www.inkthinkerblog.com — Okay, boys, you’re excused from this one. Peruse the archives or something, because I need to have a serious chat with the ladies in the room.
Girls, what is up with the glamour shots on your professional websites? Do you really think that a blurred filter, eight pounds of costume jewelry, and a sequined v-neck evening gown is going to instill confidence in your potential clients? If you can’t find a picture that doesn’t make you look like an “accommodating woman” (my seventh-grade history book’s euphemism for prostitutes in the Old West), don’t put up a picture. Seriously. I’m not kidding on this one. You’re making us all look bad when you do this. I’m sure you think you look beautiful, and I’m not saying that you don’t, but you also look like a total amateur with with zero sense of professional boundaries.
Putting a picture on your website is a good idea. It lets the potential client connect with you, to see you as a real person who can solve whatever problem they have. Putting a picture of you looking like a hooker may also indicate to them that you can solve their problems, but it gives a whole new meaning to the term “hourly rate.”
Check out these examples of appropriate images on a writer’s website:
Anne Wayman
Shai Coggins
Tessa Wegert
Sally Bacchetta
Dana Loesch
You’ll notice that some are more casual than others, and that these writers’ areas of expertise differ. They’re using their photos to further a point, to strengthen the message they’re conveying with their site copy:
“I’m classy.”
“I’m dependable.”
“I’m funny.”
“I’m real.”
“I’m reliable.”
“I’m confident.”
“You can count on me.”
“This is how I’ll dress at our first meeting.”
“I won’t embarrass you.”
No one is saying, “I’m a ho.” They’re all making writers in general look good by being professional and appropriate. So stop screwing it up! Take that glamour shot off your site and be a grown-up already. You’re better than that. We all are.
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www.kristenkingfreelancing.com
Finalist in 2006 Writer’s Digest Best Writer’s Website Contest
Contents Copyright © 2006-2014 Kristen King
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A. You’re absolutely right.
B. If these people have ever worked with a publicity department, they’re being told to use the “ho” shot because “sex sells”. (Hey, one publisher that was interested in the hockey book wanted me to do a shoot in hot pants, tank top, hockey skatea, goalie mask and goalie stick, leaning forward to show as much cleavage as possible. No).
C. Since I publish under multiple names, I don’t do photos. Period.
Makes me happy, and I don’t really care if anyone else whines.
Great post, Kristen!
HOWL!! This is hysterical! And it’s so true – I cannot understand why anyone would think those overly posed shots would look attractive. I love your definition of it. :))
Thanks, Kristen. I’m glad that you think my “glamour photo shot” is appropriate. :-) Just for the record, I think your photo here looks great. And, I’m not just saying that because you were nice to me first. ;-)
If photos are sucha deal, why do you have such a frumpish one of yourself?
That’s a great question. Think about it this way: Look at how much we trust and respect the intelligence and capability of librarians! Frump = Impressive Thinking Skills. I thought to myself, “What is the ugliest piece of clothing I own? I should take several photos of myself wearing it and display them publicly on the Internet.” Thanks for noticing that I was trying to get as far from “I’m a ho” as possible. :]
Follow up question: Why do real estate salespeople all do the photo thing? Does it matter what the people who sell your house look like? Does anyone think “I was going for a three bedroom rancher, but dang she’s hot I’m going in for the split level with patio now.”
BTW- you don’t look frumpy. It is more hot librarian. Under that sweater I am certain beats the heart of a beast. Great post.
“No one is saying, ‘I’m a ho.'”
I don’t know about these other ladies, but that is EXACTLY what I was saying.
I kid! I also spit a little bit of green tea on my keyboard as I read your ho-licious photo critiques.
And you do not look frumpy. No T&A = frumpy? Anon is so obviously a [perv]man[/perv].
Eileen, that is a great question. I have some Realtor friends and will request a full explanation, which I will post ASAP. In the meantime, keep commenting with your not-a-ho self.
Kristen
Dana, anyone with two kids is clearly a ho. I mean, everyone knows you put out, right? ;]
Btw, what does “frumpish” mean? I’m hoping it’s a shortened form of “frumpalicious” which is “you are so the opposite of frumpy that even your every-so-often-dangling participles make me want to come out of anonymity and re-alphabetize your card catalog.” A girl can dream…
Kristen
I’m going to stick with the sparkly ears. I think it says everything anyone needs to know about me ;-)
Just updating my AW Blogroll and thought I’d drop in to say hi. Great post, fun blog. Thanks for being part of the AW blogger community!
Dawno
I haven’t read your blog in a while – I can’t believe what I am missing! It is now going to be a part of my daily routine :-) You are preaching to the choir here – but it really needed to be said. Perhaps you can send this to the real estate agencies in the DC metro area…they all seem to be huge fans of the vaseline lens.
Very true! Did you see Matt D’s entry on the same subject? Hysterical. It made me realise it’s best to have “real” images of “real” people.
Having said that my ego would rather look “glamorous”
Sexy librarian – now someone’s said that I think it sounds right LOL
Talia, I haven’t see that. Would you please post the link?
kk
I think that part of the problem is people forget that the fun photo on their Myspace profile or personal blog might not be appropriate on their professional site. The profile photos you linked to show that they don’t have to be unattractive or frumpy to be business-appropriate. Even sex writer Violet Blue has a professional-looking photo on her profile (http://www.tinynibbles.com/pubpage.html site is NOT safe for work)
I think it depends on the industry. I write fashion so my images have a bit of style to them. Not ho like. Just a tad slutty. JK.
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