Why Libraries and Bookstores are the Best Places to Get Headshots Taken

[image description: A photo of me looking off to the side and smiling. I’m white with short brown hair, gold dangly earrings, a gold leaf necklace, and a linen top with multicolored stripes.]

Over the past year or so, I’ve been fortunate to have my writing published in a variety of places. But I’d always squirm when editors asked for a headshot.

The truth was, I didn’t have any. My idea of a headshot was a bathroom selfie, complete with my duck shower curtain, dripping shower head, and towel rack in the background. There was nothing professional about them.

Fortunately for me, I have fabulously talented friends. I turned to Kateri Ang and Gabe Rosenberg, a power couple and the talented photographers behind the Oy Sauce food blog, who took me to the main branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library and Two Dollar Radio Headquarters for a proper author photoshoot.

[image description: a black and white photo of me sitting on a bench and “manspreading.” I have my legs spread and my elbows propped on my thighs. My hands are crossed between my knees.]

What passes for a professional headshot for a writer isn’t nearly as strict as other industries. No one is expecting me to wear a suit, though I just so happen to like blazers. Considering that my “writer uniform,” what I actually wear when I write is usually either my pajamas or yoga pants, I went for what I’d consider to be a nice date outfit.

This photo was taken in the lobby of the main branch of the Columbus Metro Library.

[image description: Me standing on the staircase of the main library branch. The stairs have an ornate wrought iron railing painted white. There are large paneled windows in the background.]

The main branch of the library has been remodeled in the past few years, though I’m thrilled they kept a lot of the gorgeous historic charm. The marble floors, the wrought iron and wood staircase, and the massive windows are awe-inspiring. The design speaks to me because it’s much like my own personal style––a blend of modern and vintage.

(The vintage is on-brand since I also run a vintage shop, which of course has books.)

And is that not like the writing craft itself? Even with the ability to write electronically on computers and read on ebooks, writing is still very much an analog practice. It’s timeless––just like good vintage fashion, good libraries, and good, talented friends.

[image description: Me standing between two rows of books in the library. My arms are extending so my fingers are brushing the spines of books on either row. I’m looking off to the side, away from the camera.]

To complement my style, I wanted to be photographed near some older books. Not necessarily antiques, but I didn’t want any distracting modern titles visible in the background. I know when I see a photo of someone in front of a bookshelf, I’m always drawn to the titles in the background to see what their taste in books is. So I wanted books in some of the photos, but without titles visible. I thought that’d be a tall order, but Gabe and Kateri nailed it.

[image description: A full body photo of me wearing bootcut jeans, a multicolored striped linen shirt, a green blazer with gold lapel pins, a gold leaf necklace, gold dangly earrings, and pink loafers. I’m standing on a marble and tile floor in a hallway upstairs in the library. There are marble columns on either side of me and an arched ceiling above.]

As the libraries around Columbus have been renovated, they’ve kept modern usage and needs in mind. As such, there’s an art gallery on one of the upper floors of the main library and there’s this marble hallway leading to the gallery.

I’d been in this hallway before to celebrate smart and talented friends who were a part of art shows at the library. I remembered the satisfaction they felt in their work and the thrill that came with having their work publicly validated. As I stood there, I felt like I absorbed their energy, which I think you can see in the way I carried myself in that space.

[image description: A photo of me from the chest up in front of a row of green and red leather books.]

A librarian had to shoo us away from this spot about five seconds after this photo was taken because she had a massive cart of books to shelve. Ha! Good thing there were plenty of other eye-catching spots.

[image description: a black and white photo of me sitting with my legs draped over the side of a chair and one arm draped over the back of the chair. I’m smiling at the camera.]

Did you notice the book lapel pin? That was a gift for officiating my friends Whitney and Kevin’s wedding. I wrote about the experience because writers really do make the best officiants!

[image description: me sitting sideways in a chair with my arms and legs splayed out in all directions.]

I don’t normally remember to take pictures of myself or ask people to take pictures of me in my daily life, so I wanted a spectrum of fun and serious photos. But let’s be honest, even the serious ones are still fun! I see no point in being an author (or being in any kind of self-employed creative profession) if you can’t enjoy and express yourself freely.

[image description: me standing in the middle of an aisle in the library, smiling with my head held high and my arms outstretched to let my fingers graze the books on either side of me.]

Also, real talk: authors have a reputation for being shy and awkward. Of course that’s not true for everyone, but sometimes you can tell when an author would seriously rather not be signing that book and talking to their 347th fan that day. All the better reason to have author photos taken at your favorite library or bookstore! No matter how awkward you are, you won’t have to fake your elation at being surrounded by books.

[image description: a photo of me from the chest up standing in front of a shelf of books.]

For these last photos, we’d moved to Two Dollar Radio Headquarters, my favorite bookstore in the city. In addition to the bookstore, Two Dollar Radio is also a top notch indie book publisher, so their selection focuses on indie titles. They also have a killer vegan cafe and coffee shop. I always leave with my head, heart, and stomach full.

[image description: a photo of me standing among the tables of books at Two Dollar Radio Headquarters. I’m casually leaning to one side and smiling at the camera.]

And of course I had to take at least one photo where I ditched the blazer (as much as I love blazers) so I could show off my pen tattoo. What says “we’ve got ourselves a writer!” as much as a pen tattoo on your forearm?

[image description: an up close photo of me from the chest up. I’m smiling wide and looking off to the side.]

And last but not least, my favorite photo of the bunch. I wanted a headshot that said cool, confident, creative badass and I got one. You’re looking at my official author photo.

If you live in Columbus, Ohio and need any kind of photography done, I can’t recommend Kateri and Gabe enough. Reach out to them via Kateri’s website.