Lucky for you, not only do I know my way around a camera, but I spent nearly a decade working in the publishing world. I know how to take author portraits for whatever you need them for, all while making you feel your best in front of the camera.
My portraits have been featured on book jackets by Publishers Weekly, The New York Times, VOGUE, Elle, Girls at Library, as well as on the cover of a New York Times bestselling book, the cover of Kirkus Reviews, the American Poetry Review, and more.
And if you haven’t written that book yet, that’s okay, too. My author portraits are for every stage of the writing process, because nothing helps you believe in yourself more than seeing just how legit you look.
Now, you need a photo for your website, book jacket, social media, and more.
You wrote a book
(how cool is that!)
KIND WORDS
She made me feel confident before, during, and after our shoot.
Rosie Danan, USA Today Bestselling Author
I'm so glad i got to work with sylvie for my debut author photos. I was nervous leading up to the session, but she made it so easy and natural and even fun!
Laura Green, Author of Sister Creatures
I worked with Sylvie for my author portraits and it was a phenomenal experience. Sylvie walked me through every step of the process including providing awesome references for hair/makeup/locations. She advised on wardrobe as well. She made me feel comfortable and confident before, during, and after our shoot. The photos she took are beyond my expectations. I love them. I can’t recommend investing in working with Sylvie enough. She’s a consummate professional, an incredible talent, and more than all of that she is kind and thoughtful.
What drew me to her in the first place is that each of her author portraits conveys a personality and a rich inner life, and she was able to capture that for me, as well. Extremely happy with how it all turned out.
Inquire to secure your date or learn more about rush editing and travel fees.
- A 1.5-2 hour portrait session
- Location, outfit, and planning consultation
- Web-ready sneak peeks within 24 hours
- Full, hand-edited gallery (including light retouching) within two weeks via secure online portal
- All download, (re)printing, sharing, and publishing rights throughout the world (World Rights)
Natural Author Portraits
Your Gallery, Delivered
Within two weeks (or sooner, if you’ve added on rush editing!) I’ll deliver your full gallery via a secure online portal. I’ll sign any necessary releases you need for your book, including foreign editions. And lastly, I’ll (pre)order your book to proudly display it on my shelf!
05
sneak peeks
After your shoot, I’ll send you some sneak peeks and your invoice. I want you to give me totally honest feedback on these sneak peeks, so I can cull your gallery and edit a larger selection of photos you feel good about and can use in a variety of ways.
04
the day of your session
On the day of your shoot, we’ll start wherever you’re most comfortable, whether that’s in your home or elsewhere. Depending on the plan we made, we’ll travel to your other locations to get a wide variety of images and backgrounds!
03
we start planning
As your shoot gets closer, we’ll decide on your locations and begin prepping. If your session is outdoors, we’ll keep an eye on the weather and pick a rain date.
You can send me any outfit ideas and get my input on poses, hairstyles, or anything else you might be unsure about.
02
Getting Started
Inquire via my contact page to secure your date. Over text, email, or phone, we’ll discuss your book or project, vision for the shoot, and deadline for your images.
We’ll also talk through locations, usage for the images, and what you want your portraits to convey. If you’re interested, I’ll even connect you with trusted hair and makeup stylists.
01
The Process
Hilary Leichter, Author of Temporary, and Terrace Story
Sylvie is just incredible! I have worked with her twice now for my author photos, and I'm so amazed at her talent, and grateful to know such a kind and brilliant artist. She is warm, professional, easy to talk to, and is so skilled at making people feel comfortable and relaxed. In her photographs, she's always able to capture the glimmer of joy or mischief or soul that makes a person unmistakably who they are. I recommend Sylvie to everyone I know, and always will!
She’s always able to capture the glimmer of joy or mischief or soul that makes a person who they are.
Rachel Griffiths
And not only did she bring her great eye to every shot, she also totally understood the industry and had great ideas for what i'd need, what worked for what genre, and how i would use the shots in the future. I've just received my final gallery and I'm thrilled at how many good shots there are to choose from. I'm not someone who loves being in front of the camera, nor do I like photos of myself in general, and Sylvie made it feel really easy and even fun. Just totally great from start to finish - professional, fun, and super talented.
She made the entire process easy and seamless from start to finish.
Meredith Westgate, author of THE SHIMMERING STATE
She made me feel so comfortable and at ease, which comes across in the fantastic photos — they have such a range, and Sylvie was so helpful in deciding where and how we shot. I'm so pleased with how they turned out. I can't imagine a more generous photographer, or the process being more enjoyable than this was.
Working with Sylvie for a new set of author portraits was an absolute dream.
Where you have your author portraits is just as important as what you wear in them! Your location determines the lighting, background, and overall vibe of your photos. I recommend choosing places you feel comfortable and really enjoy, since that makes the entire experience that much better.
My Favorite Locations For Author Portraits
More than half of the author portraits I take happen right in the author’s home! If you live in NYC (or somewhere I can travel to), taking in-home portraits creates an atmosphere you feel comfortable in and lets even more of your personality seep into the photos.
Your Home
If your home isn’t the best space for photos, we still have some indoor options! Maybe a friend or family member can lend us their space for a few hours, or we can rent an apartment or studio that matches your vision. Keep in mind, a rented space would require an additional fee.
A Rented Space
This is another great way to add some flavor to your portraits. We can stop for a few photos on your stoop, a nearby building, or even a window seat in your favorite coffee shop (as long as they’re alright with photos).
In Your Neighborhood
There are dozens of parks in NYC, and I’ve taken author portraits in almost all of them! No matter the season, we can find a private corner in Central Park, Riverside Park, Fort Tryon Park, Carl Schurz Park, Prospect Park, Fort Greene Park, and so many others.
Your Favorite Park
Preparing For Your Author Portraits
I’ve photographed over 100 authors over my 12 years as an author portrait photographer. Nearly all of them dreaded their portraits, but ended up having far more fun than they expected. Because I don’t just point a camera at you and tell you to smile. I walk you through easy, natural prompts to help you feel confident and comfortable.
The whole time we’re together, we’ll be chatting like old friends, swapping stories, and making bad puns. (Or, well, I will be. You’re an author. Your puns are probably great.)
If you’re considering working with a hair and makeup artist, I highly encourage it. Even if you don’t wear makeup in your everyday life, working with a professional can give you an extra confidence boost and make your skin feel camera-ready. Plus, pro hair and makeup artists know how to combat the NYC heat and humidity so your look stays in place.
What you wear in your portrait is very personal, so I have no interest in saying what you can or can’t wear! But here are some general tips!
Consider where we’re shooting and find a color that stands out. For example, if we’re going to Central Park, avoid wearing a green top! Be aware of patterns, too. I love a good pattern, but if your portrait is cropped to chest and above, I don’t want a bold floral-print shirt to distract from your face.
I recommend choosing only one or two outfits for your session. We’ll want to get pictures of each outfit in each location, and frequently changing eats into the time we have together. If you’re torn between outfits, I’m happy to look at your options and give my thoughts on what will look best!
Here are some tips to help you prepare for your session:
Hair & Makeup
Choosing Your Outfit
I shoot in medium portrait composition, which includes your face, torso, and yes, your hands! This means that your hands will be in almost every shot. While the image may get cropped down for a book jacket, the full versions can be used for social media and publicity, so be aware of how your hands and nails look.
Nails
If we’re shooting in your home, I recommend clearing off any furniture we may use. Usually, this includes couches, tables, armchairs near windows, and the areas around them. We will likely move things around throughout your session to take advantage of the best lighting, and this will help maximize our time (and make it easier!).
Preparing Your Home
What's your pricing and availability?
Author portrait sessions start at $1,975 and I take them on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. My availability varies throughout the year but often I can fit in shoots within the next few weeks!
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m not based in NYC. Do you travel?
I shoot on-site, not in a studio, and the vast majority of the author portrait shoots I do take place in NYC, but I'm very happy to travel outside of the city (to NJ, upstate NY, CT, etc) so I can photograph you at or close to home, and will just calculate a travel fee based on how far I'd be traveling.
What if I need portraits ASAP for my publisher?
I can work with most timelines; my standard delivery of final edited photos is within 2 weeks of our session, but I can rush delivery to 1 week or less with an additional editing fee.
Where should I take my portraits?
Portraits are a personal thing, and I like to shoot at least partially in your home if that’s possible to keep things feeling and looking natural, relaxed and organic! We can take a walk together in your neighborhood and I’ll scout for photo locations on the fly, or we can head to a specific spot or park (or rooftop, or garden) you know.
Shooting outdoors in NYC means there will be people around, so keep that in mind. We can also shoot in rented apartment or other space if you’re looking for a specific indoor backdrop that your apartment doesn’t have, but there’s a modest additional cost for that.
What if I'm uncomfortable in front of the camera?
I’d be more surprised if you weren’t! Most people are uncomfortable getting their photo taken, which is why I come armed with easy prompts, fun stories, and pictures of my cat. It might be awkward at first, but I promise you’ll have fun by the end!
What do I do with my hands?
While author photos usually get cropped in close on your face for the actual book jacket, I like to shoot a little wider (i.e. including torso) so you’ll have options for photos that include more background and context. This means your arms and hands will probably be in some photos! I’ll help pose you, and them.
Will I get my portraits in color or black & white?
I’ll edit all your final portraits in color, but I know it can be helpful to have a black and white option, so if there’s one you’d like to have in b&w also, I’ll be happy to do that additional edit once you’ve seen everything!
Will you retouch my photos?
I lightly retouch all photos in your gallery, which includes removing stray hairs, minor skin imperfections, etc. More in-depth retouching is available upon request and may incur an additional per-photo editing fee.
What rights do I have to my portraits?
All printing/sharing/online reproducing rights throughout the world. I don't charge extra for foreign rights (UK or translation).
If your publisher needs anything extra from me, just reach out and let me know if there’s a tight deadline! I’ll sign and return any releases ASAP.
Writing the Book Was The Hard Part. Your Portraits Can Just Be Fun.
