Embrace the Fear: How Being Seen Can Transform Your Life and Career
For most of my adult life, I have looked younger than my age. I have often been mistaken for my children's sibling. "You can't possibly be their mom; you look far too young," they would say.
But now, at 44, those comments have worn off. Things are visibly different when I stand in front of the mirror, and recently, at a party, someone turned to me and said, "You must be the mom." It's a hard reality to accept, especially the reality of my own vanity.
It's superficial to judge a person by a photo, yet that's exactly what my business is based on – a static photo, a snap judgment. It's easy to stand behind the camera and tell clients, "Embrace yourself, age is just a number..." when you're not the one being photographed.
Truthfully, it's not just age that contributes to the fear of being seen or putting oneself "out there" to grow our businesses. I work with clients who are young and attractive, yet they still possess this innate fear.
In Brené Brown's book, "Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead," she explains that while we are all afraid of making ourselves vulnerable, study after study shows that the majority of people are truly rooting for us. They want to see us; they admire our courage. It’s eye-opening information.
Overcoming the Fear of Being Judged
The fear of being judged is universal. It's a fear that paralyzes us, keeping us from pursuing our dreams and stepping into the light. But what if we viewed vulnerability as a strength rather than a weakness? Putting ourselves out there, even in something as simple as a headshot, has immense rewards both personally and professionally.
Facing the camera and allowing ourselves to be seen as we are can lead to greater self-acceptance. It’s an affirmation that we are enough, just as we are. Each step we take in making ourselves visible builds our confidence. When we see a professional image of ourselves that we love, it reinforces our self-worth. And although challenging, embracing our vulnerability is empowering. It gives us control over our narrative and how we present ourselves to the world.
The professional benefits can't be overlooked. It is, after all, why we stand before a stranger and "smile" for that headshot. Visibility helps us form authentic connections with others. It helps us build a foundation of trust and relatability with our clients. And a professional image enhances our credibility. It shows that we take ourselves and our work seriously, which in turn makes others take us seriously.
Embracing Vulnerability for Greater Strength
The very thing we are protecting ourselves from – judgment, rejection, fear – could be the source of our greatest strength. As a headshot photographer, I've seen firsthand how transformative this experience can be. My clients leave not only with great photos but with a renewed sense of self. They learn to see themselves through a lens of compassion and confidence.
Closing Thoughts
When we show up as the face of our business, we open up a world of possibilities. We allow others to see the real us – a person worthy of admiration and respect.
Courage and authenticity are contagious. It's an act of encouragement and of hope. Together, we can transform the fear of being judged into the strength of being visible one headshot at a time.
