Photo by Steve Brown, acumen photography
About a week ago I blogged about facing my fears and having my photograph taken. As I noted in comments following the event, my photographer was lovely and I think did a fabulous job given that I am not a naturally photogenic subject. He was kind, patient, creative – and the real proof of course is how good the final result was! So good that I don’t feel so vexed about ‘showing’ my face for my writing anymore.
My photographer is the wonderful Steve Brown at acumen photography:
I highly recommend him to anyone in or around the ACT region of Australia, or anyone travelling here who’d like some professional photos to commemorate their visit or event.
So you see above one of the photos from the shoot, and possibly the one I feel looks most like the ‘me’ I see when I look in a mirror. That Steve could get me relaxed enough to look this calm and not like a rabbit in the headlights was fabulous, and very helpful for me in my quest to have an image or images I can use for promoting my writing.
So this is me – the face behind the dragon, behind the poetry. A huge step for me to show this, and a lot is owed to the kind support so many of you showed me for my last post on this topic, so thanks to all. And given that kind support, I thought I should show you the outcome of the ordeal, and affirm that facing one’s fears can be a good thing! 🙂
I may never be a beauty queen, but hopefully I can look warm and kind. 🙂
Cheers
Helen V
helenvalentina 
Perfect for in the back of a book, hardback of course 🙂
Thanks – I’m not sure I’ll put photos on the actual book covers, but I can put them on the author website and so forth… one step at a time, LOL!! 🙂
The only thing to fear is fear itself 😀
Very true!! 🙂 🙂
Which is why I am very afraid of fear 😀
🙂
It is a beautiful photo of a beautiful soul. How could you ever think that you are not beautiful? Your goodness shines out of you…
Wow, that is so kind. I’m truly touched, thank you so much!! 🙂
Helen, this is a really lovely photo – there is indeed, a warmth and wisdom that shines from it. I’m very glad to put a face to the name and also inspired and encouraged by your willingness to share this and the beauty of the result, because I also really dislike having my photo taken. Thanks doe the inspiration and encouragement:-)
Thank you so much, that is so kind – I was pleased that Steve seemed to capture what I think is my nature in this photo – at least what I hope is my nature in any case!! It is scary to share photos when one is photo phobic, but I’m happy with the result of this one (and really the whole suite of photos Steve did, he’s a great photographer!!). 🙂
You are OUR beauty Queen! Wings and fire breathing and all:>)
Congrats for the bravery!
Oh, that is so sweet – thank you so much!! How kind!! 🙂
You are very welcome. You deserve it!
🙂 xxxx
I am so proud of you Helen! I totally understand your fears. This photo is amazing it is a perfect photo for a book maybe I nee to go to Australia to get a good picture lol
Thanks!! 🙂 🙂
Great piccie Helen! 🙂
It is nice, isn’t it…much better than the usual photo of me!!! 🙂 🙂 I actually think it looks like me which isn’t something I say often about photos!!! : )
Yes, love it!!
🙂
Gorgeous Helen! I’m so impressed that you have done this!!! In all the years I have known you (way too many to say out loud), I have never known you to have a photo taken on purpose let alone show it to anyone….putting it on your site is sooooo brave and wonderful – good for you! Now your readers can see that you are beautiful inside and out! xxx
Oh thanks so much Ann, that means a lot, more than I can say!! 🙂 🙂
the face behind the dragon lol
you make yourself sound so gnarly but you’re a beauty! Very distinguished if i may say so as well.
and this would make a great photo for your hardback.
Thanks so much, that is so very kind of you!! 🙂 🙂
it is indeed beautiful, and wonderful helen. )
Thank you so much, that is very kind!! 🙂 🙂
So now I can put the face to the dragon!
😛
It is hard to show your face on your blog, especially if you’re a woman (young or old). I struggled with it for a long time myself. Very beautiful picture! I am jealous. My picture is something I took myself!
I’m far too afraid of photos to try to take one myself! It is hard to show one’s face, you are right, but good on you for doing it,and I like your photo I have no idea how much it looks like you in real life of course, but it has a wonderful sort of playful and intense quality which I really like!! 🙂
Great author pic! Did you get any of you smiling? I love seeing people smile
LOLOL…I told the photographer that if I smile my eyes disappear in my chipmunk cheeks and he didn’t believe me so I smiled and then he said ‘oh see what you mean’ so he only ever asked for barest, faintest beginning of a smile from then on…LOL. So, none were taken that were any more ‘smiley’ than this for the most part…a couple which are a bit more smiley maybe, but not much, LOL! 🙂 thanks for the validation that it will work as an author picture well!! Much appreciated!! 🙂 🙂
This is truly lovely Helen, and shows your soulful spirit in a serene way. I love it. My pics are five years old and my daughter keeps encouraging me to update them and I am so opposed to having my pics taken now. I guess I will break down and do it soon.
Thank you so much for such kind words. My advice, having just done this, is get a professional photographer…they seem to know how to get those of us who dread having photos taken to relax enough that it works. I really like your current photo though – you are very lovely! 🙂
It is a very nice photo.
Society and beauty queens, like looks are the most important, blah to that thinking! You are intelligent and have a poet’s soul, who wouldn’t find that attractive?
I finally did that on Twitter, I wouldn’t put my real pic up for the longest time, but I faced that fear and for better or worse my face is plastered there.
Thank you so much! yes, it is more important to be a beautiful person inside than to be a societally described ‘beautiful person’..if that makes sense…but still it is also nice to have a photo I can actually like looking at as opposed to most that have ever been taken of me in my life, LOLOL!! Good on you for facing your fears re this too with your twitter account! 🙂
it’s a pleasure to make your lovely acquaintance
Thank you so much Paul, that is so kind!! 🙂
Looks great for a book cover. Very relaxed.
Thanks Charles – yes, I agree, the photographer really got me to relax which was probably the biggest challenge!! 🙂
He is a master at his trade, huh?
Definitely!! I am not an easy subject, LOL!! 🙂
You are a beautiful woman. This photo is very expressive and I see a smile. Yes, this is a great picture for a book cover or a website – but it would be lovely framed on a mantle or a wall!
Thank you so much – I don’t have photos of myself up anywhere in the house and I doubt I’ll start at my advanced age, but that is very, very kind of you to suggest anyway. 🙂 And it does seem most people think the photo looks nice so I am feeling very confident of using it, and perhaps some others from the shoot, for the book promotion purposes etc. thanks again!! 🙂
So lovely 🙂
Thank you!! That is very kind of you to say!! 🙂
I said it yesterday, and I will say it again…….you are beautiful. It means so much to me to be able to finally see the face of my dear friend/sis. Love you!!!!!
Thanks so much dear Skye, you are so kind to me!! 🙂 🙂 xxxx
It’s easy to be kind to you….I’m crazy ’bout ya! 😀 😀
Ditto!! 🙂 🙂
Helen,
You are so beautiful. Inside and out. Plus, may I say, that you have absolutely beautiful eyes, which on someone with so much soul, is exactly what I imagined. It is lovely.
Oh wow Ionia, how lovely of you to say…it really means a lot if people see some kindness and soul in my eyes because I try, above all things, to be kind and honourable as a person. Thank you so much!! 🙂
Helen, it truly is a great photo of a great looking woman. I think you’re too hard on yourself, I understand though I’m hard on myself too. It really does look perfect for the author bio in a hard back! 😀
Thanks so much Bradley! I’m not publishing in hardback and I think a photo might be a bit much for a paperback, but I will put this on the author spotlight page and also goodreads and so forth. 🙂
There is depth behind your eyes: what the surface scratches leads to other veins rich with meaning — like your poetry.
Wow, how kind, that means a lot, thank you so much!! 🙂
You bet.
But you ARE a beauty. Looking back, can you tell? Have you always been so lovely?
Oh wow, how lovely of you to say…I don’t really see myself that way…I think I look better in real life than in photos, but as I said the photographer here was very good and I think this does look like me in real life…but I guess I see beauty as something different to myself. perhaps its like the way we are about hair….if we have straight hair we think curls are lovelier, and those with curls want straight…LOL. But thank you so much for your kindness, it is most appreciated!! 🙂
Helen,
You look terrific… and nice to connect a face to the words.
Blessings,
Len
Thank you so much Len, that is very kind of you!! 🙂
You are lovely Helen! Kathryn
Thank you so much, that is very kind of you to say!! 🙂
Just the truth and nothing but ! : )
So lovely to see you! You look beautiful and I feel such peace when I look at this picture. Yay! For facing fears! 🙂
Thank you so much, that is very kind!!! 🙂 🙂
Oh Helen! You’re gorgeous!
Thanks Brianna, that is very kind of you!! 🙂
You are very welcome, and it is true! Your smile is so sweet and gentle. Seeing it made me feel so peaceful.
🙂
Lovely photo, thank you for sharing with all of us. 🙂
Thanks so much!! 🙂 🙂
You have a lovely photo. I bet it is not just the skills of the photographer or the equipment, but of being “lit and shining from within”.
Oh that is so lovely – thank you so much, I’m truly touched by your kindness! 🙂
You are definitely warm and inviting. Love it! And I’m glad the photographer was able to put you at ease. Again, congratulations on conquering your fear. ♥
Thank you so much!! 🙂 🙂 Warm and inviting is definitely a look I would be aiming for!! 🙂
So lovely to see you, Helen! Peaceful and beautiful soul – inside and out! xxx
Thanks so much, that is so kind of you!! 🙂 🙂
Beautiful.
Thank you so much, that is very kind!! 🙂 🙂
I see only beauty and grace.
Thank you so much, hat is so kind of you, and it means a lot coming from you as you are one of the most positive and light-filled bloggers I know! 🙂 🙂
I like the way it is glowing around you, you are relaxed and very beautiful and kind looking. I like this photograph and hope it does make a cover or back cover of a book!
Thanks so much – it will be on my author website (as well as this blog) and eventually on my author spotlight page on lulu.com. 🙂 🙂
A beautiful face behind beautiful poetry! You have a warmth about you that can never be associated with a dragon. 🙂
Thank you so much – so kind – I love dragons though so I don’t mind the association! 🙂 🙂