No amount of gear you can buy will generate genuine emotion in your images. Posed smiles can leave clients feeling awkward and the photos looking forced. Here’s some tips to help the next time you are photographing people.
It all starts with a relaxed subject. Chat with your clients, ask about their day, or play some calming music to ease any pre-shoot jitters. Remember, a comfortable client is a happy client, and happy clients smile more naturally! If you have the time to do this, I suggest meeting with the client in a casual atmosphere and learn about them and genuinely try to connect with them.
When you are reviewing locations to shoot, choose a comfortable location with flattering lighting. Natural light is often your friend, but avoid harsh midday sun that creates squinting and forced smiles.
People learned how to smile for a photo in elementary school. 1….2….3… CHEESE. Chances are you aren’t going for 1st grade group photos in 1980. Here’s a few things you can give to your clients to educate them on how to smile in a more genuine way.
Ask your client to relax their face, press their tongue to the roof of their mouth, and create a gentle upward turn of the lips, with a hint of crinkled eyes for added warmth. Then later you a can ask them do this but with slightly parted lips. Encourage your client to think of a funny memory and let a hint of a playful chuckle form the smile.
Sometimes, you gotta go for the big guns! Loosen things up with some light shoulder shakes and ask your client to think of something truly side-splitting. Capture that genuine laugh – it’ll translate beautifully into the photo. Better yet, keep talking and be genuinely funny to keep them chuckling through the entire shoot. The best smiles often appear organically. Engage with your clients! Ask open-ended questions, share lighthearted jokes, or tell stories. Laughter during conversation is a goldmine for capturing candid smiles that radiate authenticity. Another thing to try is instead of constantly directing your client to “smile,” try something different. Capture candid moments as they chat, look around the environment, or reminisce about a happy memory. These relaxed moments often yield the most genuine smiles. Encourage them to continue moving and never “Freeze” for a photo. Keep hands moving and keep the person engaged in conversation. Compliment genuine smiles! Positive feedback builds confidence and encourages your clients to relax and let their natural smiles shine through. Shower them with phrases like, “You are a natural” and “This looks amazing!” Sometimes, the most captivating smiles are fleeting expressions that appear during conversation or laughter. Be prepared to capture those golden moments!