Tips for A Photogenic Smile
“Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.”
-Marilyn Monroe
You know it when you see it—the natural smile. It’s hard to describe, hard to imitate but easy to recognize. If you’re one of those people who really struggles smiling naturally on camera you may have some apprehension about ever paying for photography. Well, you’re not a lost cause! A natural smile can be learned. It might take some work and some practice but you can get there.
Know your best angles. Take selfies at a variety of angles in order to find what works. Shoot with the camera above, below, to the side and angle your chin in a variety of ways to find that reliable angle. Most people look best with the camera slightly above them.
Practice smiling with your eyes. There is a happy medium between a total squint and no eye expression.
Blink right before smiling. Just before the photographer takes your picture, let yourself blink for a full second or two before opening your eyes and smiling. It will make your eyes look wider and a bit more moist.
Wet your teeth with your tongue before smiling. Take a quick second and lick your front teeth—wet teeth look brighter and shinier than dry teeth.
Moisturize your lips and/or use lipstick.
Relax your face and jaw muscles. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you’re not smiling “hard enough”. Tension in the jaw and overstretched smiles just don’t look right.
You can softly say a word, but don’t let it be “Cheese”. Say a word that ends in the “uh” sound, that will create the ideal mouth shape.
Imagine someone you like is taking your photo. Is it the man of your dreams? Or is it a personal hero? How would you greet this person?
