Using Pen Name Photos of Other People

Allen Graves · 11-21-2009, 12:20 PM

Warriors,

I am having discussions with several authors right now about how, when and where to use photos of other people for their pen name accounts.

Do you do this? What do you do?

I was under the assumption that the author had to have exclusive rights to the photo. Is that correct?

Do you think it is a good idea? ...a bad idea?

Thanks for your time and comments!

Allen

Zanti · 11-21-2009, 12:36 PM

Hey Allen,

Really looking forward to the responses here. I've not used any other photo other than my own, but I do write under a couple of pen names.

I've considered using a female pen name for a particular niche, but haven't done that yet. When thinking about a photo, not sure how I feel yet.

I kind of have mixed feeling right now, about would this be right to do.

Great question.

Brian "Zanti" Alexzander

1960Texan · 11-21-2009, 12:44 PM

Allen,
I think it has the potential to cause a few problems. Let's say I wrote fitness articles and used a photo of a young, good looking gym rat to represent my pen name (Rock Buffington). A bit later, the gym rat gets a modeling contract, or a role in an action movie. The jig is now up, and when everyone who previously thought that "Rock Buffington" was the go-to guy if you wanted to get washboard abs finds out that I'm pushing fifty and have a small belly, all of the articles I wrote are going to be looked upon with a jaundiced eye. In the case of pen names, I would use an avatar or nothing at all.
Will

SeanSupplee · 11-21-2009, 12:57 PM

Instead of using a photo of someone I will instead create a graphic image that looks professional and has to do with the topic I will be advertising.

Allen Graves · 11-21-2009, 12:58 PM

Good point, Mr. Buffington. LOL

Here's another question. If you came to an article and found an author's picture was an avatar...would you be turned off? Would it make you think they were hiding something...or that they were just creative?

Come on - I know for a fact that a ton of you guys and gals use "fake" pictures...what are your thoughts?

Allen

Ken_Caudill · 11-21-2009, 01:01 PM

A caricature might be the way to go. It's personal and creative.

1960Texan · 11-21-2009, 01:03 PM

A few years ago I was turned off anytime I saw an adult using an avatar, but it seems that now they are more widely accepted. The niche that you're promoting to might also have something to do with the effectiveness of photos vs avatars. A targeted market at the high end of the Boomer generation might prefer photos, while a demographic made up of twenty-somethings wouldn't really care either way, as long as they received the product they were looking for.
Will

Nicola Lane · 11-21-2009, 04:46 PM

Id suggest that unless you have exclusive rights to the image of a person, then you can't use it! So in reality you can only use photos of yourself. You can use very different images of yourself though.

But to allow for multiple pen names - people should be allowed to use a suitable avtar. Which would mean something like a caracture or similar image - no LOL cats, tattoo art or silly graphics!

Fun to Write · 11-21-2009, 04:56 PM

I write under several pen names and don't use a photo for any of them. I don't see the need for one. Okay, I suppose it helps to build trust in the author. But, I'm just not one to worry about who visits my profile and whether or not they see a photo.

As to should an author use another person's photo under an assumed pen name, my gut tell me NO WAY. It feels too much like false advertising or promotion.

Martin Luxton · 11-21-2009, 07:50 PM

My avatar isn't fake. It took me 3 years to grow that beard!

But seriously, why use photos of other people? Why not photoshop one of your own or wear heavy makeup?

At least then you can truthfully say "That is a photo of me".

Martin

richporr · 11-21-2009, 08:03 PM

What I've done a couple of times is use a photo of me when I was much younger--looks very different from me now but it is still me.

-Richard

11-21-2009, 12:20 PM	#1
Allen Graves PromoteMyArticles.com War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 2,469 Blog Entries: 13 Thanks: 610 Thanked 697 Times in 306 Posts	Using Pen Name Photos of Other People - What Do You Do? Warriors, I am having discussions with several authors right now about how, when and where to use photos of other people for their pen name accounts. Do you do this? What do you do? I was under the assumption that the author had to have exclusive rights to the photo. Is that correct? Do you think it is a good idea? ...a bad idea? Thanks for your time and comments! Allen
	Just another new article directory.

11-21-2009, 12:36 PM	#2
Zanti Brian Alexzander War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: S.E. Michigan, Clem-Town, USA. 5 Miles from Lake St. Clair. Posts: 423 Thanks: 617 Thanked 224 Times in 77 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Using Pen Name Photos of Other People - What Do You Do? Hey Allen, Really looking forward to the responses here. I've not used any other photo other than my own, but I do write under a couple of pen names. I've considered using a female pen name for a particular niche, but haven't done that yet. When thinking about a photo, not sure how I feel yet. I kind of have mixed feeling right now, about would this be right to do. Great question. Brian "Zanti" Alexzander
	Brian Alexzander ~ Irie To The Highest - Respect "Irie"...the ultimate positive, powerful, pleasing, all encompassing quality/vibration *A Candle Never Loses Any Of Its Own Light... By Lighting Another Candle*

11-21-2009, 12:44 PM	#3
1960Texan Will Atkinson War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 407 Thanks: 476 Thanked 128 Times in 84 Posts	Re: Using Pen Name Photos of Other People - What Do You Do? Allen, I think it has the potential to cause a few problems. Let's say I wrote fitness articles and used a photo of a young, good looking gym rat to represent my pen name (Rock Buffington). A bit later, the gym rat gets a modeling contract, or a role in an action movie. The jig is now up, and when everyone who previously thought that "Rock Buffington" was the go-to guy if you wanted to get washboard abs finds out that I'm pushing fifty and have a small belly, all of the articles I wrote are going to be looked upon with a jaundiced eye. In the case of pen names, I would use an avatar or nothing at all. Will

11-21-2009, 12:57 PM	#4
SeanSupplee Traffic Generation War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: USA, PA Posts: 943 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 56 Thanked 122 Times in 100 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Using Pen Name Photos of Other People - What Do You Do? Instead of using a photo of someone I will instead create a graphic image that looks professional and has to do with the topic I will be advertising.
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11-21-2009, 12:58 PM	#5
Allen Graves PromoteMyArticles.com War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 2,469 Blog Entries: 13 Thanks: 610 Thanked 697 Times in 306 Posts	Re: Using Pen Name Photos of Other People - What Do You Do? Good point, Mr. Buffington. LOL Here's another question. If you came to an article and found an author's picture was an avatar...would you be turned off? Would it make you think they were hiding something...or that they were just creative? Come on - I know for a fact that a ton of you guys and gals use "fake" pictures...what are your thoughts? Allen
	Just another new article directory.

11-21-2009, 01:01 PM	#6
Ken_Caudill Here for the Beer War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chicago burbs Posts: 1,821 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 695 Thanked 1,045 Times in 646 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Using Pen Name Photos of Other People - What Do You Do? A caricature might be the way to go. It's personal and creative.
	Killer Kopy Klowns 4 Jesus

11-21-2009, 01:03 PM	#7
1960Texan Will Atkinson War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 407 Thanks: 476 Thanked 128 Times in 84 Posts	Re: Using Pen Name Photos of Other People - What Do You Do? A few years ago I was turned off anytime I saw an adult using an avatar, but it seems that now they are more widely accepted. The niche that you're promoting to might also have something to do with the effectiveness of photos vs avatars. A targeted market at the high end of the Boomer generation might prefer photos, while a demographic made up of twenty-somethings wouldn't really care either way, as long as they received the product they were looking for. Will

11-21-2009, 04:46 PM	#8
Nicola Lane Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: , , United Kingdom. Posts: 549 Thanks: 523 Thanked 230 Times in 143 Posts Social Networking	Re: Using Pen Name Photos of Other People - What Do You Do? Id suggest that unless you have exclusive rights to the image of a person, then you can't use it! So in reality you can only use photos of yourself. You can use very different images of yourself though. But to allow for multiple pen names - people should be allowed to use a suitable avtar. Which would mean something like a caracture or similar image - no LOL cats, tattoo art or silly graphics!
	PLR Articles, PLR Reports & Niche Research Packages I like to keep an open mind, but not so open that my brains fall out

11-21-2009, 04:56 PM	#9
Fun to Write Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York, USA. Posts: 598 Thanks: 73 Thanked 108 Times in 91 Posts Social Networking	Re: Using Pen Name Photos of Other People - What Do You Do? I write under several pen names and don't use a photo for any of them. I don't see the need for one. Okay, I suppose it helps to build trust in the author. But, I'm just not one to worry about who visits my profile and whether or not they see a photo. As to should an author use another person's photo under an assumed pen name, my gut tell me NO WAY. It feels too much like false advertising or promotion.
	Got a Fiction Novel in Your Head that You’re Dying to Write? Release Your Inner Author Here

11-21-2009, 07:50 PM	#10
Martin Luxton Christmas Rocker Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: North Pole Posts: 2,380 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 545 Thanked 696 Times in 372 Posts	Re: Using Pen Name Photos of Other People - What Do You Do? My avatar isn't fake. It took me 3 years to grow that beard! But seriously, why use photos of other people? Why not photoshop one of your own or wear heavy makeup? At least then you can truthfully say "That is a photo of me". Martin
	"Merda taurorum animas conturbit"

11-21-2009, 08:03 PM	#11
richporr Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Missouri Posts: 49 Thanks: 75 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Using Pen Name Photos of Other People - What Do You Do? What I've done a couple of times is use a photo of me when I was much younger--looks very different from me now but it is still me. -Richard