How do you smile for photos? I’ll be honest, when I did my very first portrait session over 10 years ago, I might have laughed at this question. How do people not just know how to smile for pictures? One, two, three, cheese, right?
Actually, there is a lot more to it than that. To smile naturally, on demand, is not easy! Some folks don’t like their smile because they aren’t comfortable with their appearance, or because when asked to smile, all they can think to do is show their teeth and force their cheek muscles to do something awkward and uncomfortable.
So, let’s start with a freebie tip that should be remembered when thinking about how to smile for pictures: you will remember how you felt during the photo shoot. In other words, if it feels uncomfortable while you’re trying to smile, then you’ll think about that discomfort later when you look at the photos. It almost doesn’t matter how good you actually look! Therefore, whatever you do, tell your photographer if you feel uncomfortable.
On another personal note, I have to say that some of the advice I’ve seen elsewhere on the internet was pretty bad. To paraphrase, “If you’re not happy with your smile, get your teeth fixed.” Wow. Note to self: Don’t read “how to smile for pictures” articles from orthodontists’ websites!
In this article, I will give you my real-world wisdom as a veteran portrait & wedding photographer who has done literally thousands of portrait sessions over the last decade. These tips work for everyone, both photographers and clients alike. Plus, the process should actually be very enjoyable!
Smile at Each Other Before the Photographer
To start things off, this tip is my favorite secret weapon to help people relax before I start clicking photos! Before you, the subject, worry about smiling at a camera, just take a moment to look at your significant other, partner, or whoever you’re posing next to. Smile at them, laugh with them, and you know what? I dare say, just ignore your photographer for a few seconds.
Of course, the photographer will snap a photo of this moment, if they’re observant and quick on the shutter, but that’s not even the point of this exercise.
The point is, it will put you at ease. You’ll remember why you’re there to do the portrait session, to create happy memories with family or friends. This moment of centering yourself will prepare everyone for whatever posing or smiling tips the photographer will have.
Although this tip on how to smile for pictures applies mostly to portraits of multiple people, it can also work for solo portraits. You just need someone else around for you to interact with.
Try Different Intensities and Review a Few Photos
When you’re done laughing and smiling at each other, it’s time to get started! The first thing to do, if you haven’t already tried this, is to get a sense of whether you look your best with a faint smile, a regular smile, or a big huge smile. Which type of smile do you feel is the most natural, the truest to your personality?
Which type of smile suits the actual moment, the pose, and the environment itself? Elegant, classy, “fashion magazine cover” type poses usually lend themselves to very faint smiles, while more active, playful portraits can lend themselves to as big of a smile as you can manage.
Smirk! (Symmetry Is Overrated)
Almost all human beings simply don’t have perfectly symmetrical faces, so it’s perfectly normal to have a smile that is a bit un-centered. Think Harrison Ford, etc.
Whether you prefer a faint smirk or a full-blown smile, don’t worry about trying to make it perfectly even. That is a recipe for a smile to look forced and uncomfortable.
Also, if you know that you often look better when photographed from one slight angle or another, let the photographer know! Many folks do look their best this way. Again, communication with your photographer is important. Feel free to ask them if they’d prefer to photograph you from one side or the other.
Mona Lisa Smile
A lot of people talk about “the Mona Lisa smile,” but what is it, really? It’s a subtle smile, yes, and with the subject’s lips closed, of course. But how do you really nail that look?
The tip I often give is to look at the camera with this thought: “I have a secret, and you’d love to know what it is, but no, I’m not going to tell!”
The Mona Lisa smile isn’t quite a “seductive glance,” mind you. It’s more of a happy, secretive glance. By the way, a note to both photographers and subjects: To create a sense of intimacy in a portrait, get closer. Viewers don’t need to understand lens focal lengths. They will still feel the nearness of a subject, and it’s a great way to capture the emotion of a facial expression. The above image was captured on an 85mm portrait lens.
Smile with Your Eyes
The previous tip leads us to this revelation about how to smile for photos: It’s not all about showing your teeth. A natural smile definitely requires “smiling with your eyes,” too!
The trick here is to not overthink it or try too hard. Just let your eyes do whatever they naturally would do when you’re laughing or smiling at a friend’s joke or something.
Rest Your Eyes (and Your Cheek Muscles!)
Having said that, sometimes your eyes, and your cheek muscles, just need a break. This is especially true if your portraits are being taken in the middle of a 10 or 12-hour wedding day. Your face has been smiling for hours already, and it needs a minute to recover!
So, close your eyes, relax your cheek and jaw muscles, and just breathe deeply for a minute or so. Personally, I actually enjoy flexing my facial muscles, mostly my eyebrows and cheeks, just for a few seconds.
Change the Camera Angle
If you’re squinting into the sun or any other harsh light source, smiling is just not going to be easy or natural. That’s not your fault. There are instances in which getting a great shot has little to do with whether or not you know how to smile for pictures. The photographer behind the camera should know to change angles or even find a different location! Sometimes, this is the best decision for improving the whole facial expression in a portrait.
People don’t usually think about looking away from the sun for a portrait because they assume faces will turn out very dark. Of course, this is not a problem for professional portrait photographers because they’re in complete control of their exposure. But, just as importantly, even modern camera phones these days have face detection, and their exposure metering is trained to correctly expose faces.
If you’re taking portraits with a cell phone and the faces are too dark, most phone camera apps now have metering and EV compensation options. Simply tap on the subject and then look for a plus/minus slider to fine-tune!
Be Yourself!
Last but not least, the most universal trick for knowing how to smile for pictures is to be your real self. Use your whole body, and your smile, to convey whatever style you feel suits you. Whether you like being classy and serious, or you are a total goofball, that’s probably the direction you ought to take with your photo shoot. Smile as big as you can, or don’t smile at all. The important thing is to capture your genuine personality.
So, communicate with your photographer about your personality, in addition to any visual concerns you may have about a “good side” or anything else if you’re prone to judging! Feeling like you can be yourself in front of a camera will always lead to the most genuine, attractive smiles possible.
How to Smile for Pictures | Conclusion
You now know how to smile for pictures. Get ready to take some of your best portraits ever, whether you are in front of the camera or behind it! Laugh with whoever is around you to relax before you begin, and remember that if you feel comfortable and natural, it will show in the pictures.
