Photos

Against my better judgment... but why not?   The photographer who took my picture for the book sent me nineteen photos to take a look at.  These are two of them.  I'm not sure these are the two in the lead right now, but I suppose I'm curious to gauge reaction to these, because they're so different from each other in a bunch of ways.  This may be a topic for another post, but one of the interesting things I've learned more about myself throughout this book-writing process has been how I like to make decisions.  I really like feedback.  That's part of why I like the act of blogging, and the instant response one can get.  It's not that I necessarily don't trust my own instincts, or that I necessarily follow what other people say, but I like getting opinions.  So... here are two photos.  Comments welcome.

Wait.  I actually don't really want to do this, and it's taking a fair amount of time to click "post."  I'm kinda scared to post these, and I'm not completely sure why.  It makes you kind of vulnerable to put your photo out there.  I think that's why I haven't before.  Although I guess it's out there anyway, in the Times piece and elsewhere.  And these are better photos than that, so I should be okay.  Anyway... don't hurt my feelings, but comments on smiley vs. not smiley, or anything else you want to weigh in on re: book photos generally, here you go...

(Photos © Sarah Shatz)

Comments

[Kaschief]

Non-smiley...

Your pictures are quite ok. They're not bad at all. So dont feel so dubious. But, non-smiley. :-)

[S]

Not the one with the goofy smile. Other is much more author-y looking.

[Allison]

I like the non-smiley, but just because I like the black and white and the lighting/shadows. If you were sitting on the stoop smiling, I'd like that one too.

[LawMom]

I have to agree with everyone else. I like them both, but I definitely prefer the black and white. Looks more like an author photo for some reason...and I like the fact that it looks like New York.

[Jim]

Both good. But I agree; go with the black and white, shadowy one.

[MacKenzie]

I like them both-- very cute! I agree the stoop scene is better though bc of the shadows and it look like NYC.

[Norm]

Definitely the B&W.

[Megan]

The left one. Left left left left left. AKA the black and white one. Hands down.

[yasmín]

Lefty. ;-)

Definitely the black and white -- I like serious author pics.

[bryn]

I like them both, but I think the black and white/no smile picture is better for a book!

[Lyndsey]

Non-smiley. Definitely.

Non-smiley, I like the shadows. For whatever reason, I tend to associate smiling lawyers as being smarmy (not that you have a particularly smarmy smile)

I also like the black and white one, but would like the same picture as much if it were in color.

[Sanya]

Both extremely cute, I'd say, but go with the black and white. ;)