The usual miss: the countdown
"1… 2… 3…" is the enemy. By "3," the face has braced, the smile has set, and everyone looks like they're being photographed — because they are. The camera catches the pose, not the person.
The move: give her something to do
Real expressions come from real actions, so hand her one:
- Walk toward you and shoot through it — a few steps give you motion, a relaxed jaw, and natural arm swing.
- Look away, then back on a slow count — that turn-and-find-the-lens beat is gold.
- Make her actually laugh — say something a little dumb, not "say cheese." A genuine laugh lasts about a second, so be holding the button.
Get a real one in four
- Switch to burst. You're harvesting moments, not taking a photo.
- Keep talking the whole time. A silent shoot makes people stiff; keep it light and easy.
- Shoot before and after the "pose." The in-between frames are usually the keepers.
- Relax first, smile second. Have her drop her face completely, exhale, then ease into it — the soft version beats the braced one every time.