1. Picture Yourself Online! Free Headshots from the Library
Arieh D. Ress
The New York Public Library
I’ve been a senior librarian at NY Public Library’s Mid-Manhattan branch for almost two years now.

2. Mid-Manhattan circulates just over 2 million items, and see 1
Mid-Manhattan circulates just over 2 million items, and see 1.7 million annual visitors.
We also boast the longest hours coming in at 88 per week. Open 8-11 most of the week.
We opened in 1970 and are about to close for some long overdue and major renovations.

3. We have a highly varied set of patrons, and many don’t have access to a decent digital image of themselves.
Thanks to smart phones and digital cameras, more photographs have been taken in the past year than in the entire 175-year history of photography combined!
While everyone is a "photographer" few have good professional photos of themselves.

4. Picture Yourself Online was born!
During classes and when on the desk I frequently help people with LinkedIn, resume creation and job applications.
There’s one constant: a general lack of a good photo to use.
Older patrons often don’t have one, and younger patrons often have unprofessional photos… selfies and club pics.
This is the flier we put together for the first session back in July.

5. The back of the flyer lists library computer classes that the photos we provide would be useful in, and a brief disclaimer.

6. Ingredients: A decent camera A background, pop-up or otherwise
Some way to light patrons
Photo editing software
Someone with knowhow
The program doesn’t take much:
Most libraries have a decent camera already.
A nice background, be it the pop-up kind we ordered or just a good looking wall can be used.
We use a hot-shoe flash which bounces light off the ceiling or wall for a more even look.
Software to crop and color correct the photos.
Someone who can take a decent photo.

7. Ingredients: A decent camera A background, pop-up or otherwise
Some way to light patrons
Photo editing software
Someone with knowhow
The program doesn’t take much:
Most libraries have a decent camera already.
A nice background, be it the pop-up kind we ordered or just a good looking wall can be used.
We use a hot-shoe flash which bounces light off the ceiling or wall for a more even look.
Software to crop and color correct the photos.
Someone who can take a decent photo.

8. Have an assistant!
Also an assistant! The program could be done with one person, but it would be very difficult and problematic. Much better to have an assistant.
I’ve had a few over the last year.

9. I created a form for participants to fill out.
The identifier ensures that the photos go to the right patron. Hair, shirt or other distinguishing feature.
We’ve had a few people just write “The handsome guy” which was less helpful.

10. We made posters from the disclaimer, informing participants exactly what to expect.
Put them on the outer door and on the wall next to the background.

11. People come in, fill out the form, step in front of the background.

12. Though I envisioned our target audience being those who didn’t have access at all, many of the people who participated simply appreciated the value of having a good photo of themselves.

13. Generally I wait a week after sending the photos which gives people time to write back in case something didn’t work.
Then I delete their photos, unless they have signed a release allowing me to use them for ignite sessions and such.

14. And my co-workers have had a great time participating too!
Plus now they have some photos to use at work (and at home)
So far we have done 10 sessions during 5 different months.
Two weeks ago today we shot our 200th patron, though some of those were repeat customers.

15. Some like to come in one outfit and then return in another.
One woman has been to nearly every session and makes a point of getting her whole outfit in the shot.

16. Feedback has been positive!
One patron asked for a shot with books behind him.
He runs a Chinese newspaper and sent me a scan of the front page complete with the photo I took.

17. A woman who came to the most recent one just moved here from Japan and said that when she saw the flyer she said to herself “This city has some really cool stuff!”
Her response to the photos was “I will send these pictures to my family in Japan, telling them I am doing great in New York. ;)"

18. Future of the Program Possible expansions:
Purchase another background/light.
Take Picture Yourself on the road!
Library Patrons of New York book.
There are a few possible expansions of the program that I will be proposing for the future:
I’d like to get another double-sided background with some lighter colors to give patrons more options.
A light would be good to cut some of the shadows, though in the last few sessions I used a reflector and that helped.
NYPL has 92 branches and I’d love to take the program to each of them!
Earlier this year I had the idea to do a coffee table book: Headshots with a blurb by the patron about what the library means to them.

19. Future of the Program Possible expansions:
Purchase another background/light.
Take Picture Yourself on the road!
Library Patrons of New York book.
There are a few possible expansions of the program that I will be proposing for the future:
I’d like to get another double-sided background with some lighter colors to give patrons more options.
A light would be good to cut some of the shadows, though in the last few sessions I used a reflector and that helped.
NYPL has 92 branches and I’d love to take the program to each of them!
Earlier this year I had the idea to do a coffee table book: Headshots with a blurb by the patron about what the library means to them.

20. Contact me: ariehress@nypl.org (212) 340-0815
Questions?
Contact me: (212)