Getting Kids to Smile

[MarkBarbieri]

How do you get your kids to smile without having them give you a squinty, goofy, forced looking smile?

 

[MHolleman]

I usually try to get them to say goofy words, and then I get a "real" smile. They are just so hard to capture when it is a posed sitting. Good luck.

 

[AndrewWG]

I have to appeal to my DD with something that we have said or done that was real funny to her. One time when driving, I mixed together a bunch of (non-swear) words when I got mad at someone and she really gives a true smile when I say something like that before snapping the picture. She will look like a total goof if I don't get her to almost laugh before taking a pic. Bringing up a funny memory usually works too.

 

[kmp1191]

Have them say something to make their mouth naturally curve into a smile.
"DAD HAS STINKY FEET!"
GREASY MONKEY

Or....the best way....bribe them!!!

actually, the stinky feet comment usually gets them to laugh.
Going for the natual laugh/smile is the best.

Good luck!

 

[DVC Jen]

Have them say something to make their mouth naturally curve into a smile.
"DAD HAS STINKY FEET!"
GREASY MONKEY

Or....the best way....bribe them!!!

actually, the stinky feet comment usually gets them to laugh.
Going for the natual laugh/smile is the best.

Good luck!

I recently did a blue and gold banquet for a local cub scouts group - individual portraits and group shots. I used the stinky feet thing alot too - always got a really genuine smile out of them.

Girls will probably be different - but with boys - well - they like the "gross" stuff.

 

[kmp1191]

Usually when I'm shooting sports teams I have to use the stinky feet.
COACH HAS STINKY FEET!

Usually even gets the parents to laugh.

 

[Suburbanmom]

That's so funny. I did a homeschool co-op group last week and guess what I had them say, yep..."STINKY FEET!"

 

[SharonLowe]

Don't use "cheese"; ask them their favorite food and then have them say it. Also, "pizza" gets a natural smile too. The joke stuff works too but sometimes they get too "giggly" and squish up their eyes. If the parents (or other helpers) are there, have them stand directly behind you so the kids are looking right at the camera and have the parents make funny faces, do bunny ears on you, etc. Hardest part is making sure the parent is right behind you and the camera.

 

[Zoesmama03]

Yep usually I have to amuse my daughter first then I'll get a natural smile. That is when I can even get her to look towards the camera. She runs...sometimes I threaten the tickle monster and she smiles but that causes her to run a lot too.

I have to try bribes but its not working so well. Out of tons I usually get one or two where she looks at the camera. UGH!!

I must do the stinky feet that always gets a laugh out of her. When she was a baby I'd push her feet to her nose and say stinky feet and she would giggle like nothing.

The siggy pic smile happened to be an amusing thing on her cartoon. I will have to practice with tv off next time.

 

[Mr._The_King]

My kids have terrible "camera smiles" and since I am always taking pictures of them they break out that "special" smile often. I often tell them to stop smiling, or make a serious face (which helps to relax their squinched up posed faces) and then say something silly or unexpected (like all of the posts above) which helps to bring out their natural smile or laughter.

 

[rtphokie]

My son is especially squinty in photos. Having him say "Cheeseburger" seems to work the best .... for now.

 

[fitzperry]

I had been telling them to laugh. They'd start cackling and acting goofy and I would get natural smiles. Worked well for awhile, but lately whenever I've tried it they've gotten a bit out of control and someone always ends up getting knocked to the ground or something. Think I'll try some of these other tactics.

 

[Michele]

I start out telling my kids not to smile at all, then I tell them to think of something funny. Or sometimes I remind them of something funny that happened to us to get a natural smile.

 

[GatheringNoMoss]

I start out telling my kids not to smile at all, then I tell them to think of something funny. Or sometimes I remind them of something funny that happened to us to get a natural smile.

This works really well with a group or until they hit about 6. Lately I have resorted to giving the kids a camera too. On the positive side I have more pictures of me than ever before; on the negative side, I have more pictures of me than ever before! Luckily I am the one who does the uploading.

 

[fitzperry]

Girls will probably be different - but with boys - well - they like the "gross" stuff.

Trust me, girls like the gross stuff every bit as much as boys. You should see my daughter's brownie troop. Good grief.