Stop forcing it. Here's how to get genuine smiles that actually work.
Test Your Smile Free →"Smile for the camera!" ← This is why all your photos look forced.
When someone tells you to smile, you use only your mouth muscles. Your eyes stay dead. The result? Fake smile that kills matches.
The science: Genuine smiles (Duchenne smiles) use two muscle groups - mouth AND eyes. You cannot control the eye muscles voluntarily. They only activate when you are actually happy.
The solution: Stop trying to smile. Start trying to actually be happy when the photo is taken.
Upload photo • Get score 0-100 • See if it is genuine
Have a friend take 20 photos while you tell them the funniest story you know. You will forget about the camera. Your genuine laughter = perfect photo.
Pull up your favorite comedian on YouTube. Friend takes photos while you genuinely crack up. Works every time.
Your dog, a funny memory, something you are excited about. Think about it vividly while photo is taken. Real emotion = genuine smile.
Weird but works. The "ey" sound in "money" naturally shapes your mouth into a smile. Try it - say "money" out loud and hold it.
Cooking, playing with your dog, playing guitar - genuine happiness while doing something you love. Friend captures it. Natural smile guaranteed.
Friend tells intentionally terrible jokes/puns while shooting. Your genuine eye-roll laughter = perfect candid shot.
Think of the funniest/most embarrassing thing that happened to you. Tell it to your friend. Laugh together. They capture it.
Do not take selfies while trying to smile - you are focused on the phone, not genuinely happy
Do not say "cheese" - it creates a forced mouth shape, eyes stay dead
Do not try to "look good" - trying to look good = trying to smile = forced
Do not use a timer and pose - you will tense up waiting for the click
Do not overthink it - the more you think about smiling, the faker it looks
Do not practice your smile in the mirror - that is not what genuine looks like
Upload your photos. See which ones have genuine smiles. Use the best ones.
Analyze My Smile Free →Stop trying to smile. Instead, be genuinely happy when the photo is taken. Have a friend take photos while you tell a funny story or watch comedy. Real happiness = natural smile.
Because you are forcing it. When you try to smile on command, only your mouth moves. Your eyes stay flat. This looks forced/awkward. Solution: Actually be happy when the photo is taken.
No. Practicing in the mirror just makes you better at forcing a smile. The only way to look natural is to actually be genuinely happy when the photo is taken. No shortcuts.
This is usually not true. You probably just have all forced-smile photos. Get candid photos while genuinely laughing and you will be surprised how "photogenic" you suddenly become.