Saturday, August 10, 2019

Heads-up on the headshot: Ellen Kozak on putting oneself out there


HALLIE EPHRON: Today I'm so happy to welcome attorney and author Ellen Kozak who has been a reader and commenter since
way-back-when. We hosted her in 2014, talking about her book (EVERY WRITER'S GUIDE TO COPYRIGHT AND PUBLISHING LAW). She and I bonded as fellow Barnard College alums (this photo is of her, way-back-then)and fans of Star Trek.

Today she's back to talk about what is, for many of us with even a modest public presence, a bit of a nightmare: getting a decent head shot. I've seen more than enough photos of authors standing in front of their garage door, deep shadows under their eyes, faces plastered with a maniacal grin, in a photo credited to their spouse. (As a character in my new book would say, it's like handing out a business card riddled with typos.)

Fortunately I come from a family of writers so I knew the drill. To be taken (and to take yourself) seriously as a writer, I needed 1) an office 2) a fax machine (that's how long ago it was) and 3) a professional head shot. Getting the first two were easy. Eventually I found a fabulous photographer, Lynn Wayne, who hired a makeup person for the shoot and then spent about 2.5 hours taking photos in an industrial loft. Endless photos. I've been back twice more, and I need to go again since I no longer look like my head shot.

Here's a page of the  proofs from one of our early sessions.

Ellen?

ELLEN KOZAK: One of the difficulties of being a writer today is that one has to put oneself OUT THERE, whereas so many of us would rather just sit in a tree with a notebook, like Jo March, or hunker down in a quiet room with our computers, and public be damned. 



Unfortunately, the public, or your publisher, or the conference at which you are speaking, or your Facebook page—all want a head shot. And I am notoriously camera shy—so much so that when I once wrote an article for the Milwaukee Journal on what it was like to have watched the first Superbowl with all the guys in the law school (summary: a radiator pipe burst and the floor flooded, and none of the guys left until the rented TV shorted out), I actually looked up a ten year old photo of me that had been previously published in the paper, did my hair and make-up to look as much like it as I could, and went up to see the editor and tell him, “See, you don’t need a new photo.”



I have learned how to get a decent photo at the DMV by wearing a lot of make-up and hair spray, a rib-knit turtleneck (always a turtleneck, preferably in pink or magenta), and when they say “Look up!” doing so with just my eyes, not my chin.  (Try it; it works!) 



But when I asked Hallie for an opinion on whether I could use my latest passport photo, which I thought was passable, as a headshot, she lectured me about being professional and getting a real photographer to take the picture. 

HALLIE: Ellen sent me the passport photo she's talking about, but I am NOT going to post it. Some day she'll thank me.



ELLEN: I put it off.  On Facebook, I’d been using a photo of my late dog, who died twenty years ago. On LinkedIn, I had no photo.



Well, now I do.



When the State Bar decided to do profiles of several of its 50-year members, I was one of the ones chosen.  And they sent out a photographer, who turned out to be a friend of mine. 



This is the third PR photo shoot that a bar association has financed for me.  The first two—one for the Milwaukee Bar Journal, one for Wisconsin Lawyer—were done to accompany articles I had written for them. This one was for an article about me.  Their interviewer is, like me, a lawyer-journalist and we had a fun discussion, and he actually got most of the information right.  The photo they used was spectacular.  




Hey, guys, this is what 75 looks like—IF you have a great photographer and an entourage.



As for that entourage, I now live in senior citizen housing.  One of my neighbors is a retired hairdresser.  I prevailed upon her to come to the photo session to help beat my frizz into submission.  My sister lives across the street. She came over and draped my designer scarves for me, because I had my glasses off (I can no longer wear contacts) and couldn’t see what I was doing.



I had managed to find the bag of make up that I use for appearances (especially on TV), and layered it on, covering age spots and a fading bruise (did I mention I can’t see without my glasses?).



Yvette (my hairdresser friend) and my sister stayed throughout the photo session, running over with tissues when my eyes began to water from the make up melting into them.  Kevin (the photographer) kept up a steady stream of funny remarks that had me giggling.  I don’t usually like my smile in photos, but these weren’t bad.



Kevin sent a dozen shots in my Gucci scarf for me to look over. How to decide? Were my eyes even? Did my bust look too big?  He sent the rest (in a blue scarf from that same trip to Italy) to the State Bar, whose Communications Director also happens to be a long-time friend (I’ve written a number of articles for her.)  She chose a photo, and the profile went live on July 17.  Among the comments on Facebook: “So that’s what you look like.” 



Well, not most days.  But the public at large doesn’t have to know that.  Book jacket, here I come!



 HALLIE: Nicely done, Ellen! Here's Ellen's previous head shot... Not bad!

And, just a word in support of professional photographers. They know what they're doing. Shop around, Look at their work. It's really not that expensive. You'd only hire a pro to edit your book, right? Consider it an investment. 

So how do you feel about being photographed? Do you run away from the camera? Or check your hair and makeup, and your teeth for spinach, plant your fist under your chin and smile, smile, smile? Any tips for looking your best? 

48 comments:

  1. I’m definitely in the run away from the camera group; I really don’t like having my picture taken at all. [But thanks for the DMV-picture tips, Ellen . . . I need all the help I can get!]

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    1. My mother hated to have her picture taken, and as a result I have virtually none of her past the page of 40. It's not always about looking good!

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    2. I agree with Hallie -- pictures are treasured and it is so sad when someone is gone if there are no pictures. In my house, it was my dad -- he was ALWAYS the one behind the camera, so when he died suddenly at 51, there were almost no photos of him.

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    3. That is so sad. Thanks for sharing, Susan.

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    4. Of course, you are right about families and photographs, and, although I am not fond of having my picture taken, I still manage to find my way into a fair number of photographs. In fact, John and I just had our pictures taken with four of our grandchildren. So cute, those grandbabies . . . .

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    5. I had a professional take a series of photos of me on the Durham tobacco campus (love the brick) so I'd have good photos for my author website sarajohnsonauthor.com and my book. It was worth the price, for sure.

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  2. That's a great picture, Ellen! My head shot is now seven years old and I have different glasses, but I love it so much I'm hanging onto it. I had a fabulous local natural-light photographer (after getting my makeup and hair done) and a friend along to make me laugh. One thing Meg (photog) did was tell me to aim my torso a quarter turn away from her and then twist my head toward the camera. It does a great job of smoothing out the wattles. ;^)

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    1. HOLD THE WATTLES! And I love your head shot, Edith - you look like yourself.

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  3. I love to take photos with my family and with close friends as a way to capture a moment, and later a memory. But I always cringe at photos of me taken at professional events. I always think--why do I look so goofy or sleepy or grumpy? I've had a photo in the local newspaper, where I'm a columnist, for twenty years, and for twenty years, in real life I've been approached at least once a year, meeting me for the first time, who say, 'you look better in person.' Um, thanks? I've been at this author game long enough that I've had four author photos for books--first one by a professional (I didn't shop around-- oops!); second and third by husband and daughter, respectively (sorry, Hallie!); and latest by a professional who came to our house, took photos in various setting and outfits and sent me tons of proofs to choose from--as well as both color and black and white photos along with formats for both print and online. Wow! I'm pretty pleased with it, though I am still self-critical. Thanks for a fun post and great advice! (If there's another author photo in my future, I'll get my makeup and hair done professionally and take Edith's advice to bring a friend!)

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    1. So I went to your author page on your web site, Jess -- LOVE the rotating montage of pictures of you. SO MUCH FUN! https://jessmontgomeryauthor.com/jess/

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  4. I have never wanted my picture taken, even when I was little. But it occurs to me that maybe some later generations might like to know what I looked like. My DMV photo is very old, but very good. It doesn't look at all like me especially now that my hair is gray. I figured that last year when I needed to renew my license they would insist on a new one but they didn't. My passport photo is okay but it looks like my grandmother! Probably I look like my grandmother, but you know that inside I am still very young. Maybe that's the problem with photos - they don't really match our expectations.
    Ellen, I love your picture. You look like someone I would like to sit down and have a long conversation with.

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    1. Laughing, because I remember thinking I was starting to look like my mother... first just my hands. And I'm sure soon it will be like my grandmother. NOT something I look forward to.

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  5. What a nice thing to say, Judi. Perhaps our paths will cross at some writing conference.

    And yeah, either my mother or my grandmother hides out in my mirror on any given day.

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  6. Hallie, every picture I've seen of you is great. Your smile lights up the room. Ellen, great picture. You have a face that is interesting, one that makes me want to sit next to you at dinner.

    I don't mind having my picture taken although I always wonder who that old lady is. Oh well. A few years ago I had the extreme privilege of being interviewed by Robert Pear on a Medicare article he did for the NYT. The paper sent out a photographer for the pictures. That was the first time in decades that I'd had anything done of me except a snap shot, and what fun it was. She did most of the shots outside in our garden, which was in full bloom. I ordered quite a few pics later, and now I can't find them! But if I ever need a good head shot, I'll get that photographer back again.

    I love knowing what authors look like, and believe me, we, the readers, know when a photo is ten years old. So do update those head shots. You are beautiful, alla youse.

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    1. I remember my first Bouchercon, I'd just published my first book, just had my first author photo taken, and Dean Koogan approached me at the registration desk and said, "You look just like your picture!" She sounded shocked. Back then, I did.

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  7. Hallie, I feel your pain! When I look in the mirror I see my Mom's face and her mom's body. SIGH.

    I don't mind being photographed but for a good head shot you definitely need a professional photographer. I recommend Iden Ford (https://www.idenfordphotography.com/). He took photos one year at Magna cum Murder and I'm using mine on my Amazon Author page (https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07C5CV9CH). He makes everyone look fabulous (even non-glamorous me, who is allergic to make up)!

    Hank, didn't Iden also take your photo?

    Re DMV photos: I hope no one ever has to identify my body using my driver's license photo. LOL

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  8. Totally my mother.. it’s funny, I don’t really look like her, but sometimes I see her expression, the way she holds her mouth or eyes, it’s really odd. Once I looked in the mirror and my brain said: mom is here! As if she were actually there.
    Anyway, photos! Hate hate hate them. Hate to have my picture taken. It is such an ordeal, I put it off as long as I can . My head shot that Iden Ford took-, such a great story! I was at a convention, and he said sit down, the light is great!! Sit down right now. And I said no no I look terrible, and he said: I said sit down! And that photo is what happened. He was right, the light was terrific. And truly, it is all about lighting.
    And I agree, Hallie, Lynn Wayne is a genius.
    Ellen, that photo is beautiful! So glad to see you again…

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    1. Hank, is the picture Iden Ford took online anywhere?

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    2. Erma Bombeck: "I pulled on a sweater this morning, and my mother's arm came out through the sleeve."

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    3. OMG! I miss Erma Bombeck. She also said, "My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint."

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    4. Hank, the Iden Ford photo is spectacular! I don't know if you remember, but I had commented on how much I loved it, and Iden Ford sent me a copy of your pic. So, not only an amazing photographer, but he is a thoroughly nice person, too.

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  9. I was remiss not to give you my great photographer's name. Kevin Harnack (kevinharnack@gmail.com)--
    he's out of Waukesha WI, so if you are looking for someone in Wisconsin or even in the greater Chicago area, you can contact him via e-mail.

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    1. Oops, Kevin tells me its KevinLHarnack@gmail.com or (website) www.KevinHarnack.com.

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  10. Shalom Reds and fans. Two years back, I won a contest of a local photographer for a photo shoot. At the last minute, I decided to dress up, in suit and tie. The background he picked was our local courthouse buildings. He used the pictures in some promotions that he ran and in return he gave me 10-12 digital files in several formats.

    In November of last year, my college alumni magazine, asked me to write a short article about what I had done since leaving school. To accompany the article, they had a professional photographer come out to my apartment to take some photographs. He took some candid shots and they used one for the magazine and the same one cropped a bit differently for the online edition. https://bulletin.swarthmore.edu/winter-2019-issue-ii-volume-cxvi/david-squires-’75

    I love my own mobile phone camera and I take a fair amount of selfies. I don’t take a lot of photos of my friends because I feel I need to ask permission and I don’t like asking, generally. So, I concur, for headshots and otherwise, a professional photographer is the way to go for any photos for business purposes.

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    1. David, that's a great picture. You look smart and interesting, and it's a fascinating article - I don't think you've mentioned typesetting or piano playing here!

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  11. As a child, I didn't mind pictures. The first "going to a studio" picture, that I remember, was for my senior year in high school. And with the exception of the annual school photo, I've always been in snapshots.

    All my life I've been told that I look like the Dad's family not Mom's. While standing at a certain angle, I saw myself in a mirror once, while glancing at my great grandfather's century old portrait, I saw his barrel chest on my torso! That would be chest, not breast. Ugh! When I look in the mirror now I see me but the rose colored glasses come off when I see a picture of myself. I see all the "faults" and decide no more pictures. Thankfully I don't need headshots for work, though they did try to get pictures taken to attach to our office e-mail address, I passed, it wasn't mandatory.

    Mom, who hated having her picture taken as an older adult, was the daughter of a professional photographer so she knew all the tricks. Body this way, head turned that way, don't force a smile, take more than two pictures, pull the shoulders back but don't stick your chest out...... No wonder she didn't like her picture taken but she did have a great smile.

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    1. Deana, I think we almost always look better in real life than in pictures not because of rose-colored glasses, but because our personalities are there - sometimes casting our actual looks in the shade! That's why the really great portrait photographers are so special: they capture a subject's personality, not just the face.

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  12. I'm not a fan of having my picture taken. Occasionally, there are some that don't look like me, so those are okay. I do think it's important though to have my picture in some of the family events, even if I don't like the way I look. As you say, Hallie, it's not always about looking good. There are children and grandchildren that will enjoy having a photographic record of you, and they don't care if you look like a movie star or not.

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    1. So true, Kathy. My mother NEVER wanted her picture taken on Christmas morning, before she had gotten dressed and done her make-up. The result? No photographs of mom on Christmas morning. It seems like a big gap, now she's gone.

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    2. It's hard to not care about how you look in a photo, but I'm sure you wouldn't mind pictures of your mom without makeup. My mother was picture shy, and I regret not encouraging her more so that I could have more photos of her now, too.

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  13. 75 looks fabulous, Ellen! I finally had professional shots taken when my books rolled into hardcover - it felt like I was suddenly adulting as an author. I love my photographer, Jacqueline Hannah, but I'm hoping this is only an every ten years sort of thing.

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  15. Ellen, your photo is fabulous! And I second what Ann said--you look like someone I'd love to talk to, and that is the most important thing.

    I had a professional photo shoot with pro makeup for my very first book jacket--anyone remember that one, with the very very short hair? Then my hubby did a couple, which were good--he's quite a talented photographer. Then I met my professional photographer friend Steve Ullathorne in London, and we have done multiple shoots over the years, some in the studio, some in natural light. Steve photographs comedians and actors, and he is fabulous. I've never seen a photographer with as much talent for showing the subject's personality, as well as beautiful camera work. But the last shoot we did, the makeup was a disaster, my hair was awful (a last minute bad-judgement London trim) and I hated the scarf I had draped around me because we were shooting in Holland Park on a cold day and I was FREEZING. So for the latest, I used a talented young local photographer, Cora Allen. I love the photos, but I wish I'd done professional makeup. Next time.

    Oh, and Mac is the best, by the way. You tell them you want "natural." It's a lot of makeup, but it doesn't look like it on camera.

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  16. "when they say “Look up!” doing so with just my eyes, not my chin. (Try it; it works!) "
    I'm intrigued. I'd be more likely to raise my chin to lessen those neck rolls that like to appear.

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    1. Libby, you used to have to wear a turtleneck or scarf to hid any extra chins (shades of Hallie's sister's book, "I Hate My Neck"!) but now our friend Mr. Photoshop can take care of them. :-)

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    2. Alas, the DMV doesn't photoshop, hence the turtleneck. The late Jane Wyatt (another Barnard alum) taught me the benefit of wearing a shade of pink. Dusty rose does particularly well for me. It seems to reflect up and give you better color.

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  17. Run, run, as fast as I can. I've always been behind the camera, not in front of it! Still, it is a necessary evil, I need to update soon.

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    1. Kait, one thing I noticed from seeing some well-known authors in person: it's far better to update your portrait regularly than look like you've been in an unfortunate time machine accident when readers meet you in the flesh.

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  18. I need a new headshot! The one I use here is six years old and, by license, can't be used again on a book jacket. I've had every variation - the first headshot was by a talented amateur friend, the second or third by a professional I swapped favors for. The one attached to this comment was done by a pro paid by my publisher AND I got a professional make-up artist, whose tips I'm still using today. I looked so great I changed my plans and Ross and I went out to dinner that night, because I knew I'd never look that flawless again.

    Ellen, good choice not to use your passport photo. No one looks good in a passport photo - pretty sure if we could see Angelina Jolie's, she'd resemble a dispossessed Ukrainian peasant woman.

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  19. Gack! I hate being photographed. I usually have that deer-in-the-headlights look. Even my elementary school pictures looked awful. All my school pictures. There are a few photos that came out surprisingly well, but they are rare. And not recent. Unfortunately I have to renew my drivers license this fall, complete with new photo. I swear the DMV workers are demons in disguise.

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  20. Ellen's friend here. When I sold my first short story to a magazine and they asked for a head shot, I hadn't been near a photographer in more than 20 years. By the time I convinced a friend to come over and use his cell phone to take a picture of me standing on my porch, and then figured out how to email it to the editor, it was too late to get it into the magazine. Sorry, Ellen, but I still haven't made it to a professional photographer. Maybe for the next story....

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  21. First it was my brother's mother-law, then his wife, then my mother and aunt. Since it was just Bob and me, I stopped taking pictures at Christmas. They're all gone except for my sister-in-law but some of my friends send me pictures. Since my hair and face got thin but not the rest of me, I don't care much for pictures of me anymore.

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  22. Wonderful post!

    Reading your post reminded me of something. I had one thought from this post then I thought of a second thing.

    The first thought I had was that I remembered when I was at Bouchercon in Canada. I met this beautiful lady (I cannot tell how old - maybe 60s? 70s?) and I was looking for her photo in the Bouchercon booklet of authors. I could not find it! I saw her name and matched it with the name in the book. I asked her why the photo was different. She told me that she had the photo altered so she would look younger. IMHO, I thought the photo was UGLY! I am sorry to say that because in person she is really beautiful. I do not think she ever looked like that photo in real life. I took a few photos of her at Bouchercon and my photos are way better! This author will remain unnamed. I do not want to hurt feelings if it can be avoided. IMHO, I also think some people who look better as they become older. I think I look better as I become older!

    Now I was wondering about something else. I remember having a Harry Potter moment when I looked at a photo of myself and it looked like I was talking with my mouth! I was a kid and it was strange because I talked with my hands (Sign Language). LOL

    Do you ever "see" moving faces in your photos like the photos in Harry Potter stories?

    Now I have a third thought about photos. I never photograph well though once in a while I look great. A friend, who was my first love (I was three years old), took a wonderful photo of me holding his baby. I wonder if the photos reflect how the photographer feels about you? If the photographer did not like you, then would you look awful in photos?

    Final thought: Even if I feel that I do not photo well, I still want to have visual records of my family and friends so I put aside my vanity for the sake of having good memories.

    Diana

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