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!