Who
David Watkins is a horror author based in Devon. He writes intelligent, psychologically driven fiction and came to me needing professional headshots for his book launch, author website, and publisher materials.
Why
David had a book coming out, The Originals Return, and needed images that looked professional without being overly polished or corporate. The kind of photo that makes a reader think "I'd like to meet this person."
He was upfront about not enjoying having his photo taken and had been putting it off for years. That's the same thing I hear from most creative professionals. Twenty minutes into the session, he was selecting images on screen.
Authors face a particular challenge with photography. Unlike corporate clients who need to project business authority, writers have to balance several different registers at once: the serious craftsperson, the approachable storyteller, and in David's case, someone who can discuss the darker themes of horror fiction without seeming intimidating. His images needed to work for book jacket author photos, his website and social media profiles, media interviews and podcast appearances, literary events, and publisher marketing.
How
I went to David's home in Devon and set up my mobile studio there. No studio trip, no travel stress, no unfamiliar space to navigate. Working somewhere familiar helped him settle quickly, which showed in his expressions and body language from the first few frames. The session ran during an evening break from his writing schedule.
We started with a short conversation about his target audience and how he wanted to be perceived. David's readers appreciate intelligent horror — stories that disturb through psychological depth rather than shock — so his author image needed to carry that thoughtful quality.
I kept the session calm and straightforward, talking him through each adjustment. David watched the images on screen in real time using the coaching system, so he could see exactly how small changes in posture or expression changed the result. That builds confidence rather than anxiety. He relaxed quickly once he realised I wasn't going to ask him to do anything uncomfortable. That moment when a client stops thinking about the camera and just talks is when the best frames happen.
We extended the session to include a promotional video for his book. The video work flowed naturally because David was already comfortable with the process and understood how to hold himself on camera.
Result
David picked his favourites during the session and had the finished images within two days. He now has a complete suite of professional images that have been used for his book jacket, author website, publicity materials, and across social media. They'll serve him across multiple book launches, speaking engagements, and media opportunities for years.
His images project exactly the right balance: intellectual depth, creative confidence, and the kind of approachable quality that makes readers want to discover his work. The fact that he ended up enjoying the experience says more than anything I could write here.
"His calm manner helped me relax and I actually ended up enjoying the session — something I never thought I'd say about someone taking photos of me."
David Watkins, Author
