I just found my son's prom pictures from a month and a half ago...

[Phentex]

I had asked about them a few times back then but forgot about it.

While i was looking through some stuff for my other son, I came across the package of pictures. I went to my son and asked why he never showed them to me. He said he hated his smile and he looked ugly.

The thing is...I hate the way he smiles for pictures. It comes across as a smirk and looks like he just smelled something bad.

He does NOT look ugly at all but the smirk isn't the most pleasant face he could make.

Can a person practice smiling better?

[Sanity Claws]

1. Sure. You can practice anything.

Does he smile with his mouth closed or opened? Whichever it is, maybe he can try the opposite.

Also, have you ever photographed him while he was laughing? Does he still look like he's smirking?

[Phentex]

3. Closed. And then one side goes into a sneer...

no when he laughs, you can see teeth and a smile. I think he gets nervous.

[Quantess]

2. Where did he get the idea that he doesn't smile right for cameras?

From you?
Just wondering.

[Phentex]

4. From looking at the picture...

he's got good teeth, too.

[Quantess]

5. I'm sure he does!

It just sounds like he's one of those people who avoids the camera and/or has anxiety about the camera.

I think better advice (but of course I don't know either of you, so take it at face value, no pun intended) would be to tell him not to worry about it... because it sounds like he is worrying about his smile as soon as the camera appears.

The last thing he needs is a mom nagging him how to smile for a camera. Sorry if that sounds rude, but I have an inkling I'm onto something.

[Chan790]

6. Yes, sort of.

It's not smile practice persay though. I had a friend who was a pageant competitor who had to go through it...it's more like targeted facial exercises to train muscle memory to improve your smile.

She described the experience as "sore. My cheeks are always sore." and it took like 6 months.

[Tanuki]

7. He could try thinking of something funny,

to trigger a natural smile. And there really is something to be said for "saying cheese..."

[hunter]

8. There are maybe three pictures of me in high school.

I never went to a prom and I dodged multiple picture days. Then I quit.

This was before high school identification cards.

I did have a photo ID in college. It was good for free public transportation. But I threw it in the ocean after I graduated.

No "practice smiling problem" with me. I didn't learn that skill until later.

[trof]

9. Sounds like my prom pictures.

I had kind of an upper lip/curled cross between a smile and a sneer.
Maybe I thought it was cool way back then?
I dunno.

My grandson has what I call the 'fake camera smile'.
As soon as a camera comes out he plasters this totally unconvincing smile/grimace on his face.
Otherwise he has a nice smile.
Go figure.