author photos

So, I've been gone on already how this is an especially new year for me; and I have been embracing the idea of a fresh start. I've redecorated my house (am about to start a bathroom renovation!), canceling old projects, and starting new ones. It's the out with the old, on with the new mentality--which sounds trite but the symbolism of it all is fairly genuine. I guess I am striving for a new Grace --figuratively and literally!

And one of the things that I've done on this quest was to get my new author photos taken. As another symbolic gesture, I wanted a new look to them. So a friend of friend of mine, who is a professional photographer took them.

Now, this friend of friend, is great photographer. But I was a bit hazy about what I wanted. I just wanted it to be different from what I had before--calm, pleasant photos of me in a Chinese garden. So when I saw a red background available, I jumped on it. Red is the Chinese lucky color. And there was pattern on it, like my paintings. I told him it was an ideal backdrop because it was energetic and joyful.

So with that idea in mind, he began directing me and taking photos. They came out like this:
I was impressed, for little ol'me --and compared to my old pictures--it seemed like a visual transformation. My vanity was highly gratified, as I thought he made me look pretty good...but maybe too good? Somehow it didn't seem right for an author photo. When I told him this, he seemed a little confused (how can one look too good?) but agreed to take some shots less energetic and joyful.

Which got me this:
And made me laugh. Now I was a brooding children's book author. I told him something in between and finally got this:

Which I think I can use. Though I have a feeling I will have to try again. Because it is only now, after looking at all the photos that I think I know what the problem is. The red background which I pictured as Chinese New Year looks more like Victorian brothel. And that's probably not the setting most people expect the creators of their children's books to be in!

What do you think?