3 Ways to Make Your Smile More Photogenic

A picture is worth a thousand words. And if you do not have a good smile, most of those words are likely to be offensive, to say the least. If you have concerns with the overall appearance of your smile, or just struggle with smiling in photos in general (as many do) the following is a short list of tips to help make your smile appear more photogenic.

Less Tooth

Toothy grins are great for some people. However, if you have major dental issues, they can be downright disastrous. While it may seem mandatory to flash all your teeth in a photo, this is certainly not the case. By simply smiling with your mouth closed or with your lips a tad closer together than normal, this is a great way to capture your best smile on camera now, without worrying about the teeth jokes later.

Try to Relax

One of the top reasons many people have awkward smiles in photos is that they are often anxious about taking the photo. If you are smiling naturally, it will show in the photo. Likewise, if you are not, this will be obvious in the photo as well. Before you go to smile for a photo, be sure to take a deep breath, think happy thoughts, and try to be as relaxed as possible.

Laugh

While this may seem a bit awkward, laughing in a photo is one of the best ways to ensure that you look genuinely happy in the picture. This is because you are not overthinking your smile or pose, and are genuinely sharing your inner-happiness with the world. If you are having trouble smiling in a photo, think of something funny or you can even ask the person who is taking the photo to tell you a joke before they take the picture. The results will likely be funny, and you will have taken a photo in which your genuine smile has been captured for all eternity.

Smiling in photos can be tougher than it seems. This is especially the case if you are taking multiple photos at events such as weddings, graduations, etc., in which you are expected to display your joy in each photograph. However, by taking heed to these tips, you are well on your way to being a photo-grinning pro. If in doubt, take some time to practice in front of the mirror until you find a smile you are happy with. Either way, there is no substitute for allowing yourself to live in the moment and allowing the camera to capture your best smile. And remember: the best smile is always the one you did not have to force.