A phone call on Thursday
One Thursday, Kurt called. His second children's book had just gone to press, and he didn't have any photos to go with it yet. He asked if it could be done quickly. It could.
Two years ago, his first book, *Wille*, was published by Pelckmans. It’s an adventure full of humor and suspense about a boy who overcomes his fears. Wille was a huge success. Now there’s Ridder Wankelmoed: a knight who’s a complete mess, a tad narcissistic, and above all, very funny. He goes on adventures, but it’s really the world around him that goes on adventures with him.
Who actually buys the book?
Children read the book, but it’s mainly parents who buy it. We kept that in mind with every decision we made. The photos were meant to convey something about the book and about Kurt, but they also had to immediately inspire confidence in adult readers: this is someone who knows how to get children to read.
Kurt is also regularly invited to speak on topics such as reading, youth, and how to encourage children to read more. Organizers usually ask for a photo, which needs to look just as good when printed full-page in a magazine as it does in a small format in an announcement.
What Kurt Was Supposed to Convey
- Humor. Kurt is a little crazy at times, but he has a great sense of humor. You could see that, just like in his books.
- Playfulness. The book plays a role. A knight full of chaos calls for a portrayal that isn't too serious.
- Trust. Parents need to feel confident that their child is in good hands with this author.
- Expertise. As a speaker on the joy of reading, he must also come across as a credible expert.
You can read about why that first impression carries so much weight in our article A good profile photo: Why is it so important?
One pose, three stories
Kurt was wearing a blue shirt—neat but not stiff. The olive-green background complements the bright-green book nicely, without competing with it. And the book itself took center stage. With the same pose and just a slightly different look, you can tell a different story each time.
Hot off the press. How does it feel to hold your own book for the first time? Watch the unboxing of Ridder Wankelmoed on Instagram. You can find more from Van Gas at his Instagram.
Making choices together, just as we do with every customer
After each take, we watched the footage together on the screen and rated it. That way, you can see right away what works. It’s part of Our Approach to Business Portraits. The final decision is always yours: you choose which photos to include, and how many. For Kurt, it turned out to be a series in landscape, portrait, and square formats, for magazines, speaker announcements, and social media.
Frequently Asked Questions
As an author, do I need a professional author photo?
Yes, as soon as your book is published. Publishers, newspapers, magazines, libraries, and event organizers almost always ask for one. A good author photo conveys in a single image who is behind the story.
Can I bring my book along for the photo?
We'd be happy to. A book with images makes it immediately clear what it's about. We always create images separately from the book as well, so you can use them for years to come.
What file formats do I need for the press and lectures?
Ideally, a mix: landscape for websites and articles, portrait for magazine pages, and square for social media and announcements. You’ll receive your images in high resolution and in smaller sizes.
Can we schedule a photo shoot on short notice?
That’s often the case. Feel free to call or email, and we’ll work together to see what’s possible. Kurt called on a Thursday and received his photos before the launch.
Want to read other stories? Find out how we created the professional portrait of Peter Walleghem (Aremis) and Entrepreneur Bart Van den Eynde tackled.
Kurt, thank you for your trust. Good luck with *Ridder Wankelmoed*.
