As a photographer, I hear it all the time: “I can’t smile on command.” I get it, it happens at Minnehaha Falls sessions just as often as studio shoots.
Holding a natural smile for an entire shoot is tough, and fake smiles are painfully obvious in photos. My goal is to give you images that feel timeless and authentically you, so here’s the simple trick I use to turn awkward grins into genuine laughter.
Laugh First, Smile Second
You need to pose however you want, anyway you're comfortable, in the location of your choosing, but then, instead of smiling, you need to laugh. Yes, it's going to start as a fake laugh, and you'll think it's so dumb that within seconds you'll start to really laugh and smile. I’ll snap the picture and get what you're looking for. That's the kind of smile I want to capture, you smiling and laughing to show your true self.
Lift, Don’t Stretch
Another tip I can give you is to relax your whole face and let the ends of your lips slowly rise. Don’t just go wide with your smile; go up too. You’ll look and feel much more natural.
Cue a Mini-Memory
Think of something that always cracks you up:
- Your friend’s terrible joke
- A goofy pet video
- The time you tripped over nothing in front of your crush
That quick flash of joy brings the genuine sparkle photographers call “smiling with your eyes.” I want to wait until we get the perfect shot, so if it takes a minute for you to laugh, I’ll wait.
Remember: Perfectly Imperfect
A real smile isn’t mirror-symmetrical. It’s tiny eye-crinkles, lifted cheeks, and relaxed energy. That’s what makes you, and that’s exactly what I aim to capture.
So next time we’re on a shoot and you feel your smile locking up, don’t stress - fake a laugh, think of that inside joke, and let the moment carry you. I’ll be ready to catch the real magic.
A quick read for anyone who feels, “I don’t know how to smile".
