Daily affirmations of a word mercenary
Today I did a portrait sitting with Heather Corinna. I need a good headshot to use for the back of my book, and headshots make me nervous. It really can’t be much more than just your face showing (this picture is going to be, like, 1″x1″ on the back of my book) and it shouldn’t be so goofy that no one can actually see you. So, I tried to put on my best “knowing smile” and Heather snapped away. These are some of the results:

Which one do you think is best? This is a weird question because I have found time and time again that the pictures that others like of me are never the ones *I* like. But hey: I’m not the one reading this book, so my opinion should probably matter the least. Anyone have any thoughts? I’m sort of stumped and not sure I like myself in any of them. Bah! Then again, after looking at this many pictures of my face, maybe I’m just sort of bored with myself. It’s also that this needs to be a sort of formal shot — but the end result is that I don’t really feel like I look like me. Because I’m such a goof.
Jeez, vanity is so exhausting sometimes!
Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
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el
May 6th, 2006 at 9:01 am
“Purple” is my favorite. Then “pink on white on black”. I also like “outtake” if your looking for somethind different.
Nice shots.
Glace
May 6th, 2006 at 9:08 am
Pink on white on black is hands down my favorite: very “author’s portrait”-y without losing your sense of YOU. I also like the close up and green on black, with your bra strap showing.
How much do I love that you got your head shots done outside instead of in a studio? PERFECT.
Melissa (oddharmonic)
May 6th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
Pink on white on black is my favorite, too.
catina jane
May 6th, 2006 at 12:36 pm
almost all the Pink on white on black are great!
and i love this :
http://www.heathercorinna.com/....._9578.html
Hali
May 6th, 2006 at 4:04 pm
I like 9532 the best.
second choice: 9577.
though I picked those two, I do like the white shirt a lot, but I think the pic should be close-up enough.
I think your author pic should be a nice hybrid of your personality consisting of features: your sweet smile, accessories of your current era (pink braids, the glass necklace, and green glasses) which go together so nicely, and a look that’s still serious enough, which these two pics definitely bring together well.
as a soon-to-be offbeat bride myself, I am very excited to check out your book! I am hoping there will be a chapter on incorporating friends that have resources to contribute to the whole event (of course there will be, right!)…
Alona
May 6th, 2006 at 4:21 pm
I like the 5th one the best. You are wearing a white shirt and you have a mona-lisa half smile.
heather
May 6th, 2006 at 4:58 pm
9569, beautiful!
Melissa B.
May 6th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
Love, love, love Pink on white on black.
It’s gorgeous. You’re gorgeous!
And oh my god, Heather Corinna? Lucky girl!
nani
May 6th, 2006 at 8:19 pm
I like 9495 and 9512 but that’s just me!
amy.leblanc
May 8th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
i looked at all of them, and i really like the green on black the best, even with the shoulder issue.
#2 would be pink/white/black, although your face seems a little shadowed.
daria
May 9th, 2006 at 8:06 pm
“pink on white on black” and “outtake” are great. I also very much like 9580.
McGil
May 9th, 2006 at 9:50 pm
Those are a bit tame compared to what you could have done
http://www.femmerotic.com/photo.html
I like this one of you two : http://mcgilphotoarchive.com/2.....G_5026.jpg
That funny dress would make a good accessory for a quirky photo, no ?
McGil