I really like #4. Your right that sleeve is odd in #5.

i also vote for #4, very etheral beauty

I like #4 the best too.

I like #1 the best, its youthful :)

I like 5 best, but I'd crop it to remove the odd sleeve effect.

#4 is the best. Very pretty and also conveys "yes, that's right, I know what i'm talking about."

I like #1 - you look happy and approachable, which is how I think of you. :)

I vote for number 4 ...seems most "personable" to me for some reason.

I vote for #1 as well. You look beautiful in all of them. :)

I like 5& 1. Your smile seems warm and genuine :)

I agree with anon... #5 if you can crop the sleeve, otherwise #1. I like your big smile. :)

I like #4 best too! If not, then I say #3.

Looking good, either way!

I vote for number 1. I like the way the natural light lights up your face. Beautiful!

#1. It looks natural.

5... even with the sleeve

then 2

They're all really good, though. Very approachable and warm.

#1.

And dayum, you're pretty.

5, with a crop to remove the sleeve thing

I'm partial to choice 3 :)

Choice 5 (aside from the sleeve thing, which I may not have noticed had you not told us about it!).

The first three are that odd headshot angle that looks like- I don't know, like an unnatural headshot angle. It's the one that you see on every third book jacket, with the (usually female) author looking upward into the camera. It probably looks normal to everyone else, but my photo-happy-eye keys into that pose for some reason, and now I see it everywhere. Of course, my bizarre reaction is NO reason to not use any of those shots, it just happens to be what I noticed most about them. In 4 or 5, you just look like a contented, happy Mel.

I love your big, natural smile in #1!

I'd choose one of the top 2, which seem to have the natural smiles and the nicest lighting. I also like the close-up without background distraction.
I love silver streaks in hair... if I had gorgeous ones like that I'd keep them.

I also really like #4. That one drew me the most, for some reason.

I like five the bestest!! The sleeve can be fixed :)

My vote is #1.

I vote #2 you look the most natural in it. I think you look a bit startled in #4 however if you do decide to go with #5 I can photoshop a sleeve in for you ;)

I like #1 the best, no question. It is warm and natural.
However, there seems to be a little yellow flower popping out the top of your head. I'm sure you could photoshop that out, though.

1 or 5 (with the bottom cropped). Friendly and happy.

I like number 1 because of your bright smile!

Choice #1. They are all lovely, but warmth seems to emanate from choice #1.

I like #4.

#1. Definitely.

In 5 you look happy and chillaxed.

I agree about the weird angle in 1, 2 & 3 and I think 4's not happy enough.

I like #1 best. You seem most friendly and approachable and completely happy in this one.

My vote is for #1. You look very naturally happy. And you look like you.

I say #5 but if you are really bothered by the sleeve thing then #1. The grey should most definitely stay.

I vote #1. It's the most genuine smile and looks the most like you're having fun.

I may be the only one, but I like #2 for a head shot. It's friendly, but looks really smart and informed.

I like 1 the best. I think the smile is the most 'you' if that makes any sense.

I like number 2 the best, but they are all beautiful! :-)

Knowing you IRL I think #1 is most "Mel"- you look beautiful in all but I think you look friendliest and most natural in #1!

#4 or #5, I really prefer the looking straight on shots to the looking up ones.

I vote for #5 - there's a nice sparkle in your eyes!

I LOVE NUMBER 1!!! That just catches 'you'. I think it shows your happy, playful nature. I think jacket pictures should just be about what looks good, but what gives you a glimpse into the author's personality.

You look relaxed and happy. :)

I vote one or five-your smile looks natural in those, and you look happy. The others look a little forced to me.

#4 definitely looks the most natural!!

I like #4 the best, even if it looks a little more serious than the also-popular #1. I think you look authorly in 4 :-)

I like number 4 with number 1 my second favorite.

I like 5 particularly if you can crop out the "sleeve-issue".

I like the pose of #5 (I am also not a fan of the downward camera angle) and the smile in #1. But really, they're all great - I just get the idea that #1 is more you.

Hi Mel,

The angle of the top three bothers me a bit ... with the photographer looking down on you. Looking up shortens your face a bit.

The smile in #1 shows your spirit and reminds me of the Mel I "know" from reading you for so long. But I think the bottom two are more flattering. #4 has the best color. Five is also good ... the expression is natural and pretty --just crop it as others suggested. # 5 a little washed out (on my screen) compared to #4.

Cheers.

PS my word verification sounds Yiddish ... "verchig" :)

Okay, my photographer's opinion is that I love #5 but if you can't photoshop the sleeve (clone tool works wonders), then go with #4. I love your smile in #1, but kate hit the nail on the head with the first three. It's simply that your eyes fall so low in the photo, they should fall on the invisible line that divides the upper two-thirds of the photo. Our eyes are naturally drawn to specific areas in a photo when faces are present. Okay, composition lecture over...

Definitely #1

I keep changing my mind, but I think I have to go with 5.

I like number 4. Or number 1. But, I really like number 4. I agree with you--be proud of that grey! :-)

I vote #2.

I like #1 - you're smiling with your eyes!

#1 without a doubt. It's the most natural. You look beautiful!

I like #3 and my Beloved likes #4.

#1 is totally the best...your smile is the most spontaneous/natural.

And you are beautiful!

i like #5 the best. it shouldn't be too hard to photoshop in purple on your arm to make the sleeves match. if you can't do that, then #1

#5 definitely! Crop or photoshop the shirt. :)

#1.

I like 5 best but with the smile from 4 ;) Seriously though, if you can crop, my choice is #5. If you can't crop, my choice is #4.

I like #4 :)

My vote is for #1

I like #6 and then #1!

#1 is my favorite. You have a fantastic, fun, genuine smile.

#1, your smile is amazing. It makes me want to sit and chat.

#6.

I love you all!

#1 has the best smile, but the from-above vantage is weird.

I vote for #5 if you're going for friendly, #4 if sultry.

I vote for #1 - a very natural, lovely smile :-)

I am voting for #3 :)

I like #1 because you look like you're really smiling. The other close-ups have that "I've been smiling for a camera for too long" look.

I also really like #5. It's a really good angle, you look relaxed and happy in it.

Shannon votes for #5 as well. :)

Number One gets my vote b/c it captures your warmth and friendliness; the others look more posed.

You look great in all, but I would choose #1, hands down.

I like #1 best.

I'm late in the voting, but I guess I have to say #6!

Definitely four, in my humble opinion!

Toss up between #1 and #6. I like them both though.

I like both choice #1 & #3

#1 feels like a true smile to me. It's more warm and approachable. Beautiful as always Mel!

I love the full smile in #1 and also the fixed #5. The angle in #2 and 3 is a little too odd (although you look really nice) and #4 looks more like an "author shot" as opposed to looking like the person I think of you as being. But they're all solid choices!

Egad, lady, you are CUTE. That is all.

What are you trying to say? From where I stand:

#1 - friendly and outgoing
#2 - friendly with a touch of wistfulness or sadness
#3 - drugged and perhaps a bit needy (no offense...)
#4 - reserved, perhaps a trifle indignant, unapproachable
#5 - relaxed and friendly, but not bubbly (I'd go with this one, personally, now it's fixed)

Whilst noting the fact that there's nothing wrong with trying to convey some of the above, I'd personally go for (in order of preference)

#5, #2 (it's for IF, right? you're allowed to look wistful, it might even be good), #1 and then out with #3 and #4 because both those would put me off if seen on a dust cover.

Bea

1 looks very natural. 6 looks a ltitle mroe serious if you're going for that- I think you can't go wrong with either of htese two (and the others are actually good too!)-

#5. I think that one looks really sweet.

Nice photoshopping Mel!

Definitely go with #6 (fixed 5).

I vote #6.

I vote 4, you look very 'natural' in 4 :-)

Choice #6! Well done with the fixing of the sleeve. :)

Add me to #4!

Yay for #6! Good job with the quick-fix there!

#6 would be my choice, followed closely by #1.

I like #6 - what am I saying I like them all, but #6 gets my vote.

#6, followed by #1.

I can't pick just 1, because I'm difficult like that.

My fav is def #1. That's the Mel I picture sitting at my dining room table, chatting and drinking coffee in the morning after an evening of cocktails. (Is that creepy? Because really, its not meant to be. That's just the you - the smile - that I imagine seeing on my friend's face!)

If it's for more professional purposes, I like #6. Still friendly and very approachable, but the angle of the pic seems more professional.

And, I love them all! You're Gorgeous, Dahling! And I'm with you (at least so far) on not dyeing the gray!

I liked 4 and 5.

Definitely 5.

I'm all about #1 or #6 (fixed shirt)

I love #1. What a gorgeous smile!

See now, I like #1 the best. That's YOU. (I mean, with makeup and all. But YOU.)

xxx

I like 5/6, then one.

Ok, now I'm liking the retouched #5 best. It's definitely a nice angle and while the smile isn't as generous as #1, it's still endearing. Your eyes are gorgeous and you keep rocking that gray hair...I know I am!

6 definitely.

#1-- that's the smile I think of when I think of Mel-the-Stirrup-Queen.

If not, then #5-- more stately, but still that Mel

I like 6 the best!

DEFINITELY 6. Believe me. There is no question. Two is also good, as a second choice.

You are BEAUTIFUL by the way!

After reading more of the comments, I felt moved to add some explanation.

I agree with some of the commenters above that #1 is the cutest, most fun, most mel. And #4 is lovely - like a still from a movie. You do look like a goddess in that one...perhaps one in deep concentration. But for a head shot, let's be reasonable people, it's #6.

ok really done now.

2 or 5. 5 especially if you can get the sleeve professionally airbrushed.

4's smile is off.

1!
You look the friendliest in that one

I'm late to the vote, but 3. I think I'm inthe minority, though.

g

Oh, I just had to choose my own headshot for my website - it is SO hard! My favorite gut-reaction-wise is #1, because it looks the most natural and friendly. If you're worried that you need a more "professional" look, then I like #6.

Very pretty!!

Love 5/6!

I am so late- but #1 is my fave. You have the BEST smile!!! you look great in all.

5!

You probably don't want any more opinions, but #2 looks friendly and wise.

I am late but I vote for #6. You look beautiful but still like it was a natural shot and not posed.

I'm way late, but I love #1 - this is exactly how I think of you!