Finding My Inner Super Model

Playing dress up, a photo shoot and investing in myself.

As a writer, headshots are important. You need to build your platform, so your social media needs a headshot. You get an amazing acceptance for a dream byline, and the editor will ask for a headshot. You get the book deal you’ve been working so hard for, and the publisher will require at least one headshot.

I haven’t paid a professional photographer to get a decent headshot in over a decade. And lately I’ve been cringing every time I’m asked for a headshot and I’m forced to send the selfie I’ve been using for way too long. So I decided to splurge, support a small local business, and get myself some updated photos.

This photo shoot was an absolute blast. I did my hair and makeup. I went through my closet and tried on all my favorite clothes. I had wardrobe changes and prop changes and background changes while a photographer made me smile and laugh and directed me into poses I never thought could possibly look flattering. I truly felt like a super model.

Of course I can’t afford to do this regularly. And with the hundreds of pictures the photographer shot in an hour, I don’t need to do this regularly, maybe even for another decade. But it was an investment in myself, in my writing career. And feeling like a super model, even for an hour, is never a bad thing.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have hundreds of photos to go through for the tough yet super fun and confidence boosting process of picking my favorites. In the meantime, here’s a preview.

From the Archives

• One year ago: My essay I Was a College Athlete, I’m Relieved My Teens Chose Different Sports was published at Grown and Flown.

• Five years ago: My essay The Best Advice I Was Given as a New Writer: Done Is Better Than Perfect was published on Epilogue.

• Ten years ago: My essay 50 One-Word Resolutions for Life After Divorce was published at HuffPost.

February Reads

I’ve been reading tons of memoirs lately so I added some novels to the mix in February.

• No One Tells You This by Glynnis MacNicol

• Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

• Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

• I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

May you be happy.

May you be healthy.

May you be safe from harm.

May you live with ease.💫