Part of the question, I suppose, is what purpose these things serve. There are the photos sent out with promo material, to radio and tv people. For tv, I suppose you want to go for as conventionally attractive as possible, plus a suggestion of a talkative, entertaining personality? For radio, much the same, though the attractive part is less important?
But for a book cover, what purpose does it serve, having the author's photo there? Does it make you more inclined to buy a literary novel, if the author looks serious and literary? Inquiring minds want to know -- how do you respond to author photos on books? Do they have any effect on you at all?
These are the photos that are pretty clearly pulling ahead in the poll, and they're pretty different in style. The first one is my favorite, I think because it feels very much like me. When I see it, I want to smile. The second one somehow feels the most like a typical author photo to me -- perhaps because it's a little reserved, a bit distant? The next two are aesthetically pleasing, if somewhat lacking in energy, character. The last is great fun, but seems maybe more like it should be a photo for this journal, rather than for a serious literary book? Jed said that if I wrote Lemony Snickett-type books, it'd be a good author photo for those...


And yes, I'm obsessing about this. I think it's because I can no longer affect the quality of the book itself, so all I have control over are the various promotional materials...
I assume I want the picture to look like someone I’d want to talk to. Which could mean attractive, literary, approachable….
Christopher and I are in agreement on number 4 — it’s flattering, cool AND avoids all the major author photo sins.
I still like the last one, that shows a personality that makes me curious, that draws me in to read the book.
Wait, Gwenda — now I want to know what the major author photo sins are! Maybe I should’ve asked that question first…
Bob wants me to take some more with closed mouth. I live to serve…
I like #1.
And I don’t look at photos until after I’ve read the book. So the idea of a smiling fun author is good.
I like #1
de-lurking for a moment… #1 makes you look like you have fun occasionally, which gives me more confidence in your literary book. The last one does that too, but I have to agree with Jed on that one.