When it comes to whether or not to use your author photo for the front cover design, the answer is – it depends, but probably not. Here are some essentialthings to consider when making this choice for your book.

Recognition

Readers who are walking past a bookstore shelf or scrolling through online search results are not spending time studying your cover – they are glancing at it. That means your book cover must grab their attention in only a few seconds. If your face is not one that people will recognize in those few seconds, there is a good chance readers won’t pause long enough to learn more. If you're trying to reach an audience you don't already have, you want a cover image readers can immediately connect with, and a person they don’t recognize may cause them to immediately assume the book isn't for them.

Genre

Ask yourself if an author photo is typical for covers in your genre. Breaking the mold isn’t always a bad thing, but when you combine that with a photo that isn’t instantly recognizable or isn’t a face your target audience associates with your field, you run the big risk of bookstore buyers not accepting your book.

Message

Think about the product you’re selling with your book. Unless your brand and your product are your personal image (think Oprah), using your photo on the cover of the book tells the average consumer that the book is about you and your story, and your actual product’s message may be lost. If that’s not your intention, your photo’s best home is with your author bio, on your website, and on your social media.