poses. He would tell the client to have a relaxed expression (nonsmiling), while
he still had a huge grin on his face. Many clients would get mad and ask how
they were supposed to be serious while they were looking at his big goofy smile.
A photographer we had before that couldn’t smile to save his life. He would
look at the client with a deadpan expression and, with a monotone voice, say,
“Okay, smile big now.” As you can imagine, the clients’ expressions suffered as
a result.
Mirroring isn’t just about visual cues like your expression, it also involves
the way you speak. When you are looking at the client with a smile on your
face, speak with energy and excitement in your voice. When you want a relaxed
expression, soften your voice. In this way, you are in control of every client’s ex-
pression. Understand the expression your client wants, then take control and
make sure that you take the majority of poses with that expression.
The Perfect Smile.Proper expression depends on the age of your clients.
With babies and small children, parents love laughing smiles. With children,
74 JEFF SMITH’S GUIDE TO HEAD AND SHOULDERS PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHYABOVE—Whether it’s happy or serious, nat-
ural expressions sell portraits.
FACING PAGE—Moms love smiles—but look
for a subtle, natural one. Most adults don’t
look their best with a huge grin.