Where Is The Best Place To Find a Photo for a Pen Name?

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   Rock_njposted 11 years ago

   I am considering publishing a novel under a pen name.  I'd like to set up author pages where it is published.  Where can I find a legal photo of someone else that I can use as the image that goes with my pen name author profile?  Thanks!

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      psycheskinnerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      My advice would be to not do it.  A pen name is an accepted thing.  Passing another picture of as that person is not. Using stock photos in this way is not permitted.

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         gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         +1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000!

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         Rock_njposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         OK.  Thanks.  I will keep what you said in mind.  This is exactly why I wrote this question.  So much to learn about ebook publishing and using a pen name.

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            Cardisaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I have a pen name which I use but I use my actual photo which is different from the photo I use with my real name. You could pose a different way where you look quite different depending on the image you want to portray. I wouldn't suggest using another person's photo as this may damage you as an author if found out.

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   relacheposted 11 years ago

   If it's a photo of a living person, you're going to have to buy the rights to use it.  But you'll still face the risk of it being found out to be a stock photo and that can actually damage an authorial reputation.

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   Beth37posted 11 years ago

   What if I gave you permission to use my pic? And my name? Errr... are you any good?

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      Will Apseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Make sure you sign any contracts for him, too. And get the checks sent to your address. You know, for the sake of authenticity.

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         Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I only want to help.

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            Will Apseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Lol. Goodest girl in town...

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      2uesdayposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hello Beth,  I think you need to check out the other post by the OP before signing up to this.
      
      Not sure what sort of smiley to add here.

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         Rock_njposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Actually, one of Beth's sensual poems that I read this summer helped motivate me to write my ebook.  I didn't steal anything from her poem; it just got me thinking about how to put such experiences into words in a creative way.  It was the one that HubPages removed due to sexual content, and then she posted on these forums for everyone to see.  I thought it was brilliant.  I wanted to write an ebook anyway.  It helped set the wheels in motion.

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            Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Oh my goodness. Not sure whether to hang my head in shame or say thank you.

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               Rock_njposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Nothing shameful about sharing such a beautiful poem and spurring creativity in others.  What is shameful is the attitudes towards sexual topics.  I really thought it was over the top that HP removed your poem.  You wrote it in such a way that it was left up to the reader's imagination.  I came across much more sexually explicit material on HP over the summer while researching my ebook.  I couldn't believe some of the stuff they are okay with given that they banned your not so blatant poem.

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                  Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Thank you so much. I really appreciate that.

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                     Rock_njposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     Thank you and thank everyone for your advice on this matter.  :-)

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            A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            It's amazing how a holier-than-thou attitude turns to soft porn in the blink of an eye.

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               Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

               You probably didn't realize Christians enjoy sex with their mates too. They also write love letters, sing songs and dance. Im glad you don't approve of picking fights... I don't enjoy them either.

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   Anshuman Sinhaposted 11 years ago

   Agree with Relache. You'll have to have a personal conversation with that person before you use his/her picture. But of all other things, why would you choose not to use your own pic, Rock? Hope that's not taken for a personal question.

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      Rock_njposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Anshuman,
      
      Your question is not too personal.  People choose to write using a pen name for a variety of reasons.  In some cases it's just that their given name is not one that sounds good in the world of publishing, in other cases the stories are too personal, while in some cases the subject matter is something a writer doesn't necessarily want everyone they know to know that they wrote it.  If one is going to use a pen name, there's not much point in associating one's own face with it since people will know it is you behind the pen name. 
      
      Given the feedback, I will avoid using someone else's face.  I will have to go with a generic faceless picture.  If people figure I am writing under a pen name rather than my own, so be it.  There's nothing taboo about doing that.  Some of the most successful authors in history have written under a pen name or a number of pen names.

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         Anshuman Sinhaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Agreed.

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   psycheskinnerposted 11 years ago

   I have two pen names and use no photo.

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