diff --git a/ancv/data/models/resume.py b/ancv/data/models/resume.py
index d380876..540ab70 100644
--- a/ancv/data/models/resume.py
+++ b/ancv/data/models/resume.py
@@ -115,10 +115,10 @@ class Config:
 
 
 class TemplateConfig(BaseModel):
-    template: str = "Sequential"
-    theme: str = "basic"
-    translation: str = "en"
-    ascii_only: bool = False
+    template: Optional[str]
+    theme: Optional[str]
+    translation: Optional[str]
+    ascii_only: Optional[bool]
 
 
 class Meta(BaseModel):
@@ -134,8 +134,8 @@ class Config:
     lastModified: Optional[datetime] = Field(
         None, description="Using ISO 8601 with YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss"
     )
-    config: TemplateConfig = Field(
-        TemplateConfig(),
+    config: Optional[TemplateConfig] = Field(
+        None,
         alias="ancv",
         description="Template configuration to control display",
     )
diff --git a/ancv/visualization/templates.py b/ancv/visualization/templates.py
index 499c0ef..824d0cc 100644
--- a/ancv/visualization/templates.py
+++ b/ancv/visualization/templates.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
     ResumeItem,
     ResumeItemContainer,
     ResumeSchema,
+    TemplateConfig,
     VolunteerItem,
     WorkItem,
 )
@@ -92,30 +93,38 @@ def subclasses(cls) -> dict[str, type["Template"]]:
 
     @classmethod
     def from_model_config(cls, model: ResumeSchema) -> "Template":
+        if (config := model.meta.config) is None:
+            config = TemplateConfig()
+
+        if (theme_name := config.theme) is None:
+            theme_name = "basic"
         try:
-            theme = THEMES[model.meta.config.theme]
+            theme = THEMES[theme_name]
         except KeyError as e:
-            raise ResumeConfigError(f"Unknown theme: {model.meta.config.theme}") from e
+            raise ResumeConfigError(f"Unknown theme: {theme_name}") from e
 
+        if (translation_name := config.translation) is None:
+            translation_name = "en"
         try:
-            translation = TRANSLATIONS[model.meta.config.translation]
+            translation = TRANSLATIONS[translation_name]
         except KeyError as e:
-            raise ResumeConfigError(
-                f"Unknown translation: {model.meta.config.translation}"
-            ) from e
+            raise ResumeConfigError(f"Unknown translation: {translation_name}") from e
 
+        if (template_name := config.template) is None:
+            template_name = Sequential.__name__
         try:
-            template = cls.subclasses()[model.meta.config.template]
+            template = cls.subclasses()[template_name]
         except KeyError as e:
-            raise ResumeConfigError(
-                f"Unknown template: {model.meta.config.template}"
-            ) from e
+            raise ResumeConfigError(f"Unknown template: {template_name}") from e
+
+        if (ascii_only := config.ascii_only) is None:
+            ascii_only = False
 
         return template(
             model=model,
             theme=theme,
             translation=translation,
-            ascii_only=model.meta.config.ascii_only,
+            ascii_only=ascii_only,
         )
 
     @classmethod