How to Smile for Photos

The first rule when smiling for photos is to avoid saying 'cheese'. Saying the 'ee' sound stretches your mouth, causing an unnatural smile. Instead, say a word with an 'uh' sound at the end, such as 'panda' or 'banana'. If you want to learn more tips and tricks to achieve a natural and beautiful smile in front of the camera, read the guide below.

Smile with your eyes. The biggest mistake when smiling for a photo is having a smile like a jack-o'-lantern: only showing your teeth and not your eyes. To make your smile appear genuine, you must engage your eyes and create a Duchenne smile. A Duchenne smile is truly authentic and natural because it’s very difficult to activate the muscles around your eyes unless you genuinely have something to smile about.

• Look in the mirror to notice the difference. Do you look sadder when you don’t smile with your eyes?
• When smiling for photos, pretend you’re smiling at someone you love. Your eyes will naturally squint, and your smile will look genuinely beautiful.

Show your teeth. You don’t need to smile widely to reveal your full set of teeth, but showing just a little bit of your teeth will make your face look more lively. Simply expose the upper row of your teeth, instead of grinning widely to show everything. If you prefer a closed-mouth smile, that’s fine too, but your expression might appear more serious compared to others in the photo.

Find your best angle. Looking straight into the camera and tilting your head up is not the most flattering way for most people. It tends to overshadow your features, making your face appear distorted in the photo. Instead, highlight your jawline by slightly tilting your head to one side. If you have a 'good' angle — the one that makes all your features look best — direct it toward the camera.

• While showing your face at an angle will make the photo look better, overdoing it can appear artificial. Just slightly tilt your face in a natural direction.
• If possible, stand slightly lower than the camera, so it points downward toward you rather than upward.

Keep your face level with the camera. Looking down will distort the shape of your face. Tilting your face upward and sticking out your chin will make it look like you’re trying to hide a double chin. The most natural position for your face is to keep it level with the camera, as if you were about to speak to it.

Say a word with an 'uh' sound. Photographers often ask subjects to say 'cheese', but this usually results in awkward photos for two reasons. First, the 'ee' sound stretches your mouth unnaturally, making the smile appear fake. Second, your smile isn’t genuine unless you’re truly happy, and when people are asked to say 'cheese', those over the age of 8 tend to feel uncomfortable. So, what’s the solution? Think of something you like that ends with an 'uh' sound. Saying an 'uh' sound helps create a natural smile. Moreover, thinking about something you like will also help make your smile feel authentic. Combining both will give you the best expression!

• For example, if you care about someone named Elijah, think of them and say their name while smiling for the photo. Anyone, place, or thing works, as long as it brings a smile to your face when you think of it.

Take good care of your teeth. A beautiful smile starts with feeling confident about your appearance. If your teeth aren’t clean, you won’t want to show them off to everyone. Remember to brush your teeth and floss regularly to keep them clean, and make sure to visit the dentist to remove tartar, ensuring your teeth stay white and beautiful.

Whiten your teeth with teeth whitening methods. If your teeth are yellowed or discolored, whitening them can help you smile with more confidence. You don’t have to choose expensive whitening treatments. You can achieve whiter teeth in just a few minutes with natural methods. Here’s how to do it:

• Clean your teeth with hydrogen peroxide. This is a natural, safe bleaching agent that helps brighten teeth.
• Brush with baking soda. Put some baking soda on your toothbrush or mix it with water to create a paste, then brush your teeth. However, don’t do this too often as it can erode tooth enamel.

Enhance your smile with the right lipstick color. Certain lipstick shades can make your teeth look less yellow and appear whiter. You can enhance your smile by applying one of these shades before taking a photo:

• Dark red: This color contrasts with your teeth, making them stand out.
• Shades with a blue undertone: These help reduce the yellow tint of your teeth.
• Avoid orange and yellow tones: These make teeth appear more yellow and dull the smile.

Moisturize your lips. Smiling with dry or chapped lips can make you feel self-conscious, resulting in less flattering photos. Exfoliate your lips with a facial exfoliating product and apply lip balm or gloss to keep them in good condition. When you smile, you won’t have to worry about your lips anymore.

Use makeup to enhance your smile. Applying foundation, blush, and bronzer will create contrast that makes your smile stand out more. Choose makeup shades that complement your skin tone. Your teeth will appear whiter, but be careful with dark bronzers as they can make you look like you have a tan.

Be confident in what you have. Smiling isn’t about looking perfect but about feeling joyful and confident. Your face will appear more beautiful when you radiate confidence and relaxation. Overthinking your appearance will show on your face, and you might end up looking tense or uncomfortable in the photo. Remember to relax, think about something positive, and you'll get a great shot.

Practice in front of the mirror. If you’re about to attend an event with photography and worry about looking stiff in photos, take some time to practice your smile in front of the mirror. Find the best angle and decide how much of your teeth you should show. Don't forget to smile with your eyes. Once you discover your ideal smile, focus on how it feels so you can recreate it naturally later.

Feel the genuine sensation of a real smile. If you're worried that your facial expressions in photos appear fake, pay attention to how you feel when you truly laugh — like when something makes you burst out in laughter or when your favorite comedy show cracks you up. Ask yourself the following questions to help you 'recall' the real sensation of a genuine smile:

• What does it feel like in your mind when you genuinely smile? Try to recreate that feeling in front of the camera.
• Which angle makes your face look most natural? If possible, look in the mirror before you stop smiling and take a mental note of your natural smile. When it’s time for a photo, try to find that angle for your best smile.

Wink before smiling. If your eyes tend to squint when taking photos, try a simple trick to keep your eyes wide open and alert. Before taking the shot, wink for about 1 or 2 seconds, then open your eyes wide and smile. This will help you blink less when the camera flash goes off.

Moisten your teeth before smiling. If your teeth are slightly discolored, you can quickly fix this without any preparation: before smiling, let your tongue glide across your teeth to moisten them. Slightly shiny teeth will appear whiter than dry ones. Lip gloss will also help make your teeth look less yellow. Some makeup artists recommend applying a small amount of Vaseline on the front of your teeth to keep them shiny during a photoshoot.

Don't overthink your appearance. If you're worried about how you look, that negative energy will show in your smile. You’ll appear tense and forced rather than natural and joyful. Next time you're in front of the camera, ignore the photographer's 'cheese' cue and focus on your 'happy place.' Instead of stressing about how your face will look, think of something that makes you laugh. That positive energy will radiate and give you a brighter, more genuine smile.

• Relax. A photo can’t capture a true smile if you appear stiff and serious.
• Think of something that makes you laugh.

• Yourself
• The photographer or someone else taking your photo