Author Portraits in Melbourne
Your author portraits will sit on a book jacket, a press release, a publisher’s website and every speaking bio for the next decade. Most writers walk into a portrait shoot with no idea how they want to look on the back of their own book — that’s the photographer’s job to solve, not yours.
At Headshot Photographer, our author portraits in Melbourne are made to work across the whole publishing chain: a clean editorial frame for the jacket, a usable press shot for journalists, and something with a bit more personality for socials and event posters. One session, three uses.
Who needs author portraits?
We photograph debut novelists with a manuscript about to land at the printer, established authors refreshing tired headshots before a new release, non-fiction writers building a speaking and media presence, poets and essayists who need an editorial portrait that suits the work, and academics moving from journals to a trade book. Whatever the genre, the brief is the same — a portrait that looks like the person who actually wrote the book, not a stock corporate headshot in a writer’s jumper.
Julian is very easy to work with. I was very nervous but needed a headshot for a book cover. Julian put me at ease and then made the whole process of finding the right shot quick and easy. I highly recommend him for this sort of work!
Are you ready to shoot your author portrait?
Meet Your Author Portraits Photographer
Julian Dolman has been shooting portraits in Melbourne since 2005 and founded Headshot Photographer in 2010. His career started in actor headshots — a genre where directing a nervous subject into a believable expression is most of the job. That training is what makes him a strong fit for authors.
Writers tend to be self-conscious in front of a camera. Most spend their working life behind a screen, not on stage. Julian’s direction is specific and unhurried — he tells you what to do with your hands, where to put your weight, what to do with your eyes. A live playback monitor between setups means you see what’s working and stop second-guessing it. The result is a portrait that reads as you on a good day, not a person posing for a corporate brochure.
Sessions can be shot in classic black-and-white editorial, in colour with a more contemporary feel, or both — useful when the publisher wants one look and your speaking agent wants another.
The Author portraits process
01
Pre-Shoot Planning
You get clear notes on wardrobe, what to bring, and what to avoid. Bring two or three options — we’ll work out which suits the book on the day.
02
The Shoot
Sessions usually run 60–90 minutes. We work through two or three setups, with live reviews between each so you can see the direction we’re heading.
03
Online Gallery Selection
You select your favourites from a private online gallery. No pressure to pick fast.
04
Professional Retouching
Natural skin work, colour management, and the crops you actually need — square for socials, tight for the jacket, wider for the press kit.
Needing my first author headshots in my early 60s, I was nervous and apprehensive. We talked before my session which was enormously helpful in easing my mind about what to expect and I knew I would be in safe hands. I met Cole, his gorgeous kelpie, and he was there on the day providing a calming influence.
Are you ready to shoot your Author portrait?
Author portraits Shoot Locations
In our Brunswick East Studio
The studio is the right call when the publisher wants a clean editorial frame, or when you want the focus on the face rather than the surroundings. We have multiple background options, controlled lighting, free on-site parking and the studio sits 12 minutes from the CBD.
On-location
For authors whose work is tied to a place — landscape writers, memoirists, poets with a strong sense of setting — shooting in context can give the portrait a layer the studio can’t. We work across Melbourne, including the CBD, Carlton, Fitzroy, Northcote and the inner west, and travel further for the right shoot.
Frequently asked questions about author portraits
How long does an author portrait session take?
Most sessions run 60–90 minutes. That’s enough time for two or three distinct looks without the shoot dragging on. If your publisher has a specific spec sheet to hit, send it through and we’ll build the session around it.
How much do author portraits in Melbourne cost?
Pricing depends on session length, number of final retouched images and any location travel. We quote per shoot rather than running a fixed package — send through the book, the deadline and where the portrait needs to run, and we’ll come back with a quote.
Will my publisher accept the file format?
Yes. We deliver high-resolution files suitable for print jackets and press kits, plus web-sized crops for socials and your author site. If your publisher has specific dimensions or DPI requirements, send them through with the brief.
Can I use the portrait on my book jacket?
Yes. Author portraits are commissioned for use on jackets, press materials, your website and any associated promotion for the book. Usage details are confirmed on the quote.
Do you shoot in colour or black-and-white?
Both, and you don’t have to choose upfront. We typically shoot with the option of either, and the final delivery can include both treatments of the same frames.
I hate having my photo taken. Is there any point?
That’s most authors. The session is built around it. Short setups, specific direction and a live review screen mean you’re not guessing how it’s going. You’ll know within the first ten minutes whether we’re getting useful frames, and we adjust if we’re not.
Can you turn around a shoot quickly if my publication date is close?
Where the calendar allows, yes. Tell us the deadline up front. Standard turnaround is five business days for finals, faster on request.
Do you shoot writers who haven't been published yet?
Often. A good portrait helps when you’re querying agents, building a Substack audience, or putting together a speaking bio before the first book lands.
Book your author portraits shoot
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