A Quick Tip for Getting Natural Smiles in Portraits
- April Foltz
- Feb 19
- 2 min read
A Quick Tip for Getting Natural Smiles in Portraits
One of the biggest challenges in portrait photography is capturing genuine, natural smiles. Stiff or forced expressions can make an otherwise beautiful portrait feel unnatural. If you want to bring out real smiles in your subjects, here’s a quick and effective tip: engage them in conversation and make them laugh.
Why It Works
When people are genuinely happy or amused, their smiles are more relaxed, their eyes light up, and their overall expression becomes more authentic. By shifting the focus away from the camera and onto a fun or engaging moment, you can capture portraits that feel real and full of life.
How to Do It
Ask Playful or Funny Questions – Instead of just saying “smile,” ask something unexpected. For example, “What’s the funniest thing that happened to you this week?” or “Tell me your worst dad joke.”
Give Them a Fun Prompt – Have them imagine a funny scenario, like “Pretend you just found out you won the lottery—what’s your first reaction?” This helps elicit real, spontaneous joy.
Use Movement – For couples or group sessions, have them walk together, spin, or interact naturally. Movement breaks the stiffness and often results in candid laughter.
Mirror Their Expressions – Smiling at someone naturally encourages them to smile back in a way that doesn’t feel forced.
Capture the “After” Smile – Sometimes, the best smiles happen right after a laugh when the person relaxes. Keep shooting through those moments!
Bonus Tip: Build Comfort Early
A relaxed subject is a happy subject. Spend a few minutes chatting before you even pick up your camera. The more comfortable they feel with you, the easier it will be to bring out those natural smiles.
By using this simple technique, you’ll transform stiff, posed smiles into warm, authentic expressions that make your portraits stand out. Try it at your next session and watch the magic happen!
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