We humans think in pictures. And your profile photo, or headshot, captures your essence so anyone who sees it can see your story in a moment. A good headshot will illuminate your inner light, show your personality and give a peek into your life. In a professional context, this is vital to activate sharing your innate message with the world (who you are) as well as create a connection point with your potential and current clients.

A long time ago, in another land far away, I was a Glamour Shots photographer – yes, it’s true. And now, by using the ancient art of Chinese face reading with my clients, I have seen A LOT of profile photos! Without further ado, here are a few tips from what I have seen that can make all the difference in you having an awesome headshot.

1. No distractions! If you are in a social environment, or a friend casually snaps your photo while the guy in the background is reaching for a soda, or you’re in front of an art exhibit, you are competing with your environment for a good headshot. Let the background be neutral to really show YOU off!

2. No lopping off friends! I see it time and time again… people are hanging with their friends, arm in arm, and they like how they look, so they simply chop off anyone else in the picture. Not only is that not healthy energetically, it’s a disservice to you because people are relating to you relating to that person in the photo vs. the person looking at your headshot. That is two completely different relationships, obviously… if you’re looking to attract business, don’t use a shot where you’re hangin’ with your homies!

3. No body shots! A headshot on a web page is already small, so if you decide to use that photo of yourself dressed up in full, you are taking valuable “real estate” away from your headshot. Your head ends up being smaller than a postage stamp, and it’s really not enough for people to get the feel of your energy. A headshot is just that… a HEADshot!

4. Good lighting! If your headshot has funny shadows, harsh lighting (which will age you), you’re squinty in the sun, or your face is looming in from a dark background (as in, your picture being taken at a social club), it’s not working for you. Natural lighting is great, or a professional photographer will know how to use light to complement your features. It’s all about the lighting!!!

5. The eyes are the windows to the soul! This is the connection place between you and the person seeing your headshot – this is how you engage people when you’re not there. If you are friendly, approachable, and/or playful, it’s likely people will want to connect with you. Eye contact shows whether you are open to relationship in some manner or if you are closed for business. If you’re doing a stare-down, not looking at the camera, or wearing sunglasses, you’re not giving your people the opportunity to engage with your light. Eye contact is a key to your emotional being and is just as important in a headshot as it is in person.

6. Creativity wins! If you want to do a profile shot with a quick look at the camera, or catch yourself in the middle of a good laugh, or want to wear something that is “you”, do it! A picture paints a thousand words… and in business, your headshot can attract you thousands of dollars. Your headshot shows what is important to you, so capture your personality in the moment. Let your headshot reflect who you are – after all, that’s who people want to know.

7. Supermodels are out! A good headshot isn’t about being glammed up to the point where people in your world wouldn’t recognize you. This is about you being you, comfortable in your skin and inviting people to come play (and do business) with you. There is no need to glob on the make-up or wear clothes that you wouldn’t normally wear. It’s vital that you be your natural self that happens to be getting a picture taken because THAT is the most attractive quality you have – YOU!

It doesn’t take much to have a great headshot – a little attention to detail, some decent lighting, allowing your personality to shine through and you’ve got great face! So get out there and share those baby blues and pearly whites with the world – we’re waiting for you!!!

Lynn Scheurell, Creative Catalyst, works with soul-driven entrepreneurs to create a livelihood from their true purpose. This type of business development requires extreme personal clarity in combination with innovation and active implementation of proven business practices. Download a free report to learn “The Seven Deadly Mistakes That Keep Soul-Driven Business Owners from Making Money” at www.mycreativecatalyst.com.

For any aspiring reflexologist, my client Wendy Coad, has just released her amazing “how to” video home study course! If you know someone who wants to learn or brush up their skills from the best, you’ve got to check this out: http://www.thefootfactorprogram.com/.

She’s healing the planet one foot at a time™ – and maybe you can too! ;+)

“The universe is looking at itself through our eyes, and we give life to everything in the way we view it.” ~ Alan Watts

By definition, energy needs to flow in order to be in its natural dynamic state. I’m not a scientist, but I know that its’ movement is what generates some level of power, even at the smallest increment of its presence. The movement of energy is what makes things go. And it is the force within your own life that makes things happen, which cumulatively becomes your evolution.

As a creature of nature, you are consistently evolving to your next level of being. However, that can take shape in a number of different ways, based on how fast or slow your energy is moving and how willing you are to go where it takes you. If you resist, stop or block the energy flow of your life, you create stagnant pools of stuck energy that become bigger, heavier and/or denser over time. Eventually, those stuck energy places manifest as dysfunctional relationships, unhappy careers or an unhealthy physical body. And these are the clues to how you can support your own evolution… your stuck places are homing beacons to guide you to what needs your energetic attention.

The truly ironic part is that we can always see somebody else’s stuck parts more clearly than our own. There is a reason for this… if we knew the lesson contained in our stuck places designed to teach us what we need, they wouldn’t be stuck, right? We can’t see our own blindspots, because that’s the source of our lesson in working with our own energy! But we can see what the people around us aren’t addressing for two reasons: first, we’re not attached to the outcome and second, it’s not our lesson to learn (or, if it is, we have a jumpstart on it because we can see it!).

Three Things You Can Do Today:

1. Pay attention to the messages. Your energy is always “talking” to you… if you aren’t experiencing the results you want in your life, your evolution is continuing in some area. If your energy is stuck, there’s a message there. If you feel a sting, ping, charge or a desire to avoid a person, situation or opportunity, you are being invited to consider what you need to handle for your next level. AND, by the way, when you decide to go to your next level, anything that stands in the way of you achieving that level will come up for your consideration to be handled. Just making the commitment to move toward your own best evolution will bring up messages – that’s the energetic gift of your spirit.

2. Believe in your own evolution. Know that your spirit is actually trying to bring you magic when it brings those “hurt-y” places to your attention. Understand that you are dynamic and growing and your energy is supporting you in going to new places in your life. Know that there is a better future waiting for you, and it is your responsibility to live it as a physical expression of divine consciousness. After all, that’s your reason for being – to give form to divinity and feed your experience into the greater whole! Your evolution is a microcosm of the vital growth that fuels divine consciousness in every moment. It’s a big deal. ;+)

3. Get out of your own way. Now that you know your energy is working to help you evolve to your next best level, it’s time to get out of your own way to receive your best life experience. You are inherently worthy of the most amazing life, and it’s trying to come to you. By handling your stuck places proactively and consciously, and opening up to receive all the infinite grace that has your name on it, you are no longer standing in your shadow wondering why it’s dark! It is sometimes this action alone that can bring you what you want in your life.

As this year closes out, it’s an ideal time to look at where your energy is trying to evolve you, and where you are effectively blocking your own dynamic being from your best possible expression. If you discover that there is something that you’re not enjoying, or a nudge to try something new (much less anything you’ve been ignoring or neglecting!), it’s your energy talking to you. Pay attention and let the energy flow… and it’s likely your life will too.

I was interviewed by Melissa Ward of The Phenomenal Entrepreneur. Listen here.

Lynn