author publicity
Put Your Best Face Forward: How to Take a Great Headshot
August 5, 2010
Add new comment
by Natalie Navar
The author headshot is an imperative part of your career as an author. Not only will it be featured on
your book jacket, but your publicist will also want to make use of the photo for press releases and other marketing events. You’ve spent months (or years!) on the content in the book; now it’s time to package it up.
There is a plethora of different headshot styles floating around the shelves at Barnes & Noble. From seriously bohemian black and white shots to overly made-up portraits, it can definitely be daunting to decide which direction to go with your own headshots. That being said, the easiest rule to follow is: keep it simple.
No matter your genre, a clean, professionally done headshot is the perfect addition to your book cover or marketing package. Look up local photographers online, browse their portfolios, and pick one with obvious experience in headshot photography. Even if you are unsure of how to approach the session, an experienced photographer will be able to steer you in the right direction as far as posing and expressions go. The photographer will also be able to recommend a makeup artist who can ensure that your makeup looks natural and perfectly applied on camera. I’m talking to you, too, men; a shiny forehead or age-spotted nose can be easily fixed with some expertly applied concealer and powder. That being said, remember again to keep it simple. You want to look like you in your photo (you on your best day, of course). Bright lipstick can photograph as garish, and even a slight over-application of eye shadow will come across as raccoon eyes. Err on the side of “less is more”; if you need any touch-ups, the photographer can easily do that to your final prints.
As far as clothing goes, plain colors (rather than prints) in a business casual style are the way to go, but 
beware of anything too bright. If you’re thinking hot pink, choose a cool raspberry instead; you want your face, not your blouse, to be the center of attention. Take at least three changes of clothing; you’ll be surprised how different a color can look in a photograph. Women, feel free to add a little jewelry, just stick with smaller pieces that won’t look dated in five years. Also, make sure that you are against a plain, neutral background. Grays and taupes make for soothing, unobtrusive backdrops that go easily with any color (including black) that you may be wearing, and that’s why they remain the most commonly used backdrops by photographers.
The most important thing to remember is that this photograph is about you. Not your makeup, clothes, or accessories. Relax and be yourself at the session, and don’t be afraid to ask the photographer for advice! There will be hundreds of photos to choose from, so you are guaranteed to find a few that you love. Feel free to send over your favorites to your publicist for help in making the final decision, too, as he or she can give you an informed decision as to which photo is best suited to your needs.
So there you have it! Be yourself, keep it simple, and don’t be afraid to ask the professionals for advice. Investing in your headshot is an investment in your career as an author, and having a photo that reflects you and your professionalism speaks volumes for your credibility.
Tags:
Tips to Becoming a Great TV Guest: Part II
May 2, 2008
by Marsha Friedman
A few weeks ago, we posted five tips to help you be in top form for TV appearances. Here, courtesy once again of Marsha Friedman, are ten more tips to help you capitalize on valuable air-time when you appear as a TV guest.
1) Use “Tips” as part of your segment! If your topic offers helpful advice then tips are a great way to communicate your message. Television producers want to provide their viewers with useful content presented in a manner that is easy to understand. Develop five tips that solve a problem your topic addresses. Are you a fitness guru with a unique formulation for fat loss? Then offer five fat burning tips! Does your book offer advice about how to live a happier life? Then come up with 5 ways to live happier today!
2) If you’re pitching local TV, find the local angle. Local network affiliates are extremely valuable, so a great method to grab the producer's interest is to find the local tie-in for your topic. If you are a real estate guru, before going on air do your homework and find out what the real estate market is like in that city. Have you written a book about the American economy? Be prepared to talk about the economic climate in that particular city. By highlighting a local angle, your interview will resonate more with the host and the viewers.
3) Don't be monotone. It doesn't work. The alteration of pitch and tone in your voice will keep your audience interested. Stay animated. It's not only what you say, but how you say it that counts!
4) Prepare for personal questions. The job of a producer is to do research for the host about you and your topic, in preparation of your interview. If simple web research unearths two previous bankruptcies and you are promoting a CD series on how to make millions . . . be prepared! Often the best comeback is a real and even comical answer. It will not only endear you to the audience but can deflect the tone of an antagonistic interviewer.
5) Don't overload your interview with statistics. Use stats and numbers wisely. For example, if you have written a book about natural methods of preventing diabetes, the fact that 20.8 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes is important. But if you also mention that 85,000 diabetics have their feet amputated and 12 million people will go blind from it, these statistics will create more of an emotional impact on the host and viewers.
6 ) Double-check your contact information. Before you go on-air, make sure your website is up, your toll free phone number is working and you have a list of the retail outlets where your book can be purchased. Why? If you share the incorrect contact information during your interview, you defeat the whole purpose of your appearance. Also, if you give a great interview and viewers can’t find your book, the TV station will get overloaded with calls from viewers asking for information—and reflects poorly on you as a guest.
7) Record and critique your interviews. Watch your interview numerous times and observe the different elements of your performance. How well did you answer the questions? Did your clothes send the right message? What did your body language say about you? Did you seem natural or rehearsed? Did you remember all of your sound bites? Did you interrupt the host? Identify the points you felt were weak and do whatever you can to strengthen them before your next interview.
8) Look good / feel good. Sleep and good nutrition are obviously important to our daily mental and physical well being; it makes us look better, feel better, and think clearly. But these health points are even more important when you factor in the stress of an important media interview. So try to get a good night’s sleep—and a healthy breakfast before your interview. Don't overdose on the caffeine either! You want to be at the top of your game for your TV appearance.
9) Be gracious on and off the air. Remember to thank the host for the interview while you're still on-air. Make sure to thank the producer as well. It’s also a good practice to send a brief thank you note to the host and the producer. It’s good manners and presents you as a consummate professional. It can also increase your chances of being remembered in the future, when they need to interview an expert on your topic.
10) Prepare for the pre-interview. When it comes to national TV, you may be asked for a “pre-interview”. Don’t take this lightly. Be prepared with your message; be energetic, informative and appropriately entertaining. The interview isn’t completely secured until you pass this test!
Marsha Friedman has been a leading authority on publicity for authors for nearly two decades as CEO of Event Management Services, Inc (EMSI). If you would like to receive her free e-book, How to Be a Great Talk Radio Guest, visit emsincorporated.com.
Tags:
