Do you always prefer giving a smile while getting photographed?
By I_LUV_U
@I_LUV_U (2519)
India
July 21, 2007 7:20am CST
I remember my childhood days, about a decade back when we did'nt have a camera at home. I had to go to a photo studio everytime when there is a need of a photo. I would comb my hairs there itself, sit straight and face the camera as per the photographer's instructions.
After everything is Okay, finally he says " SMILE PLEASE ".
That was one thing i hated and hate it even today. A forcible smile, my heart won't permit it. Moreover, i look better without a smile. I was still a child then and had no enough guts to tell him "I don't want to smile artificially, don't force me"
How many of you prefer giving a smile while getting photographed? Does'nt it look unnatural?
If you are the one who loves to smile, let me know how you smile?
With *CLOSED LIPS* or with *OPEN LIPS*
I usually expose my upper teeth while smiling. How about you?
48 people like this
211 responses
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
21 Jul 07
I smile for photos- I prefer action shots- or candid shots- I am not big on portraits- They look fake to me- My daughters school pictures come home looking all silly- she always says to me- mom-- that isn't my smile- LOL no it isn't! it is a forced smile- All of the candid pictures we have are great smiles- or pouts whatever I catch on her- when I smile for portraits- I show my top teeth also.
@shashank1986 (625)
• India
21 Jul 07
I think its general assumption that a person's best face comes up when he smiles.. moreover we want to take photos of happier moments rather than sad ones.. so i wont mind having a smily pic .. however there's no hard n fast rule... i generally smile with closed lips .. thats for the formal occassions.. however i prefer to burst my hearts out when i am at a casual situation..
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
21 Jul 07
When I was younger, I used to like the photos where people didn't smile, but didn't look sad, either. I thought they looked very stoic. Now, though, I've noticed that I look better when I'm giving some sort of smile or positive facial expression. But, that's just me. I think too many people put too much emphasis on smiling in general and if you think you look better not smiling while photographed, then that's the way you should do it.
5 people like this
@ifinallyfoundmybaby (1742)
• Philippines
21 Jul 07
I take my picture as it is :) during the moment . . if im not in the mood i take it as it easy . . nothing beats memores with actual emotions . . :)
i just discvoered that through my broher wherein everytime we were going to take a picture . . wherein you could just be yourself :) ( picture taken through a camera) he would always force a smile and after that return to his simple face . . oh well :)
5 people like this
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
21 Jul 07
Once when I was in school, my class was getting pictures taken. We each took turns sitting in the chair, and smiling for the picture while our friends stood in line and watched. My friends said that they would give a nod if we looked good, or shake their head no if we didn't. We would try to smile or have an expression that made us look good, and wait for the nod, and then try to hold that look. When I got my pictures, I didn't like them back then, but they really weren't that bad. At least my friends tried to help.
5 people like this
@alnilam (969)
• United States
21 Jul 07
this is my worst nightmare... taking photos... for documents i mean... i am not a ugly person, but when i go to get my picture taken, i always come out as a zombie... the photographer always gets me in uptight position and forces me to smile... a forced smile is not a nice one...
but in general (other photographs) when a smile is spontaneous i must admit it to myself i have a beautifully smile (these pictures are very rare ;)
5 people like this
@kaplya (1578)
• India
21 Jul 07
i don't know why but whenever it comes the time of giving a pose for photo my face becomes grim and serious no matter whether i m at home or at a studio!;)one can hardly guess from my photos that i m usually smiling all the time when i m not before camera. in fact i have many of my virtual friends commenting me "hey why are you so sad/serious all the time" or "you should try smiling more often". funny i think!!hehehe
anyway if i m giving up a pose with smile my lips are always open because i find my "closed lips" smile a very weird one!:D
3 people like this
@I_LUV_U (2519)
• India
21 Jul 07
probably, you would have a dilemma whether to smile or not. you are thinking about your expressions, while he is taking your photo. You have to firmly decide at the beginning itself whether to smile or be serious or to give some other expression.
You can't start studying on the day of examination and get excellent results.
4 people like this
@beccacoward (525)
•
27 Jul 07
Being a photographer, I totally understand this dilemma and I rarely ask my subjects to smile. I never would for a studio portrait, but if it was photos of a night out, I probably would! When I get photos of myself taken, I don't smile very often, and if I do it is more of a smirk, as I don't like my teeth very much. x
3 people like this
@beccacoward (525)
•
27 Jul 07
I've been taking photographs since I was seven years old, I am now twenty. I wouldn't call myself a professional, since I do not earn much money from my trade, but this is because I am studying photography at university so I do not have much time to make money on the side. I definately want to be a professional photographer though, I love it. x
3 people like this
@lynboobsy11 (11343)
• Philippines
21 Jul 07
when i am getting photographed, i usually prefer to give a good smile. it makes me beautiful when smiling and snob if not. when i do not smile, picture looks awful like i am very snob or angry hehe.
@tantal25 (838)
• United States
21 Jul 07
seriously, when i was still little, i rarely smile with my mouth open. i wouldn't even dare smiling with my teeth showing coz i do have crooked teeth! but when i used to have my braces, i smile but still closed lips coz i don't want everybody to see my braces. when finally my braces was gone, i smile a lot specially on pics =)
3 people like this
@raychill (6525)
• United States
21 Jul 07
I do both. I like big cheesy smiles, but I didn't have the best of teeth until a few years ago. Now I'm all about the big cheesy smiles. But when it's a professional photo or something I'll still usually do a closed mouth smile. But generally i totally dig the open cheesy mouthed smile!
3 people like this
@raychill (6525)
• United States
21 Jul 07
i got braces. what most people do to make their teeth look better. i only had them for about 10 months though. partially because I made them take them off because i should have only had them for 6 months but they kept screwing up. so my teeth aren't perfect. but whatever. they're better than they were.
i also had to get two crowns, because I had two sharp teeth that resembled fangs.
3 people like this
@brownsuga4life (29)
• Saint Lucia
21 Jul 07
Well just like you I hate smiling when taking my photo. I always believed that I looked better with a focused look. I am dying for a future as a model but don't know where to start. Some people do look good when smiling. Some people are naturally ugly, but when a photo is taken WOW, they look very good. But just relax, take a breath and reach into your heart and allow the feeling that's in your heart to flow onto your face. BYE
@di1indilin (802)
• India
21 Jul 07
That's the problem with fake smiles, you'l see it in the picture. It's better to think of something happy and smile or better yet think of something funny!
like a bird's dropping homing in on the camera man as he peeks through the lens.
2 people like this
@bestfriends (876)
• Australia
29 Jul 07
I understand what you are saying. I am a lot like you. but I just suck it up and smile no matter what. I don't want my picture to look like I am grouchy or sad. I smile no matter what even if I am hurting or I feel forced or fake smile. When I smile I let my upper teeth be seen. That's how I smile. YOur discussions is cute by the way lol.
3 people like this
@ladysurvivor (4746)
• Malaysia
29 Jul 07
I usually make sure that I don't have a sour face when I am being photographed. At least I would try an effort to put a smile on my face, even though it turned out to be just a slight smile. I want my pictures to be remembered as a good memory, and not a bad one. When I smile I like closing my lips. But I admit I also can look good if I part my lips a bit.
3 people like this
@vonn1378 (706)
• Philippines
23 Jul 07
I reckon most of my photo shots are showing my teeth. I smile a lot and I show my teeth, its my asset anyway. I don't feel I look good without a smile on my face. So when I have my photo I always smile and my dimple shows as well. The trick is try smiling infront of a mirror and see how to get your perfect smile. And also look your right angle and don't be shy to tell the photographer your right angle in the photo because everyone does. And of course, no one wants to keep an ugly one.
@truartiss (386)
• United States
27 Jul 07
When I was a child my mom took pictures all time. Some I would smile in but most of the time I just looked like what I was feeling at the time. Like if I was feeling fun I'd make a goofy face and if I was feeling sad I would just look like "get out my face". lol. But that was when I was younger.
Now, well, I guess it's kind of the same way. When I smile, my teeth show. I just smile most of the time. Now I pose in a more grown up way though. My lips are usually open in all my lips.
Yeah I hate taking like pictures for a photographer where I have to sit up straight and have my head just right. I think it looks to planned and perfect. I just like taking pictures of happy times. When I'm out having fun with friends or/and family.
@dayong1113cn (311)
• China
29 Jul 07
in most times,i get photos with a smile.but some times i will get a cool pose to take photos.in fact,i don't like getting photos.
