Forced Smiles

I love family moments to be as natural as possible. I rarely use the phrases, “smile for the camera…say cheese…” Those only produce fake smiles, and I understand those unnatural smiles, sometimes,  come from insecurity having your photo taken, a bad day or simply just being hungry, but my job as a photographer is to capture your naturally stunning beauty. 

How do I do that? Connection between me and you is key. I have to know what makes you smile, what naturally brings that joy, and if you’re with your family, that’s pretty easy to do. 

Your family / partner makes you smile, the love you share will bring that inner joy and so I play with that. It’s really beautiful to watch someone that is with me that feels guarded, but during our time together they soften and relax to the point I can request them to do something perhaps a little out of their comfort zone, and they respond without a beat bringing out genuine smiles. 

As a photographer, I’ve abandoned the traditional “say cheese” approach. Those phrases only create forced expressions, not the authentic moments I aim to capture. Even when clients feel uncomfortable in front of the camera due to insecurity, a rough day, or simple hunger pangs, my mission remains discovering their natural beauty.

The secret? Connection. By getting to know what genuinely makes you smile and brings you joy, I can capture authentic expressions. With families, this becomes simpler as I observe how loved ones naturally interact and bring out each other’s happiness.

It’s remarkable to witness the transformation during our sessions. Even the most reserved clients gradually relax and open up, eventually responding to gentle direction without hesitation, resulting in genuine smiles that reflect their true selves.

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