How to Naturally Smile for Photos
The true goal of the art of photography is to capture moments, emotions, and memories. One of the most challenging aspects of photography is capturing that coveted natural smile that we all want to have in our photo. This is especially true for headshots, where the focus is on your facial expression and the first impression it gives. As professional photographers in our Chicago studio since 2005, we’ve seen A LOT of smiles. Here’s a guide on how to smile naturally for photos.
Understanding the Importance of a natural smile in headshots
If you’re reading this, it’s because you’ve already acknowledged that a natural smile can make or break a photo. It can be the difference between an image that looks forced and one that radiates authenticity and warmth. It can be SO hard to get that perfect smile that conveys confidence, approachability, and professionalism when there’s a giant camera pointed at you.
One of the most common complaints we hear from people when they see their photos is that their smile looks fake or forced, and that they want their smile to look more natural. Here’s how to get that natural smile that creates a positive first impression, making your photo look so much more authentic.
Techniques to achieve a natural smile for photos
Be in the moment, not in the photo: Chances are your smile isn’t looking natural and authentic because you’re you’re staring down the lens of a big camera, surrounded by professional lighting, and standing in front of a big backdrop, and it’s hard to feel natural in such an unnatural place!
Use your imagination to create a scenario that you know would have a natural smile in, and pretend you’re not in a photographer’s studio, but in that scenario instead. For example, if you want your smile to appear warm and caring, imagine a toddler is showing you a picture they drew and you're smiling at their work. If you want to look and feel strong and confident, imagine you’re speaking to an audience of fans cheering you on.
One of the easiest ways to get a natural smile in front of the camera is by thinking about something that genuinely makes you happy or laugh. This could be anything from a funny incident to your favorite vacation memory.
If you want your smile to show strength and confidence, imagine yourself making a presentation to your colleagues on a Zoom call and they love your work, so smile with pride at your success!
Practice in Front of the Mirror: Spend some time practicing your smile in front of the mirror. Pay attention to how your face feels when you're genuinely happy versus when you're forcing a smile. If your eyes squint when you smile and you’ve had photos taken in the past where your eyes seem to disappear when you smile, try isolating parts of your face. Stand in front of a mirror, laugh, and watch your face. Now do the same thing, but try relaxing the upper half of your face so that only the bottom half of your face is laughing. For some people this technique gets a great natural smile while keeping the eyes open. For others, it can look ridiculous. So work with a photographer you trust who can listen to your concerns and give you prompts and feedback that will coach you into a natural smile.
Find your cheese: For some people, that tried-and-true method of saying “cheese” results in a great authentic smile, but for others it makes the most unnerving grin. Get back in front of a mirror and experiment with what saying different words or making different sounds does to both the shape of your mouth and also the authenticity in your eyes. Finding a “cheese” word is usually a good reset for your smile and a prompt to induce a natural smile. Try words and sounds like “LEE,” “TEE,” WEE,” “EVE,” “MERE,” or a simple giggle or laugh.
Work with a professional: While practicing techniques to achieve a natural smile on your own is important, working with a professional photographer can make a significant difference in the quality of your natural looking headshots. A skilled photographer knows how to guide you, make you feel comfortable, and capture your best angles. They can also provide valuable feedback on your expressions and posture, helping you to get that natural-looking smile in a photo.
Final Thoughts
We get it, trying to smile naturally for a photo can feel, well, unnatural. By following these tips, and trusting your photography you should be able to find the real joy that makes you smile even with lights shining in your face.