If a picture is worth a 1000 words, what's yours saying about you?

• Keep the background behind you uncluttered. Neutral is better. Stand against a wall or in my case, something light like window shutters.
• Hold your camera horizontally and tilt it down about 45 degrees. Makes your body look better.
• Shoot your good side. Take a couple of snaps from either side of your face and choose your good side.
• Always have light shining ON you not from behind. Light tends to even out our skintones. Natural light is best. So stand facing a window when shooting your selfie.
• Keep your arms down by your side if possible or out of camera range. You can always crop them out later if needed.

I would add a few more ideas. Think about what you're wearing. Something light near your face is always flattering. Color is good too. Nothing too distracting though. Solids are best.

Also let's stay away from arms folded or hands near our face. If you're having your photo taken by someone else try to strike a natural pose. The idea is to appear approachable and friendly - not intimidating! Take more photos than you think you need and don't be afraid to ask opinions of friends and family as to which one is the most flattering.

Last but not least, your best accessory is a smile. Open or closed, a smiling mouth is essential to showing your true personality. 

If you're like me and you hate having your photo taken, I understand. But your public bio photo should be up to date. Don't make it hard for clients to recognize you. 

You'd be surprised at how powerful a tool your photo can be to gaining trust and acceptance. A great photo is a key marketing tool. Especially when clients are trying to decide if they want to do business with you!