It’s the night before your engagement session… you’re washing your face, applying extra moisturizer and as you take once last glance into the mirror before bed…. you practice it one more time. Eyes wide, light smile, perfect head tilt….. you think you’ve got it but you’re unsure. What if you’re so nervous you can’t get it right? Tyra’s voice is echoing in your head “Smile with your eyes girl, smile with your eyes!”. It’s the MODEL FACE…. the dreaded “Model Face”. I can’t tell you how many brides email me in a PANIC because they just know that they won’t be able to do it. They’re petrified. I know this feeling all too well. It was March 2010 and I was getting ready in
our hotel bathroom at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Jasmine and JD were about to land and our engagement session would be underway in less than an hour! Oh my gosh. I barely slept the night before and as much as I don’t want to admit it… I was NERVOUS. GAHH! I was SO NERVOUS!!! And I’m a PHOTOGRAPHER!!! I should have been confident! I shoot engagement sessions all the TIME! It’s my JOB. Why was I freaking out? Welp…. it came down to two reasons: 1. I loved Jstar… and I was about to hangout with her. omg. 2. I didn’t have a good “Model Face”. I knew I wasn’t destined to be a model and I had accepted that fact about myself. I tried to practice my modeling skills before we left for WPPI and that helped a little….but I still wasn’t confident. However, after meeting up with Jas and JD, I calmed down… she made me feel like a rockstar even when deep down, I didn’t feel like one. We LOVED our engagement pictures so so much. I knew they would be good and that I would love them… but something did surprise me…..my FAVORITE shot was a pose with my “Model Face”! Really??? No way! I HATED my Model Face….. I actually believed that I didn’t have one! It just didn’t exist! …… But I was proven wrong. Am I signing up for ANTM next season? No….. but I go to bed EVERY night and look a beautiful portrait hanging over our bed and I feel confident. It’s amazing what a simple pose can do.
Some of you out there are my 2012/2013 brides and you’re worried. You’re intimidated to get in front of the camera and the idea of having your own “Model Face” scares you to DEATH! Well, I’m hear to admit that I understand. I’ve been there. I’ve practiced in the mirror and I’ve been self conscious. It’s normal to get a little nervous but let me encourage you…. it’s not that bad. Really. Speaking from experience… it’s not worth the worry. Your engagement session is going to be AMAZING and once you get going, you’re going to feel like a rock star… trust me. If a little southern redhead, wearing a jcrew dress and a cardigan can feel like a rockstar in the middle of the DESERT…. you can too. Here are some things to remember:
1. There is NO pressure or expectation. I realize that you have never done this before and you’re not professional models! I have NEVER shot professional models as clients. All of my couples are just ordinary, everyday people.
2. I will coach you through EVERYTHING!! You won’t have to worry about awkward arms or fly-aways. I’ll take care of you and I’ll walk you through the whole process.
3. A “Model Face” doesn’t = a “Mean” face. In the examples below you’ll be able to see this. That is such a common misconception! More serious, editorial poses can actually be MORE intimate in some cases.
4. Don’t shoot down your modeling abilities before you even TRY. I did this…. and it’s not encouraging at all.
5. I’ve been there and I know how it feels to be in front of the camera and guess what…. it’s a BLAST!!!!!! … But it’s even more of a blast when you allow yourself to RELAX.
6. LAST but probably the MOST important piece of advice… remember that this is supposed to be FUN! Your engagement session is a pre-cursor to your WEDDING DAY!…. Only without the stress of a timeline and a white dress. This is the time to PRACTICE and get comfortable in front of the camera!
So as you continue to prepare for your engagement session and eventually your BIG DAY…. know that the your “Model Face” should be the LEAST of your worries! You’re going to be AMAZED at what you can do in front of the camera… you just wait:):).
Here is the beautiful image from Jasmine that we now have hanging over our bed.… and I’m actually PROUD of my “Model Face”:)
Now here are some examples of my BEAUTIFUL couples and their amazing “Model Faces”! I’m showing ENGAGEMENT shots and WEDDING shots to further emphasize just how much CONFIDENCE an engagement session gives my couples!! They are PROS by the time their wedding rolls around!
OHH and Ps! Be sure to click over to Jasmine’s blog today if you have a minute to spare! I’m SO incredibly honored that she asked be to guest blog and help out while she finishes up with The Fix!!! AH!!
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
