Karen Foley
Lynn Raye Harris
Ellen Hartman
Diana Holquist
Samantha Hunter
Shirley Jump
Dee Tenorio
Jeannie Watt
Love the Camera, Baby...
I found myself taking a lot of pictures this summer, both in front of and behind the camera -- and what I ended up with is a lot of fun memories, some great and not-so-great pictures, but also, a lot less worry about how pictures come out. I don't know anyone who really enjoys having their picture taken. Most people will grimace or hide or avoid the camera, and I used to be like that too. Now I don't mind as much.
Or kids. Kids love to have their picture taken, especially when they are hamming it up or having fun, which is probably the key to a good picture I think. I know when my hubby was taking some author shots for me, it took a half hour of loosening up, and by the time I was in "goof around" mode, that's when we found the keeper, the shot of me looking over the tops of my glasses, which wasn't mean to be taken seriously, but ended up being the best of the lot. I liked it enough to let them broadcast it large at RWA in SanFrancisco during the RITAs, so there you have it. It's probably also the closest image to how I picture myself, or like to. Well, that and the Fair picture below.
At this year's RWA, another picture taking epiphany. 
People take pictures there every ten seconds, and at first, I was like "oh no..." but then I got into the groove, and most of all, paid attention to how people like Shirley Jump, Susan Gable, Holly Jacobs, Donna Alward, Lori Wilde (to name just a few), who have been at this for a while and all of whom take gorgeous pictures, manage to fall into natural poses and nice smiles, and they come out fabulously in shot after shot.
I came back from RWA far less worried about having my picture taken, and not so worried about "bad pictures." At once point, I thought, MY GOD, I am having my picture taken with these gorgeous women, I must be awfully secure, LOL. In truth, I just like them so much, that I just wanted to enjoy being with them, and that made worrying about the picture far less, well, worrisome.
I also learned a few tricks to try to take a better picture (which don't always happen, depending on the moment), but for me, I know standing a little sideways is better than standing directly front and center, and trying NOT to scrunch up my whole face is a good idea -- the scrunchy face pictures are always ick. Also, the arms...I learned at the booksigning to try not to either press my arms close to me or to hang them out there because I have heavy arms and they come out looking huge.
So if I can remember a few things, I discovered most pictures come out pretty nicely. I look better with glasses off, or looking over the tops of them, than with my glasses on.
Strangely, pictures that you think are when you look your worst -- like here, with my hair pushed up under a hat, tired, dirty, and hot from the Fair -- come out the best, when we're in a happy moment. I love this picture with dh. It's one of my favorites now.
I would, of course, like to try to take nice pictures in every shot, but I think adopting the "who cares?" idea about a bad picture has helped me worry about it less, because at the heart of it, it's more important to have captured that moment and that memory, regardless of the photo faults, than to have not done it at all. In the meantime, I try to enjoy having my picture taken, and hope I can get better at it over time.
So how about you? Love having your picture taken? Hate it? What tricks do you employ to take a decent picture of yourself?
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The older I get, the more I
The older I get, the more I just go with the flow. I try to turn slightly sideways too. And smile. But not too fake of a smile. Now if you want to see a hilarious picture of me, check out Jennie Lucas's post on I Heart Presents. I swear she got what I was thinking just perfectly.... ;)
Lynn Raye Harris
www.LynnRayeHarris.com
SPANISH MAGNATE, RED-HOT REVENGE, Harlequin Presents, Aug 09 (US/UK)
CAVELLI'S LOST HEIR, Dec 09 UK, January 2010 US
THE PRINCE'S ROYAL CONCUBINE, March 2010 UK
LOL
That IS hysterical! Love it. :)
I think you're right, with going with the flow. :) I also have to resist, as I go, a real impulse to ham it up... which I will probably give into more than not as I get more comfortable with the whole thing... :)
Sam
Oh I'm horrible
It takes about 30 pics to find one that doesn't look awful. Sometimes it's my smile, but a lot of times it's just the angle. I have a few flaws that end up looking cartoony if the angle is off. Throw in my awkwardness and ka-boom. Hubby takes great pics of me when I'm not looking or expecting it. In fact, he took several at my niece's b-day party that I have to steal out of his camera, lol.
My tricks are to yes, take off the glasses, so there's no glare.
Lift the chin, so it doesn't multiply.
Use a slight three-quarter angle, so I don't look as heavy as I could.
Make sure the light is coming at the subject, not into the camera--unless you're going for a backlit effect. But definitely make sure there's good light on the subject's face--shadows aren't often your friend.
Try to smile or laugh at something real. Otherwise, I look scary, lol.
There's more, but then you'll understand why I take bad pics, lol.
Dee
Oh Dee,
You are so funny! You aren't heavy at all -- you are this tiny little cute thing -- but yes, the camera isn't kind, often, accentuating everything bad, huh? I HATE those stupid TV cameras they have in stores now where you can see yourself on screen -- my God, are they programmed to make us look hideous???
I do think laughing and being natural is the best bet, mostly...sometimes overly posed pictures are the absolute worst.
Mike takes the best close up shots of people's faces that I've ever seen -- ours are on regular film, not digital, so I don't have them online, but he's taken these very zoomed, upclose candids of most of the people in our family, including me, over the years, and he's so excellent at it.
I find tilting down can be as well as up, to avoid the chin thing. ;) Profiles are hell. LOL
Sam
UGH
I just refuse to worry about what I look like in pictures because they are always awful. I don't ever remember liking having my picture taken...even as a child when I would hide when the camera came out.
UGH!
I have had the same response over the years, and it's kind of nice to get over it now, but I think it's the perfect response not to worry about it! It's the experience and the memory that counts most of all!
Sam
Photos
Your great post so hits home. FWIW, a really good photographer said that some people shut down when the camera wants to "look inside". Others open to it. I think writers are basically private people so the camera seems intrusive into their inner selves and they shut down.
We just had a family reunion of sorts and everyone had the flu, but oh well, let us take family photos for the yearly calendar. I had wet flat hair, but let us continue anyway, even tho I hadn't had time to change into something besides whatever I was running around the house in. Oh, well, oh, well.
I've taken some horrible ones and yes, they are plastered all over the web now. I've learned a few things--used on my smart days. Go to iStockPhoto and hunt for their camera tips on portraits. They tell you about makeup, etc. Also Bobby Brown has some interview makeup tips in her books; she's a Hollywood makeup artist. Then Lauren Hutton has some great videos on HSN, and her makeup is great for those of us who are busy, traveling and not perfect models. Generally for me, anything that elongates my face, i.e. open collars, necklaces and draws the eye downward help. I've got a round happy face, 'cause generally I'm a happy person.
Arms. I have 'em. Sleeveless and short sleeve are out of the question for anything but at home now.
As for PR photos, I actually like my self timer ones better than the professional ones. And I need to put on full makeup and do that ASAP.:)
Good post, Sam.
CaitLondon.com
http://caitlondon.blogspot.com
Hi Cait!
You know, my author picture here and around, for the first couple years was one I took myself while goofing around with the digital camera when I first got it. I still change over to those pics now and then... I think one of them is what I use on Twitter. :)
Sam
smile for the camera
Hail to the Redskins!'
I'm not photogenic and neither is my dh. We do have a photogenic kid, though. How she came out photogenic, we don't know. I find my best photos are the spontaneous ones, not the posed ones. My facebook picture is a spontaneous picture--another couple, dh and I decided to self take a photo of the 4 of us. I just cropped dh and I. All the other ones I like of me are spontaneous.
I scrapbook mine, so I try to get the best in everyone in my pics.
Hi Teresa
I have actually had some pictures of me that were so awful I threw them out. Sometimes things just catch us in the wrong, light, pose, whatever, and no matter what the case, we KNOW we don't look like that in real life. I think it's perfectly acceptable to get rid of a really awful photo.
But I'm glad you have ones you like, too. :)
Sam
Pictures?? UGH.
Sam, I love the picture of you and Mike...you look absolutely adorable with your hair under that cap! I also love your RITA picture...the sexy librarian look!
I hate having my picture taken. I have learned to strategically place my kids (or girlfriends) in front of me to hide my hips. I have to remember to smile big for photos, since it seems those are the ones that come out the best.
Hey Karen
Well, it is my favorite Red Sox cap, so that probably helps. ;) I love Mike in his straw hat, which he only wears once a year, to the fair. :)
But you take wonderful pictures! You are very photogenic.
LOL on hiding behind your kids. You'll notice how I strategically use Holly Jacobs above to look half my size, LOL.
Sam
Not a huge fan...
of having my photo taken, but I've learned to try to just smile and go with it. As I'm trying to teach my oldest, attitude is everything :)
Pictures
I have always hated having my picture taken. Thats one thing that has never changed. When I have to get it done I just suck it up and do it.
Pics
Sam,
I wish I could post a pic here, because one of my favorite pictures from RWA is w/ you in it! I'm glad you're feeling better about having your picture taken. You can always feel good about it because odds are you won't ever take as many bad ones as I do...I have sensitive eyes and blink a lot from the flashes...so I look high! LOL
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
UNEXPECTED GIFTS, Harlequin SuperRomance, 11/09
EVERYTHING BUT A CHRISTMAS EVE, Avalon, 12/09
Other side of the camera
I absolutely hate how I look in pictures -- always have, even when I was young and thin -- so I try to stay on the other side of the camera most of the time. Occasionally I'll make sure there is a picture taken of me so that in scrapbooks I do show up from time to time.
strike a pose
Well ladies, the older i get i've realized that it doesnt matter if its a great photo or not. just as long as you capture memories on film, or digital. Looking through family albums, i'm in some shots, but alot i'm not because i'm the family shutterbug. my husband always wants to take pics of me and i'll turn away or ask him not to, until now. It doesnt matter anymore, as long as im un some of the photos of our family get togethers, holidays, etc. I want to look back and see that i was there too. lol
the pic i use in facebook is about ten years old, but i absolutley love it. Yup a glamour shot i had taken for my husband. They took about eleven shots, and that one is the best. He had me sitting on a stool, fan blowing my hair (Which was very long at the time) i had plenty of make up on too. He said to lean forward slightly and then raise my chin, totally smoothed out the chin and made my face look longer. He of course asked who these were for and said to think of him and pose. I did, and you can get a good idea what i was trying to convey in that shot. I love it.
any way, happy picture taking everyone.
Cheese!
jody
Great story!
I had a friend take some "glamour shots" way back when, and those was the first pictures I sent dh when we were online dating. They were really something, LOL. It was very much "me" though -- no makeup or anything, but just the pose, props, etc.
I'm with you -- I like how you said you want to be able to look back and see that you were there -- yes, that's it exactly. Also, the people who like us and love us look at those pictures with kind eyes, and know what we "really" look like anyway, for better or worse. So you know, it's really just sort of having perspective on it, I think. Mike can almost always take good pictures of me, which also helps -- I feel comfortable with him, obviously, but he also knows how to shoot, which is nice.
Sam