Author headshots: Who needs Them & what to look for

What are Author Headshots?

Author headshots are portraits that play a vital role in how you, as a writer, present yourself to your audience, publishers, and the media. These photos should reflect your personality and the genre or tone of your writing, becoming a key part of your personal and professional brand.

A well-done author headshot shows professionalism while also offering a glimpse into your style—whether it’s thoughtful and serious for non-fiction or imaginative and vibrant for fiction. This image often appears on book jackets, author websites, and promotional materials, helping you connect with readers and increase your visibility in the literary world. Throughout this page are some examples of author headshots and you can view my full portfolio for more.

Who Needs Author Headshots?

Every writer needs a custom headshot that influences how they’re perceived by readers, publishers, and the media. A strong author headshot enhances your professional image on book jackets, websites, and promotional materials, while also helping you build a personal connection with your audience.

Your headshot should convey your personality and genre—whether it’s approachable for children’s books, thoughtful for non-fiction, or mysterious for thrillers. By investing in a custom author headshot, you can effectively communicate your unique identity and ensure your image resonates with your target audience, supporting your branding and marketing efforts.

What Should I Look For In An author Headshot Photographer?

When choosing a photographer for an author's headshot, it's important to select someone who understands the nuances of personal branding and can reflect an author's genre and personality. The photographer should have a diverse portfolio that showcases their ability to capture the essence of a subject across various literary genres. Key attributes to consider include a keen eye for detail, mastery of lighting and composition to evoke the right mood, and the ability to guide the author in posing and expression to ensure the photo communicates the intended persona. Moreover, the photographer should offer a collaborative approach, allowing the author to express their vision and ensure the final headshot accurately represents their literary style and professional identity.

Make certain your headshot is entirely tailored to you and your writing style and the photographer understands your brand, personality, and the impression you wish to make with your author headshot.

More than anything, look at the photographer’s work. You want the photographer whose work stands out and is clearly better. Saving money on an inexpensive photographer is not a good idea when your identity and career are at stake.

HOW SHOULD MY Author HEADSHOTS LOOK?

Having crafted numerous author headshots, I recognize the importance of creating images that not only look professional but also capture your unique personality and style. It’s crucial that your headshot reflects the essence of who you are, serving as a powerful tool in communicating your individuality to potential readers, publishers, and colleagues. Each session is strategically designed to highlight your narrative voice, ensuring your headshot connects with your audience and authentically represents your literary brand.

Your author headshot should authentically represent your literary voice and personal style, tailored to resonate with your readers and genre. It's essential that the headshot captures the essence of who you are as a writer and the themes you explore in your work. Lighting should be used creatively to enhance the mood and tone of your image, offering a glimpse into your creative world. Don't hesitate to explore different lighting techniques that can add depth and intrigue to your portrait. Overall, your author headshot should be a unique and engaging expression of your identity as a writer, designed to connect with readers and leave a lasting impression.

I take the time to get to know you, your personal brand, and what you want to communicate through your image. Together, we will determine the best look that suits your personality and style, creating custom author headshots tailored to meet your specific needs. My goal is to ensure that your headshot is not just a photograph, but an authentic representation of you.

What Should I Wear For My Headshots?

For authors, the wardrobe should resonate with the genre or tone of your writing, offering a visual cue to your literary style. Classic, subdued colors are typically recommended to keep the focus on you rather than your attire, fostering a connection with potential readers. However, incorporating an element that reflects your narrative style or personal taste—such as a vintage blouse for historical fiction writers or a bold, contemporary accessory for sci-fi authors—can add depth and intrigue to your headshot. While maintaining a professional look is crucial, don’t hesitate to express more of your individuality. If formal wear is the norm, mixing in casual yet stylish pieces like a well-fitted denim jacket or an artistic scarf can distinguish you from others. This blend of professionalism and personal style not only captures attention but also makes your headshot distinctively yours, embodying the spirit of your writing.

WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE S72?

Custom: My author headshots are completely customized to your personality. I don't use pre-set lighting/studio setups like most photographers use with their clients. The look and style are completely up to you or we can work together to find a look that works best for you.

Experience: With experience photographing thousands of people in every profession and style, I can deliver great results for you too.

Quality: You will not find a better photographer for author headshots in the San Francisco Bay Area (or anywhere in my opinion). The quality of my work speaks for itself. I pay close attention to details and quality throughout the process from lighting all the way to retouching the final images. I have more 5 star reviews than any other headshot photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area. More than 500 (at the time of this writing) across Yelp, Google, and Facebook.

Ease: Most people dread having their photo taken, but I ensure the process is smooth and stress-free from start to finish.

No Risk: Booking is risk free with my 100% money back guarantee on individual sessions.

You know What You’re Getting: At S72, you're hiring me alone. Other studios might have various photographers, making it unclear who will handle your shoot. All the photos on my website are my own work, and I’ll personally take your photos.

HOW MUCH SHOULD HEADSHOTS COST?

As with anything you tend to get what you pay for and author headshots are no different.

Your author headshots are often the first impression people will get about you so you need to make it a good one. The difference in price between higher end custom author headshots and cheap ones is pennies a day over the life of the headshot.

Author headshots are hard to put a dollar value on since they aren’t something you make or earn money back on. For some, this makes it easy to think they can get the cheapest “decent” author headshot they can find. Most people underestimate how much a quality headshot costs so they don’t budget appropriately when looking for a photographer. A lower priced author headshot photographer is usually lower priced for a reason.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, there is a broad range of headshot prices and an even greater range of quality. Choose a photographer whose work stands out, who offers a custom headshot that aligns with your style and brand, and invest in yourself and your career.

I know my headshots are of superior quality compared to other photographers. It’s a great time to update your professional image. Use the form below to get in touch and discuss a custom headshot, or click the “book now” button in the upper right corner to book your session.