was during our CRAZIEST season of the year. Michael asked me about when we could do some senior portraits for a close friend of ours we literally couldn’t find a date when I was free. WE really wanted to try to make this happen but with a schedule like ours, it seems nearly impossible to find a time when I was free and available for a last minute shoot. So, after searching the calendar high and low, I said something I never thought I would say…. I told Michael I thought he should just do this shoot on his own. What?! Was that the crazy control freak LETTING GO of control?! Did I really just say that?!!!
I did! …. and you know what, it was a brilliant idea! Michael isn’t the one that graduated college with a passion for being creative. He never had a desire to learn photography… but he has a desire to love and serve people and so he learned. He has been learning how to shoot for years now and he’s GOOD! I’m so thankful that creativity runs in his family because it has proven to be a huge asset in our business! Sometimes his composition is better than mine!! I’ll have to do a post of “The Best Of Michael’s Shots” for 2014!! That would be so much fun!
For now, I’m going to share with you what I did immediately following the conversation about Michael shooting a session without me. Michael went to email our friend Charlie about picking a date for the shoot and I sat in the living room and created the quickest cheat sheet known to man!! It was fast, simple and listed out the basics so clearly. It was perfect for Michael and he actually said he used it during the shoot! Now I don’t think it’s anything fancy because I put it together on a whim… but I thought that MAYBE someone who is constantly shooting portraits for senior boys would find this helpful! So, if you need a copy of this, it is a FREE DOWNLOAD in The Collection!! Enjoy and don’t judge… I made it in like 4 mins!! :)
So, not only did I want to share the cheat sheet, I also wanted to share some of Michael’s BEST shots from his first solo shoot!! I’m so incredibly proud of him!!!!! Looking good Charlie!!!!
Thanks for reading!
— Katelyn
MORE RECENT POSTS
Have you ever tried to sit down with your spouse to talk about dreams, goals, and vision—only for it to turn into frustration or misalignment? If so, you’re not alone. Vision casting in marriage is hard because it brings up deeper fears, beliefs, and unspoken dynamics that many couples don’t even realize are at play.
Success—it’s a word we hear all the time. But what does it really mean? Is it about financial security? Status? Owning a dream home or taking extravagant vacations?
When you think about your business, do you see it as simply a job—or something more?
Today, I’m diving into an experience that was nothing like I anticipated: my digital detox in December. If you’ve ever considered taking a break from the noise of the online world, you might relate to my journey—the good, the surprising, and the, well, completely unplanned.
The wedding industry has faced unique challenges recently, with inflation affecting budgets and couples cutting costs. If you’re a wedding photographer feeling the pinch, don’t worry—2025 doesn’t have to be a slow year.
Life has a way of surprising us, doesn’t it? Over the last few months, I’ve been on a medical rollercoaster that I never saw coming.
Top Personal Posts
Have a little time to read?
"Best money I have EVER spent on education! ... and I've spent a lot!”
"I love all the lessons I'm learning from KJ All Access! Thanks Katelyn!”
"I find very few educational resources worth it ... this one is!”
"Being able to see behind-the-scenes of Katelyn interacting with her clients has been SO impactful!”
"SO worth it! It's amazing the amount of knowledge you get out of them!”
"I learned just as much in one All Access as I did in a whole course! SO GOOD!"
The KJ blog
must-reads
YOUTUBE
The KJ Learning roadmap
