We all experience it at some point. Awkward moments during a shoot are normal. I actually tell my couples during their engagement session that if they DON’T feel awkward during the first 20 minutes, I will be shocked! :) It allows them to feel a little uncertain while also knowing that they aren’t weird! However, this “awkward-ness” should end QUICKLY!
After teaching my couples the FOUR CORE POSES from our Posing Evolution Guide, they normally start to get the hang of it rather quickly. I’ve noticed though that even after the first 20 minutes, there is a point in the session where everything changes and their confidence hits a whole new level! Sometimes it’s within the first 20 minutes and sometimes it’s after the outfit change. No matter when this new level of confidence hits, we’re always on a roll afterwards! I call this moment the “BREAKING POINT”!
I think what happens during the “Breaking Point” is that our couple realizes the following things:
1. This isn’t that bad! I’m not even nervous!
2. We’re actually pretty good at this!
3. I can’t believe I’m enjoying this!!
Ha! So many people dread photo shoots because they have the worst expectations. They think it’s going to be awkward, forced and miserable and it doesn’t have to be!
My goal is to make the BREAKING POINT happen as soon as possible! Here are 5 tips to making your couples comfortable as soon as possible!!
1. Start by explaining that they don’t need to be experts! You’ll educate them along the way and you have ZERO expectations!
2. Praise them constantly no matter what! They need to know that they are doing a good job. OVER-PRAISE them! You can never encourage them enough!
3. Find “Their pose” as soon as possible. This is the pose that they mastered the quickest and that looks the best on them!!
4. Recognize their weak areas and subtly avoid them.
5. Be direct and clear in your posing instructions to ensure that they are confident! If you’re rambling and aren’t speaking clearly, this will affect their confidence in you AND in their posing skills!
Also, you can now purchase the Mini-Guide Bundle which includes ALL 12 mini-guides in one click and save $56!!
Happy Tuesday!
Ps. We have an exciting announcement coming tomorrow! I’ve been working hard on a little something new and I can’t wait to share it with you!
Thanks for reading!
— Katelyn
MORE RECENT POSTS
I feel like I just wrote last week’s update, but somehow, another Friday is here. Time flies when life is full… and right now? Life is really full.
Every Friday, I’m sharing “Where I Am”—personally, spiritually, and professionally—because I believe in sharing the journey while I’m in it, not just when I have all the answers tied up in a neat little bow.
Sixteen years ago, I had no budget for marketing. Zero. None at all!
So I did the only thing I could think of—I started sharing my life.
Ever felt that wave of anxiety before a photoshoot—the kind that makes your mind race with thoughts like What if I freeze? What if I run out of ideas? What if my clients feel awkward?
When it comes to wedding photography, the right lens can make all the difference. But let’s be honest—gear can get expensive. So when Canon introduced the RF 85mm f/2.0—a lens with portrait, macro, and image stabilization capabilities for just $500—I knew I had to put it to the test.
Have you ever started a session, camera in hand, and suddenly felt stuck? Your couple is standing there, looking at you, waiting for direction… and your mind goes blank.
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.
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