad, depending on how they are executed (even the classic).
1. The I don't even know someone is taking my photo photo
This is popular with old male authors. It usually involves them sitting at their desk or in a comfy chair in their study (if you don't have a study, you don't make the cut for this kind of photo), not facing the camera or acknowledging its presence. It's often a full body shot, usually with legs crossed for an extra "I have no idea someone else is in the room" insouciance.
Pros: intellectual-looking. Little chance of looking like a dork. Generally flattering since you can hardly see the writer. Makes the author look important, since it looks like a photo that would accompany a newspaper article about how famous and writerly the author is.
Cons: hard to actually see the author. Looks weird in a festival-program-esque collage of headshot-style author photos. Has been done a million times. Makes me think you live in a New York brownstone and disappoints me if you don't.
Photo: Roald Dahl has no idea you're watching
2. The I'm not afraid to look into the camera photo
This is popular with modern fiction writers, especially those lucky enough to look pretty good with this full-on here's my face take it or leave it approach. This photo is shot straight on, usually in black and white, not in the more common three quarter profile. It's the photographic equivalent of a headbutt.
Pros: Kind of cool. The opposite of the chin-on-fist photo. Looks smart/arty without looking stupid. Highlights the skill of a good photographer.
Cons: Kind of aggressive/scary, especially since people tend not to smile in this one (and might look creepy if they did). Not great for the less comely authors of the world, since it's just all face all the time.
Photo: Tolstoy does Blue Steel
3. The knowing smile photo
This is another looking-at-the-camera photo, but it's more like the author has been interrupted during their busy standing in a field (or alley) schedule and spared a wise, literary, closed-mouth smile for the viewer. Usually shot as shoulders- or chest-up. This is probably (currently) the most popular kind of author photo, and is usually shot as three quarter profile.
Pros: this is friendly but still intellectual. It's got an "I have a secret" allure, which, with some luck, implies the book might be good. The author is also looking at/connecting with the viewer, but without the scary intensity of the I'm-not-afraid-to-look-into-the-camera-photo.
Cons: can look smug, or possibly sleepy, depending on the precise moment the photo is snapped.
Photo:TIFF knew how to rock the knowing smile (Timothy Findley, showing off some sweet wallpaper)
4. The classic photo (aka the head on hand[s]/fist[s])
This is when an author sits for a photo, probably at his or her desk, and props chin on fist (or – good Lord – fists). Some authors have updated this to resting the chin on an open hand (very daring). A subspecies of this photo is the photographic-facelift, where an author places his or her hands in a strategic position on the hairline or jaw to basically pull back a decade or so of "life experience".
Pros: tried and true. Works well for non-fiction or authors over the age of 1000.
Cons: Cheeseball. Sorry.
Photo: This was probably the hot new trend when Vonnegut did it. He pulls it off, actually. Still not a good choice these days.
5. The looking somewhere other than the camera photo
The most popular version of this photo is looking just off to the side, like you're contemplating what to write for your next book. In this case, there's usually a semi-squint happening, to indicate serious side-looking. Other versions include looking down coyly (especially popular with the ladies) or looking up and to the side, which implies a sort of impish thoughtfulness. Fully-turned-to-the-side profile photos (which are pretty uncommon) fall under this category.
Pros: This is generally pretty flattering. It can be intellectual (the side look) or cute/funny (the up look) or thoughtful (the down look), so if you're going for one of those, it's a good choice. It also avoids the occasionally creepy I-am-staring-into-your-soul-until-you-buy-my-book effect that the above looking-into-the-camera photos can create. The looking off to the side look is probably the second most popular kind of author photo right now, after the knowing smile.
Cons: It can be legitimately hard to see what the author looks like, especially if he or she is looking down. It can also seem twee (the up look) or capital A arty (the side look) or boring (the down look). Also, the side look can occasionally make the author look blind because their eyes are sometimes unfocused. Not that being blind is a bad thing. But it seems a bit of a weird choice.
Photo: Virginia Woolf, giving a truly awesome side look
Got a favourite? Let me know. Also, stay tuned for numbers 6-10.
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