Fear of the Camera—Know Your Photographer

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills


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She was my friend until she shot me.

I know what you’re thinking. As a suspense writer, I’m always looking for ways to deepen my brand, and the opening line did get your attention. But actually this blog is about the value of an up-to-date head shot.

A photo shoot is part of every writer’s life, although we writers often cringe at the thought. We’d rather be writing than posing and plastering a unique smile. My newest photos were taken in South Carolina by Mary Denman a longtime friend and fabulous photographer. Her setting for a suspense writer’s new look was at an old textile mill. Sections of it had been restored and fashioned into lofts while other areas were so dilapidated that they were unsafe to go inside.  

Perfect, I thought, but I dreaded the whole smile on demand thing. 

Mary walked around the mill and studied fallen brick, chipped paint, weeds, and the sun. All the while she chatted, and I slowly attempted to act semi-normal. She pointed to a raised, concrete dock and asked if I could climb atop. My short legs  managed to follow her instructions. 

I peered into the shadowed mill, and my mind raced with a wild chase scene and a firefight.

“DiAnn, it’s time,” Mary said.

I froze. Brainstorming a new novel was more appealing.

“Toss your head,” Mary said. “Roll your shoulders.”

“Okay.” I cringed.

“Look all around—the sky, the tower. Turn with it.”

And the click of the camera began. I had a fabulous time—being serious, silly, and just plain crazy. When we were finished, I realized I’d had fun. So totally unexpected.

So why should we writers periodically have new photos? Here are three reasons:

1. A new photo freshens and updates our online presence.
2. A new photo gives our business card and printed material a “now-time” look. Nothing is worse than a reader remarking how the writer didn’t look like her photo.
3. A new photo shows the publishing industry and readers that we care enough to invest in our career. 

Here is one of my new shots. 

How about a caption? 

Your name will be entered in a random drawing for an edit of the first five double-spaced pages of your manuscript.  

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DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association; International Thriller Writers, and the Faith, Hope, and Love chapter of Romance Writers of America. She is co-director of The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.