My First Photoshoot
With the release of TimeTrap, the third book in my superhero romance series, I wanted to do something fun and memorable to celebrate. I also wanted to up the ante of my author photo from the standard to out-of-this-world like my heroes.
So I booked a photoshoot with Atomic Cheesecake Studios, known for their pinup girl style photos.
I arrived at the shoot wearing a flannel shirt, leggings, ponytail, and no makeup. I was a blank canvas for Stacey Barich, owner, photographer, and stylist, to do what she does best—making her clients look and feel like stars.
First, she rolled my hair with hot curlers. While my hair set, she cleaned my face then applied a primer. Next, she airbrushed foundation over my skin. It evened my skin tone and covered up blemishes. She was literally painting me over.
She then darkened my eyebrows, lined my eyes, and applied fake eyelashes. She used a deep red to color and outline my lips like a Kewpie doll. Once she finished the makeup, Stacey removed the curlers and pinned my curls into a Victory roll—a style favored by women after WW II to celebrate the Allied victory.
First, she rolled my hair with hot curlers. While my hair set, she cleaned my face then applied a primer. Next, she airbrushed foundation over my skin. It evened my skin tone and covered up blemishes. She was literally painting me over.
She then darkened my eyebrows, lined my eyes, and applied fake eyelashes. She used a deep red to color and outline my lips like a Kewpie doll. Once she finished the makeup, Stacey removed the curlers and pinned my curls into a Victory roll—a style favored by women after WW II to celebrate the Allied victory.
Before she even set up the lights and camera, I felt glamorous as seen in the “after” photo where I no longer believe it’s appropriate to stick out my tongue wearing this stylish do and makeup. It took nearly 90 minutes to transform me from the above photo to the one below. (In other words, I won’t be doing this for a date night with the hubby.)
Stacey had racks of outfits and dresses from decades past and jewelry and shoes to accessorize with. I was as excited as an ex-theater kid in a Broadway warehouse. I could’ve stood there for days going through her racks and trying on everything. Fortunately, she knew exactly what outfits and accessories would work, and I’d brought two of my favorite dresses for the shoot too.
Lights. Camera. Strike a pose.
She directed me in five poses with five costume changes. Stacey took over 100 photos in a two-hour period using various paper backdrops in solid colors. I narrowed it down to my favorite ones. She touched them up in Photoshop. And the end result is my glam alter ego.
Stacey had racks of outfits and dresses from decades past and jewelry and shoes to accessorize with. I was as excited as an ex-theater kid in a Broadway warehouse. I could’ve stood there for days going through her racks and trying on everything. Fortunately, she knew exactly what outfits and accessories would work, and I’d brought two of my favorite dresses for the shoot too.
Lights. Camera. Strike a pose.
She directed me in five poses with five costume changes. Stacey took over 100 photos in a two-hour period using various paper backdrops in solid colors. I narrowed it down to my favorite ones. She touched them up in Photoshop. And the end result is my glam alter ego.
I’m already planning my next one. If you get a chance to do a pinup photoshoot, take it. It’s better than any spa day to make you feel stunning, and you’ll have the photos to prove it.
Now what to say to readers at signings when they see I’m not as cool as I appear in my author photos.
Maybe Stacey does house calls?
Now what to say to readers at signings when they see I’m not as cool as I appear in my author photos.
Maybe Stacey does house calls?
by J.T. Bock (Author), Chris Hall (Editor), Rachel Daven Skinner (Editor)
April 13, 2018
404 pages
404 pages
Publisher: PepperLip Press
Superheroes, adventure, science fiction, pop culture, and romance fuse in J.T. Bock’s third UltraSecurity book TimeTrap.
UltraAgent TimeTrap is hiding out. This peace-loving, universe-traveling hero is tired of fighting Aztec gods, sociopathic scientists, and her reality TV–star mother. She needs a vacation from using her superpower. With comfy slippers and streaming movies, she’s taken refuge with her new boyfriend, Max Martin, in his high-tech, gated home.
Max owes TimeTrap his life. She saved him from a dimensional-jumping kidnapper, and he’s fallen hard for her. He promises to protect her at any cost. Whatever TimeTrap wants, he’ll give her.
But is she really safe with Max?
Because TimeTrap has uncovered a classified project in his basement lab, which shoves her into the clutches of a mysterious organization and a life-sucking entity called the Dark.
A journal that belonged to Max’s deceased grandfather might hold the key to helping TimeTrap. But to decode the mysterious journal, Max must do the unthinkable and embrace the evil energy that threatens both universes. He would do anything to rescue her, but can he win back her trust, or will he become her worst nightmare?
About the Author:
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When J.T. Bock was a child, she wanted to be James Bond or Indiana Jones or a vampire hunter or Wonder Woman. Whatever brought her the most action, adventure, and romance while play acting on her stage—otherwise known as her grandmother’s basement. Now J.T. has assembled her own team of action heroes, supernatural creatures, and maniacal villains and set them on adventures far from her basement to exotic lands and alternate dimensions. Her current UltraSecurity series follows the adventures of humans with special abilities as they defeat the Big Bads and find their soul mates—because superheroes need happy endings too.
When J.T. Bock was a child, she wanted to be James Bond or Indiana Jones or a vampire hunter or Wonder Woman. Whatever brought her the most action, adventure, and romance while play acting on her stage—otherwise known as her grandmother’s basement. Now J.T. has assembled her own team of action heroes, supernatural creatures, and maniacal villains and set them on adventures far from her basement to exotic lands and alternate dimensions. Her current UltraSecurity series follows the adventures of humans with special abilities as they defeat the Big Bads and find their soul mates—because superheroes need happy endings too.
GIVEAWAY
$20 Amazon gift card and my book series in ebook form. Opened to international readers.
