There’s something I really love about photographing authors somewhere that feels a little unexpected.
For my recent author headshot session with Holly Seddon, we headed to a brutalist-style car park in Tunbridge Wells. It’s not necessarily the first place you’d think of for an author portrait, but it turned out to be the perfect backdrop.
Finding character in unexpected places
When I’m photographing authors, I’m always looking for locations that add something to the images without distracting from the person.
A car park might sound like an unusual choice, but the strong architectural lines, concrete, brickwork and deep shadows created exactly the kind of atmosphere I was looking for. The darker, industrial surroundings also gave us a lovely contrast against Holly’s lighter hair and skin tones.
Keeping an author headshot natural
One of the most important things for me when photographing authors is that their headshots still feel like them.
An author photograph needs to work hard. It might appear on a book jacket, publisher website, social media, in press coverage, at literary festivals or alongside an interview. But it also needs to feel approachable and natural.
I’m not interested in creating overly posed portraits. Instead, I like to give plenty of direction while allowing space for natural expressions and movement. This usually results in a gallery of images that feels varied but cohesive. From more traditional portraits to something a little more relaxed.
With Holly, the combination of her relaxed presence and the graphic architecture around us gave us plenty to work with.
Creating an author portrait with personality
For me, a successful author headshot is about much more than simply having a technically good photograph.
It should give the viewer a little sense of the person behind the books.
That’s why I love working on location. It gives us the opportunity to create photographs with atmosphere and personality, while still producing the polished, professional images that authors need for their publicity.
Holly’s shoot in Tunbridge Wells was a great example of how an unconventional location can completely transform an author portrait. The combination of brutalist architecture, warm natural light and a relaxed approach produced images that feel modern, confident and distinctly hers.
And it’s a good reminder that you don’t always need a beautiful garden, a pretty street or a traditional studio to create a beautiful author photograph. Sometimes, all you need is some interesting architecture, good light and the right person in front of the camera.
Are you an author looking for new headshots? I specialise in natural, contemporary author portraits and shoot across Kent, Tunbridge Wells, London and beyond. Get in touch here!
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