Jordan Bolker
Staff Writer
Keegan Allen, known famously for his role as Toby Cavanaugh in the hit TV series “Pretty Little Liars,” made an appearance at Anderson’s Bookshop Saturday, Feb. 7 to promote his new photography book “Life. Love. Beauty.”
More than 500 people showed up for Allen’s appearance at the downtown Naperville bookstore. Fans across Illinois were able to pre-order his book or come in to purchase it that day. A meet-and-greet book signing immediately began, in which a ticket to have a book personally sign by Allen was required.
As a surprise to some fans, Allen did not appear to just sign books and be finished. He interacted with all his fans by pausing in between signings to gather his fans together and take photos of them holding up his book. Allen captured more moments with his professional camera and, of course, his phone to post his photos on Instagram and Snapchat. People can follow him on Snapchat at livelovebeautyb and Instagram at keeoone.
Many of the fans that greeted Allen went all out to their support for his book and mainly for his part on “Pretty Little Liars.” One fan presented to him a decoupage art piece in the shape of a heart and another simply brought a heart-shaped box of chocolate and a teddy bear. Other presents that Allen received ranged from posters to writing “Spoby” across their arms to symbolize the couple name of Allen’s character Toby and on-screen love interest Spencer Hastings, played by Torian Bellisario. Some even handed Allen professional photographs of their own to share Allen’s passion.
“So you’re really into this (photography)?” said one fan to Allen.
Allen simply laughed and said, “Yeah, I wrote a whole book about it!”
Other fans couldn’t help but contain their excitement and continuously shouted, “We love you Keegan!” until it reached his ears. Allen, being totally comfortable around loyal fans, responded casually “I love you too!”
Allen’s book documents his love for photography as he captures moments of his life from childhood to present day. From the time he was given a camera at the age of nine, Allen journals his on and off screen moments and adventures in a way to create a photographic biography of his story.
In “Live. Love. Beauty,” the book is divided into three parts. The first section is called “life,” where he shares some of his very first photos such as his childhood home in California, his first dog Scooby and even his first crush. Of course, many of his photos in this section are of his co-stars and lifelong friends in “Pretty Little Liars” who also have supported Allen in his off-screen journey as a photographer by posing at several TV events and other trips around the United States. In the “life” section, many readers will see what goes on daily in Allen’s life and his inspirations that make him who he is now.
The second section is titled “love.” In this part of his visual journal, Allen publishes many different locations that symbolize the romanticism behind such as beaches in Southern California and the snow-covered mountains in Aspen, Colorado. Other locations include Allen’s personal loves like famous soft-serve ice cream parlors in New York City and high-point views from his many plane rides and travelling.
“Beauty” is the last part of Allen’s book that looks beyond the chaos in his day-to-day schedule. Photos are captured from several nature locations across California and other destinations whether it’s the view of trees, white ocean waters, and the glass images of reflections through rain puddles. Many humans and animals also take this form of beauty to show the freedom and life that each has in the 21st century. Allen even includes struggles in America as part of beauty such as financial and social crises and the many stories of several people mentioned in his book.
Allen captions each of these photos either by simply describing it in just three words or broadening it into the format of a poem and he takes in every moment of what is in front of him. Readers will be sucked into his language as if they were right with him as he took this picture.
People can purchase a copy of Allen’s book “Life. Love. Beauty” at Anderson’s Bookshop or other retail bookstores and tune into the series “Pretty Little Liars” every Tuesday night at 8/7c.
