5 Unusual Tips to Fake the Perfect Smile in Photos

1. The Tongue-Touch Trick

Photo:

@katcollings

This is one trick we rely on often. It involves placing your tongue on the roof of your mouth and smiling without your teeth, which tightens the muscles in your face and neck. As our former managing editor, Michelle Scanga, says, it helps her create a natural-looking smile, sit up straight, and readjust her posture for photos.

2. The Close-Your-Eyes-and-Open Trick

Photo:

@nicoleakhtarzad

May of our editors live by this trick. Here's how it works: Close your eyes a couple of seconds before you know the picture will be taken, and then slowly open them (not super slow, but don't jerk them open, either), and slowly draw up the corners of your mouth to smile. This resets any of the awkwardness you may feel about taking a photo and ensures that your smile doesn't seem forced or overeager.

3. The Clamp-and-Smirk Trick

Photo:

@kristenmarienichols

Many of our editors don't take a photo without first clamping their teeth to define the jawline a bit more and smirking slightly for that cool/mysterious look. If you really want to take it to the next level, try squinching, too.

4. The Side-Smirk Trick

Photo:

@laurenegg

Purse your lips just slightly, and open up your eyes for a unique smile. You really can't go wrong with a subtle side smirk.

5. The Smile-With-Eyes Trick

Photo:

@bobbyschuessler

Tyra was not wrong—smizing actually works and will elevate your face, turning your photo from ordinary to model-like. How to do it? We laugh on the inside to create a relaxed face, tilt the chin, and squint slightly using just our eyes.