A smile is an understood symbol of happiness and joy. Showing teeth and having the ability to smile perfectly for pictures will make you look friendlier and more approachable, as well as convey interest in what you’re doing.
You will have times when you may need to smile despite not feeling happy inside, such as at a wedding. However, smiling is about showing the best possible version of yourself to others and letting the world know that you are in high spirits, even if you aren’t feeling your best.
To take the perfect smile shot, begin by making sure your teeth are clean and that your breath isn’t offensive to anyone around you, especially when using a selfie stick. There are ways to achieve that perfect smile every time someone hits the shutter button.
Get Comfortable
Make sure you’re at ease in front of your camera. If you feel natural and comfortable, your facial expressions will be genuine and crisp, leading to a great shot. Unfortunately, finding that comfort zone can be difficult if you’re new to photography.
The best way to take a good photo is often a matter of trial and error—shoot lots of pictures until you find one you love. You may even try different poses or angles before finding your perfect shot.
Don’t forget to breathe!
Take slow deep breaths, or hold your breath entirely for ten seconds before exhaling. Inhaling through your nose and then exhaling with force through your mouth will help open up and relax tense facial muscles.
Change Your Posture
Before you take your picture, try changing your posture slightly. Our bodies naturally tense up when we’re in front of a camera, making us appear stiff and less open. Instead, try slouching slightly or putting your hands on your hips to appear more relaxed.
Relaxing will reduce tension. If your facial expression is pleasant, but there’s tension in your body language, it will be apparent in the picture.
Don’t Just Rely on Your Mouth — Smile with Your Eyes
When we’re not paying attention, it’s easy to scrunch up our eyes and mouth into a grimace when trying to look happy. But in photos, it seems more natural and attractive if you focus on making your eyes sparkle.
Practice pulling back your lips slightly at the corners and raising your brows. While still looking straight ahead, think about all of those things that make you happy.
Smile at the Camera, Not at the Photographer
Look at yourself in a mirror before going in front of the camera. When you do, lift your eyebrows to form two semi-circles and make sure both corners of your mouth tilt upward toward your cheekbones.
It’s okay if it looks fake at first; keep practicing. You’ll soon notice that it becomes more natural every time you try.
Pucker Up
The best pose of all is one that naturally shows off your smile. It’s also vital to pick a flattering angle. Avoid having your face in shadows or direct sunlight, and make sure there aren’t any unflattering background elements in your shot.
After you snap a few photos, it will be clear what position works best—but until then, take lots of pictures, use different angles and try a variety of things! Nothing is better than a genuine smile and feeling beautiful.
Chin down a Bit
Many people stick their chins up too high in photos, making them look like they have a double chin. A slight chin down will solve that problem, and you’ll seem more approachable, too.
The key is aligning your earlobe with your bottom lip: When taking a photo, try putting your finger on your earlobe (if there isn’t one right now) and see how it falls naturally. If it lines up over your mouth, you need to move your head back just a bit; if not, lean forward until it does.
Next, tilt your head slightly downward for profile shots—your nose should be closest to the camera! Or, if you don’t want to take a separate photo of your profile view, adjust while you take your main picture by leaning away from the camera.
Smiling in a More Photogenic Way
Smiling can help improve your overall mood and health, but if you’re looking to make your smile more photogenic and impactful, there are a few steps you should take.
- First, open your mouth while also keeping your teeth exposed. It may feel unnatural at first, but practice using a mirror, and you’ll soon have it down pat.
- Next, tilt your head slightly up and let eye contact dictate how long your smile lasts—most photos last between 2-4 seconds.
- Finally, try to smile with your eyes by making sure they’re looking directly into the camera instead of showing too much of your cheek area. This will add life to a picture that otherwise might look unimpressive or boring!
Why Is It so Hard to Smile Perfectly for Pictures?
Smiling can be challenging because it requires you to relax your face muscles and hold your mouth in a specific position. However, when you’re tense, it isn’t always easy. Practicing smiling before getting your picture taken helps – being relaxed makes smiling easier and more natural.
Practice, and it will get easier. In addition, forcing yourself to think happy thoughts make you feel more comfortable, making smiling much easier! Remembering all of these steps might sound simple on paper, but putting them into action takes time and practice. With time you’ll start feeling more comfortable with smiles. Soon enough, you’ll have perfect smiles every time!
How Can I Look More Photogenic?
Learn these tricks to make yourself more photogenic, whether it’s for your own Instagram selfies or a special occasion such as a wedding:
- Straighten your teeth. Crooked or gap teeth will show up in photos and often make you look less attractive than if they were perfect and straight.
- Get some eyelid tape. Many models and actors use eyelid tape to create an eye lift; even with fake eyelashes or extensions, makeup alone won’t provide that naturally wide-eyed look of youthfulness that everyone seeks when looking at photos of themselves.
- Consider getting professional pictures before any big event you plan on attending.
Practice Makes The Magic
A great smile begins with a relaxed face, so practice laughing and smiling independently. Practice in a mirror and try different poses until you find one that works for you. Use your happy face in all your profile photos, dating site pics, etc.
Try a couple of different poses and expressions until you find something that seems natural and authentic.
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And don’t think you have to be alone — try bringing in friends or family members to work on natural-looking shots together. And always remember to practice your best smile!
Smile Perfectly for Pictures with Invisalign
If you have struggled to smile perfectly for pictures, consider Invisalign to fine-tune your smile. This non-invasive, nearly invisible tray alignment system can straighten your smile. If you are curious about how Invisalign treatment can give you a picture-perfect smile, contact Orthodontic Excellence.
Our specialists are ready to help you discover your dream smile! Use the handy online Contact Form or call our office to arrange an appointment. We have offices in Puyallup and Bonney Lake.
You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.
Tags: invisalign, Invisalign teen, orthodontist, perfect smiles, Smile for health, smile perfectly for pictures
