How to smile in photos

“Are you ready for the photo? Well, then smile… “. Every time you hear this phrase, you literally panic: you don't think you're photogenic, let alone have a particularly contagious smile. For these reasons, whenever someone wants to take a picture of you, you tend to put out a dull or, worse still, unnatural smile. Do you want to try to remedy the situation? So let me help you out!

In the guide you are reading, you can find some practical tips on like smiling in photos which, if applied, can greatly improve the quality of their shots. If you think about it, then, it is not that difficult to smile: you just need to know what are the mistakes you must avoid while taking a picture and what positions to make your facial features assume to make it look more natural and photogenic. You will see, if you follow my suggestions step by step, you will be able to show off a smile worthy of the name without any difficulty.

So, what are you doing still standing there? Courage: get comfortable immediately, take all the time you need to concentrate on reading the next paragraphs and, more importantly, implement the "tips" I am about to give you. If you do, the next time someone asks you to smile you won't feel any kind of embarrassment and you will succeed without any problems. I wish you happy reading and I wish you a big good luck for everything!

Smile in the photos with your eyes

When we say the word "smile", our mind immediately associates this term with the position taken by our mouth when we experience feelings of hilarity, but we can also smile with our eyes (the famous "Duchenne smile"). Weren't you aware of it? Well now yes! You are wondering how this is possible smile in the photos with your eyes? Basically you have to try to make your eyes assume a position that allows others to understand that you are smiling even if they are unable to see the mouth of the subject portrayed in the photo, that is you.

Want to know how you can practically do it? Whenever you smile, remember to slightly squint your eyes: a slight twitch of the eyes is enough to give that extra touch that makes the difference between a genuine smile and a "fake" smile. In the opinion of some professional photographers, squinting can instill greater self-confidence and relax the entire face: the result is that you become, almost as if by “magic”, a little more photogenic. I recommend, however, the contraction of the eyes must be very slight, otherwise you risk making the shot seem unnatural. Understood?

When squinting, also remember to stare at the lens (unless the photographer expressly gives you other indications): this will greatly increase the impact your smile will have on those who look at the photo and will give a touch of greater expressiveness to your face. But be careful, this does not mean that your face must be rigid: even if you turn your head in one direction, the important thing is to keep looking with your eyes in the camera.

If possible, before your photo is taken, practice in front of a mirror to see how well you can smile with your eyes. Maybe try this little exercise: cover the lower part of your face with a cloth or simply with one hand and implement the "tips" I just gave you to try to convey a smile only with your eyes. As soon as you can perceive the smile you are "throwing" from your eyes alone, memorize the muscle movements you have performed in your mind and replicate them every time a picture is taken.

Smile in the photos with your mouth

A good smile, in addition to involving the eyes, is mainly constituted by the position assumed by the mouth. Smile with your mouth, contrary to what one might think, it may not always be easy, especially when you have to have a photo taken and you are asked to smile "on command". Smiling with your mouth can really make the difference between a pleasant shot and a less impactful one: it enhances the features of your face, makes you look more attractive and, since the smile is contagious, arouses positive feelings even in those who admire the photo.

What are some practical ways to smile with your mouth? One of these is that of avoid clenching your mouth while smiling, because it could assume you look too serious and cold, especially if the other subjects portrayed in the photo show part of their dental arch.

In smiling, therefore, shows his teeth uncovering part of the upper dental arch. I'm not telling you that you must necessarily show off a 32-tooth smile (also because this could make the smile seem "forced") but if you see part of your white teeth, your face will almost seem "enlightened".

Again I advise you to practice repeatedly in front of the mirror, so as to try to understand if your smile is natural or not: maybe try to stretch your mouth slightly so as to hint at a slight smile and continue to stretch it more and more, until you find the position of the "perfect" mouth.

In everyday life, then, try to smile often. If you are a person with an easy smile, in fact, when you are called to pose for a photo you will have no problem expressing your happiness with a big smile, since you will already be used to showing it off every day when you are in the company of other people.

If you are temperamentally very shy or withdrawn and have a hard time expressing your emotions and feelings, it may not be easy for you to smile, especially in circumstances where you don't have a real reason to smile. If you want, however, you can find the motivation to smile even in similar situations thinking about something positive (for example a person you love, a pleasant event in your life or, why not, even a funny joke!). The feelings you feel inside you will be "printed" on your mouth and you will be able to express a pleasant smile.

More tips for smiling in the photos

There are other tips to smile in the photos that you should try to do if you want to impress those who will admire the shot that portrays you. Below you can find some that will certainly be very useful to you.

• Take care of your oral hygiene - as we have seen above, while a photo is being taken it is advisable to show part of the upper dental arch. For this reason it is important to take care of the health of your teeth by washing them at least 2-3 times a day (especially after meals) and flossing them, so as to keep them clean and shiny. It is also important to make periodic visits to the dentist to prevent any dental diseases (such as pyorrhea), which could cause teeth to fall or, in any case, cause other cosmetic defects that would negatively affect the photos in which you smile.
• Find the right profile - looking at the lens while facing the lens risks making your face look flat. To prevent this from happening, it may be practical to rotate the head slightly (while continuing to look at the lens with slightly squinted eyes) and / or lower it a little. Following this simple trick will give more depth to your face and make your features stand out better.
• Don't say the word "cheese" - contrary to what one might think, pronouncing sounds with an "i" does not allow for a good smile, because it widens the mouth creating an unnatural expression. If you really want to say a word while the photo is being taken, you have to use one that ends in "a", like "banana"Or"loved".

For more information on how to look good in photos, take a look at the guide I linked to you: there you will also find some "tips", especially of a technical nature, which could be useful for improving the photos that are taken of you.

How to smile in photos