Rongnongno Loc: FL

In natural state we as human rarely smile or even laugh. A 'forced smiling portrait' is not representative of anything.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I've found that, "Lick your lips and drop your jaw a little" works much better.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I disagree, about the natural state. Maybe that's a self reflection! There, you see, Everyone is smiling!

srt101fan

You're absolutely right!....

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Have a cup of coffee, wash you face with cool water and you may be ready to smile.

Many people smile when doing something they like, greeting people or thinking about things/people they like and love.

Now the smile with mouth open and teeth showing is a different thing. I usually only do that when I laugh.

Now babies, it just may be gas.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

You folks, with a few exceptions, think a smile is always plastering in people's face.

Reality and observation says otherwise. As so-called photographers, you should be in a privileged position to see it.

If folks were smiling all the time, there would be no need for calling onto a French 'dubious olfactory delicacy' in order to take a fake picture of so-called happiness. Don't get me wrong, the French have their own 'catchphrase' to capture the same lie.

Now, folks think I bring this type of comment because I am not 'happy'. Far from it. I just have the luck of seeing things differently. I have an incredible, happy life. My wife and I share laughter. In between, we do not smile either.

My comment is really a question... Why are we trying - as photographer - to make folks look like different from what they are usually are?

Another observation that will upset many - again -... Smiling is not attractive but for very few.

srt101fan

Smiling is supposed to be an expression of happiness. Of course it isn't always, especially not if it's a forced, artificial smile. Be that as it may, any photographer who only wants to photograph people when they're smiling, naturally or artificially induced, is missing a lot and is operating in a very narrow range of "people photography" genre.

I'm all for candid shots!

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Really? I meet a lot of people who smile, which is something people often do when they are in a pleasent enviroment or meet someone they are happy to see. You say you rarely see people laugh or smile when you are around, huh? I'll be darned.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I like cheeses. to eat-Emmenthal is my favourite, but in all my years is photography, especially portraiture, I have never asked anyone to say "cheese"!

Saying that word may shape the mouth in what passes for a smile but a real smile or laugh involves all the facial musculature and of course the eyes. When folks force a smile they end up looking like a Jack-o'lantern!

All portraits need not be smiley- there are many other facial expressions. If you need someone to smile, have a good conversation with, tell them a joke, have them tell you about themselves of the family, ther job, or their cat or whatever. Treat your subjects with kindness, and interest, they will relax and react accordingly. Little kids reach to playing, funny faces, and funny conversations too! I once had an advertising agent send me a grouchy executive for a portrait session. The concept was to make the guy seem more personable and amicable in the annual report, etc. This guy did not want to be photographed all together, let alone smile. As soon as he sat in front of the camera all I said was, "if you smile we can both get the hell out of here and go to lunch"! He actually and sincerely smiled from the ear to ear- I guess he was hungry. I made 4 shots after which he insists that we both have lunch at his favourite restaurant at his expense. The best steak I ever ate and no cheese on the menu!

Some folks are happy but they don't want to smile for a portrait. Perhaps they have a dental issue or an asymmetrical smile. I tell them not to worry because I have a way of fixing those things, at least in their portrait.

Anyway, I have an advantage over y'all- folks look at my face and begin to laugh rather spontaneously and automatically, I just need to be quick on the shutter!

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

If i want some happy faces, my favorite is "Say urine".

It usually makes them laugh, smile true or at least bend the mouth a bit.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I have them say "fromage" and wait for the "mage" - or I tell them to close their eyes and wait until I count to three - which almost always has them smiling with their eyes open - but because it is unexpected, their expressions are usually pretty candid.

Tjohn Loc: Inverness, FL formerly Arivaca, AZ

It's better than peanutbutter. Both pea and chee pull the face towards a smile but the butter leaves an aftertaste.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

When doing wedding photography, I let my group of folks decide how to look.
I would say, " I am going to take the shot on the count of three, on three, your responsible for how you look like!"

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Agree.

CobblestoneLane Loc: Midwest

I ask people to say, "fuzzy pickles." The words don't result in a smile on the face, but the response to the words does.