How do you make them smile

Well was at a wedding the other day and got the good old english 1..2..3.. all say cheese from the photographer which needless to say still did not make Aunt Sally at the back smile and now after seeing my friends wedding album have noticed that in one of the group shots most people have there eyes shut. Do you have any special technique to make sure everyone smiles and also keeps there eyes open in the shots,would love to know.

My son doing bunny ears on me while I'm shooting?

Okay, when he's not there, I sometimes make people say silly things like "Happy New Year!" Catches them off guard.

If you are interested, I've been using the remote to set the camera off when on a tripod. That way I can compose, see through the viewfinder, then I look up and really see what people are looking like.

One thing you can try for making sure their eyes are open is to have everyone close them and then tell them to open them on the count of 3. Then give it one more count and shoot!

About smiling, I find it really depends on how you are working with. We have shot parties who were so wild even we had a tough time capturing everything all the way down to people who would bore a nun!

A pink elephant always gets a grin or two

You mean you bring a pink elephant or they see pink elephants.

Will someone please help suzy out? I can't break it to her. Maybe only the Aussies will get it. LOLOLOLOLOL

SuzyView wrote in post #3782517
You mean you bring a pink elephant or they see pink elephants.

I'm very naive.

ToddziLLa wrote in post #3782480
One thing you can try for making sure their eyes are open is to have everyone close them and then tell them to open them on the count of 3. Then give it one more count and shoot!

That's precisely what I do. Works every time.

I also tell them to pretend that everyone in front of them holding a camera (and there are always way too many people doing that) is naked.

Tell them a joke. I like telling that we just tried the first shots without film and now we're using film. Laughter & click

Then that everybody raises the arms (which gives some great shots too), closing the eyes all that for the important shot all are open again.

See too
https://photography-on-the.net …?t=357510&highl​ight=laugh

So sunny the day my son got married. We had to do the 123, open your eyes, but it was so painful. Good luck!

Pink Elephant? I've googled it and it doesnt exist. They're making it up suzy lol.

if its a real sunny day, I usually tell everyone to close their eyes. And open on 1... 2... 3.... works really well so far for group shots or even bridal shots. Some people are hard to keep their eyes open on the right time. So my method might soundsl ike a dumb idea but works every single time and usually bundle with a nice smile too

Well thanks for the replies,just found a pink elephant on E-Bay so with any luck if i buy it now it will be here for my trip to Sandhurst on Saturday for my friends wedding LOL. They have a pro wedding photographer for the day but will be taking my camera for some practice as long as they dont mind and i dont get in the way.Have been lucky enough to take pictures at 4 weddings this year but would never have the nerve or skill to put my neck on the line on such a special day but it is nice sometimes if you get a pic which everyone loves.Thanks once again for the pointers and will post a couple of pics of the results(and the pink elephant) after the weekend.

what i do is shoot the first shot (1-2-3 *pop*), then look at the couple and scream ahhhhhhhh , u blinked!!! usually everyone laughs then i shoot it again. this time, everyone gets the hint to not blink...

or sometimes ill do the 1-2-3 and then, dont shoot, look up and say AH_HAH!! dont blink then shoot it. lol

AlisonG wrote in post #3782803
Pink Elephant? I've googled it and it doesnt exist. They're making it up suzy lol.

Did you try the right Google? The one over here has:
Results 1 - 10 of about 564,000 for "pink elephant".