Last week I had to get a new profile photo for my website and the launch of my upcoming book “Self-Care: 30 Compelling Life Lessons From Happy, Healthy, and Successful Women…and some Men!” My hair had gotten really long and unruly. Actually, in general, my hair is more like strings than strands. I needed someone who could work their magic and make me look more presentable. My regular stylist, Mark, was booked, so I had to see a “ringer,” a young woman named Brooklyn. Fortunately, she turned out to be just as great.
Is it just me or does every woman who sits in a stylists chair simply look like a drowned rat after the wash? (I was wearing heavy makeup too! You’d never have known it by this photo.)
But, Brooklyn did work her magic. And, I learned a trick about taming what is essentially curly hair. You simply have to torture it into submission. Saturate every strand with some form of “product” and then pull the brush-full of hair straight and tight, and then practically burn it with a blow dryer. I probably lost another 1/4 of all my hair in the process. But I was pleased with the result. So my first suggestion is to get a good cut or blow-out before having your photo taken.
Off to the Studio
Onward to the studio…
I headed out for the photo shoot. The photographer, Albert Benichou of DaNoise Studio (I think it’s a reference to “Bring in da funk, bring in da noise” as he also does a lot of audio recording) has been in the business for more than 30 years; five years in France, and 25 in Berkeley. His studio had two backdrops: one was black for a more dramatic and “professional” looking profile, and one with a white background for a more playful look. He allowed me to have three changes of clothing. Of course, my most ideal clothes were are the cleaners. So I grabbed what I thought would work, and hoped for the best. My second suggestion: plan a couple of weeks ahead about what you will wear. Try on the entire outfit, shoes and all. And make sure they are all clean.
Dark background for the shoot
Albert is a no-nonsense kind of guy. He succinctly explained that for each shot he would be taking three versions: far, mid-range, and close-up. And then, when he said, “change” that meant I had to come up with a different position. Then he said, “Move,” “Dance,” “Twirl.” (I’m not joking, he actually said “twirl!”) It was exhausting, physically and mentally. I have a new appreciation for fashion models. We then switched from the white background to the black one. This went on for what seemed like an eternity. And then he said we’d be taking a few outdoors shots.
The “Twirl” proof copy…that I didn’t use.
In his portfolio I had seen a profile photo of a woman standing in a lovely, bucolic park with a very soothing-looking leafy background. But Albert said, “we’ll go across the street.” The “across the street” was a gritty urban stretch of graffiti-sprayed walls, chain link fences, and weeds. I guess he saw that I have about 35% “Natural” style essence and that background spoke more clearly to who I am. Fortunately, I have always had a soft spot for semi-industrial areas. I used to work in a place that reminded me a lot of this environment, and I figured, “OK – let’s do this!”
Outdoor Shoot
His instructions, again, were all in shorthand: “Change,” “Turn,” “Let’s walk.” When he got to “Sit” I was so tired I almost answered “woof!” But we got some great shots and the whole process was done in exactly one hour. I gathered up my things (only leaving a few behind that I had to pick up the next day) and headed home, eagerly awaiting the proofs.
The likely contender for the book profile
He took 200 photos in all. I selected 15 for editing and another 10 just for general use here on my blog, my social media pages, and on other sites that I write for. 
Here’s my last and main suggestion. If you’re getting professional photos taken, get a good night’s sleep the night before. I didn’t. I had about 4 hours of sleep. Thank God for Albert’s skill at photoshop “dermabrasion” and digital “face lift.”
I’d love to know what you think of these.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: If you would like to get my “Self Care” book for free, I need about 25 reviewers (actually “previewers”) who are willing to write an Amazon review of the book. If that’s you, PLEASE sign up HERE to be a reviewer. I’ll send you all the details of how to do this and a link to the book. I’d LOVE to have you on board.
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