(How to?) get clients to smile

[Mark Rogers103160]

Some people will have a nice natural smile when prompted with something funny. Others will laugh too hard and if I shoot too soon I end up with a distorted expression. This is not so bad when shooting individuals but is harder with groups. Now that I am digital it is no problem. I shoot one shot right after prompting the laughter and then two or three after. Later I will pick the best shot and then digitally fix a few people by pulling their smile from another shot.

--
Mark Rogers
http://www.frame-destination.com
http://www.pbase.com/lila161

I just finished a series of headshots for a local firm. From a
tech point of view the shots are good but I had a terribly
difficult time getting the subjects to give a nice relaxed smile
and the expression is 95% of what makes a good shot. The schedule
was tight so there was no time to get the subjects to unwind and
relax.

I did the shots with a 1D tethered to a laptop so the clients could
immediately choose the photo they wanted to use.

I have another series of similar shots (65 subjects) lined up for
two weeks from now. I need to be prepared to do a better job in
getting clients to give nice relaxed and unstrainted smiles.

Does anyone have any tips for this?

Mmike

 

[BobTrips]

Take the image into photoshop and use the Luiqify filter on the
corners of the mouth. Just a slight adjutment will give a pleasant
smile.

Human facial expressions are actually quite complex. A "true smile" involves more than just upturned corners of the mouth.

--
bob

 

[BobTrips]

The jury's still out (the data isn't really in) but there is some evidence that moving one's eyes rapidly from the one side to the other will disrupt "anxiety". (Yes, the issue is a lot more complex, but I don't want to get into all of that at the moment.)

Perhaps someone who shoots portraits could give this a try and report their anecdotal findings. Simply have your subject move their eyes right-left-right as quickly as they can for a half-dozen times.

--
bob

 

[BobTrips]

Obviously iespell doesn't proof read for intent....

 

[DavisonPhotography]

There are hundreds of way to get them to smile.

Tell a joke.
Say something off color and unexpected.
Smile yourself

Put a mirror somewhere so they can see themselves (also has effects of changing flashes, and making them think they can pose better than you can....just a warning)

But my personal favorite is to tell them to make the funniest face they can, usually they come up with something so crazy it makes them laugh, or at least they feel so goofy doing it, it makes them smile....then you snap the picture. I've found you usually get a really good candid type full on happy face from them using this technique.

 

[tony martie]

Clown suit?