What's your favorite phrase to get the smile/expression?

Cheese? Sexy? Money? Please share what you say to get clients to give their best. Especially interested for group photos. Thanks!

Telling one hockey player that if he didn't smile sweetly for me than "I'm going to go over there and kick your ass" got a wonderful reaction from the whole team and a really nice, natural group shot.

Of course, they were older kids and I knew them. This might not work for strangers or 5-year olds.

Brikwall wrote in post #9540324
Telling one hockey player that if he didn't smile sweetly for me than "I'm going to go over there and kick your ass" got a wonderful reaction from the whole team and a really nice, natural group shot.

Of course, they were older kids and I knew them. This might not work for strangers or 5-year olds.

LMBO!

If that is you in the avatar, Michelle, you'd best stick to Cheese . Or try some fresh idea that suits the target, e.g. if a group of adult hockey players, pop open and hold up a can of beer and declare it goes to the best grin. With a group of kids, "accidentally" drop an old pair of sunglasses, then step on it and say something lively, from the heart. Anything that surprises.

Hey, lots of people smile when you say "money". Seriously.

Meanderthal wrote in post #9541305
If that is you in the avatar, Michelle, you'd best stick to Cheese . Or try some fresh idea that suits the target, e.g. if a group of adult hockey players, pop open and hold up a can of beer and declare it goes to the best grin. With a group of kids, "accidentally" drop an old pair of sunglasses, then step on it and say something lively, from the heart. Anything that surprises.

Yeah, I doubt I'll be quipping "Say sexy!" to the local group of DOT workers! Lol! Thanks for the ideas.

My daughter-in-law taught my 2-year old grandson to say cheese every time he sees a camera. Worst thing she could have ever done. Fortunately after the first couple of shots he forgets it and the camera becomes part of me. This is a difficult problem for photographers. You have to melt into the background so the subject is almost unaware you are there. The suggestion to create a surprising distraction is a good one for kids. For adults, who knows.

I've always found that "Okay, now pretend you like each other!" works well. Especially with corporate groups.

Annie Social wrote in post #9574264
I've always found that "Okay, now pretend you like each other!" works well. Especially with corporate groups.

I like that!

You could try shouting "stripper" but that might not work well in all circumstances!

Annie Social wrote in post #9574264
I've always found that "Okay, now pretend you like each other!" works well. Especially with corporate groups.

I've used, "Now, if you don't all smile pretty, then I'm going to make you hug each other," to a group of siblings. I had some funny faces and then genuine smiles.

neilwood32 wrote in post #9580621
You could try shouting "stripper" but that might not work well in all circumstances!

In a room full of men, you'll have them looking everywhere BUT the camera.


My wife will put a toy on top of my head or something like that to get kids to smile. I am usually lying on my stomach when shooting young kids so its easier. She's hit me on the head with an oversized, squeeky hammer and that gets them to smile. I had teenager that would grin ear to ear when I would say, "Say money." I gave her 10 bucks at the end of the shoot because she said money so many times. That got her to smile. The key is to know your subject.

I usually say something like "ok, b**bs up, guts in" if i am shooting family. Recently saw someone shooting a man who had to kiss a pig for a fundraising contest. he got shots of the guy with the pig, shots of the guy kissing the pig, but his best shot was probably the one right after he faked having missed the shot and asked him kind of confidentially if he wouldn't mind repeating the kiss.

One way is to have people take a deep breath and exhale as noisily as they can. The sound is funny and it makes people smile.

"If I take this picture now, people who see it are going to think you all were at a funeral."

Another thing that always works for me with groups is to tell them I want a shot of everyone with an absolutely straight face--not even a hint of a smile. Then I get the camera up and say, "Ok, hold it. Hold it. Keep holding it." After three or four of those someone in the group invariably loses it and the whole group cracks up.

neilwood32 wrote in post #9580621
You could try shouting "stripper" but that might not work well in all circumstances!

Yeah, somebody might step forward & that could be awkward!