How to Have Better Control Over Your Face, as a Model

Nerves, aaaaaagh!!!! We've all got them. And let's face it- it's difficult to stand in front of a camera for hours, trying to look your absolute best. Yes, your BEST. No pressure!

We all deal with anxiety in different ways, but unless we learn to control it, it will show on our faces. But you're not the kind of person who gets nervous... you've got this under control. All you have to do is concentrate! Alas, when concentrating intensely on one thing, many of us hold that concentration and tension in our mouths/jaws. So, what to do?

The answer is simple; don't be nervous! Ahahaha, just kidding. I'm not delusional. I know it's not that easy. Being nervous is just part of who some of us are. I still get nervous before EVERY shoot! The only reason I make it through it, is because I am prepared. I have been shooting and shooting and shooting. I have been practicing.

PRACTICE is the real answer!

Practicing something makes us better at it, and being better at it makes us more confident. Being confident makes us less nervous! The nerves might still be there, but I guarantee you, the more you practice, the less intense those nerves are. More importantly, all that practice has built up a set of skills that you can rely on, through all those nerves.

Now you might be saying, "Duh, Jen! Everyone knows practice makes perfect! But how can I practice being relaxed?" I'm not even going to pretend I know how to answer that, haha. I do know what you CAN practice, though.

You can practice appearing as though you are relaxed! You can also practice appearing happy, appearing sad, appearing angry, maybe even appearing... nervous? It depends on the  modeling gig, right?!?! What you should be practicing as a model (aside from poses, that one is obvious I hope) is facial expressions. A variety of facial expressions is a vital skill set for a model.

I just read this amazing little tidbit of advice by S De Varax on Model Mayhem. I can't think of a better way for a model to learn how not only to control his/her face... but to learn to be versatile. Of course, models have been advised to practicing posing and making faces in the mirror for ages, but this takes it one step further.

"Look in the mirror: do 5 different smiles, 5 different angry, 5 different flirty, 5 different bored etc. Set up a camera and see if you can recreate those looks without a mirror.
You can learn to be aware of your face (and by extension your body) and give expressions on demand (and doesn't just look the same each time)."

I think every model could benefit from this. So, try it out! Let me know how it works for you!!!!!