How to Smile for School Pictures (Without Looking Fake)

6 min read · Glowmaxx

To smile for school pictures without looking fake, practise one smile in the mirror the night before, then in the chair breathe out slowly, think of something that actually makes you laugh, and let the smile start in your eyes before your mouth. Push your chin slightly forward and down, look into the lens, and hold it softly instead of freezing.

That's the 10-second routine. The rest of this guide explains each part so it feels natural when the photographer says "say cheese."

If you're 18 or older and never know whether it's your smile, your angle or the light that makes photos look off, Glowmaxx scores one selfie on five levers and shows the weakest one. Start my glow-up

Why school photos catch weird smiles

You're not bad at smiling. School picture day is just set up to make smiles look strange:

• It's fast. You sit, the photographer adjusts your head, and click. There's no time to warm up.
• You're nervous. Tense muscles pull a smile tight and flat.
• "Say cheese" is a trap. Saying "cheese" stretches your mouth wide but doesn't move your eyes, which is why it looks fake.
• You're holding it too long. A smile held for five seconds starts to wobble and die.
• Flash and angle. A straight-on flash can flatten your face, and a lifted chin shows more nostrils than smile.

Knowing this helps. The goal isn't a "perfect" smile. It's a relaxed one caught at the right moment.

Practise your smile the night before

This takes two minutes and it's the biggest picture day smile tip there is.

How to practise smiling in the mirror

1. Stand at a mirror in good light.
2. Try three smiles: a closed-mouth smile, a small smile with top teeth showing, and a big full grin.
3. Take a phone photo of each (use the back camera from a few feet away, or ask someone). Mirrors flip your face, and photos are more honest.
4. Pick your favorite. Notice how it feels: which muscles are working, how wide your mouth is.
5. Repeat it five times until you can find it without the mirror.

Now you have a "home base" smile you can drop into on command. Pair this with the rest of our school picture day checklist.

The breathe-out trick in the chair

Here's how to smile for school picture day in the moment. It works in about 10 seconds.

1. Sit tall. Shoulders back and down.
2. Breathe in through your nose.
3. Breathe out slowly through your mouth, letting your jaw and shoulders drop.
4. Think of a funny memory or someone you love. Keep it ready ahead of time.
5. Let your eyes smile first, then let your mouth follow into your home base smile.
6. Hold it lightly. If the photographer takes a while, relax your face for a second and smile again.

What to think about

Pick your "smile thought" before you get to school. Some ideas:

• Your dog doing something ridiculous
• An inside joke with a friend
• The best part of your weekend
• Picturing the photographer in a chicken costume (it works)

A real thought makes a real smile.

Here's the thing most people can't do on their own: tell whether their smile problem is really a smile problem. Sometimes it's the angle or the lighting making it look off. For readers 18 and up, Glowmaxx scores one selfie a day on five levers, including posture and angle, with a one-line note for each and three moves for today. Start my glow-up

Teeth or no teeth

There's no rule. Both look great when they're relaxed.

How to smile with braces in pictures

Smile with your teeth if you want to; braces are super common in school photos. If you'd rather not, a closed-mouth smile with relaxed lips looks just as good. Either way, run your tongue over your teeth and have a sip of water right before so your lips don't stick.

Why does my smile look weird in pictures?

Usually it's one of three things: the smile is forced (your eyes don't match your mouth), it's too wide, or you're holding it too long. The breathe-out trick and a practised home base smile fix all three.

Eyes and chin

A smile isn't just your mouth. Your eyes and chin decide whether it looks real.

How to smile with your eyes (the "smize")

A real smile slightly lifts your cheeks and gently narrows your lower eyelids. To practise: look in the mirror and smile only with your eyes, keeping your mouth still. You'll feel your cheeks lift. That's the feeling to add to your photo smile.

Chin position

• Push your chin slightly forward, like a turtle poking out of its shell, then tilt it a touch down. This gives your jaw a clean line.
• Don't raise your chin to "look confident." It shows up your nose and can make you look like you're peering at the camera.
• Look into the lens, not at the photographer's face.

School picture smile tips for guys

Many guys go for a serious face, then end up with a tense half-smile. Commit either way: a relaxed closed-mouth smile or a real grin. Keep your jaw loose; clenching shows.

School picture smile tips for girls

Watch for tight lips if you're wearing lip gloss or lipstick. Relax your lips and let them part slightly for a softer look. Keep hair off your face so your cheeks (which lift when you smile) are visible. Our picture day hairstyles for teens has ideas.

If you hate it: retake day

Sometimes it just doesn't work, and that's okay. Most schools that use a photo company have a retake day a few weeks after picture day.

• Check the proof when it arrives.
• Ask the school office for the retake date.
• Say it simply: "I'd like a retake. My smile didn't come out right."
• Practise your home base smile again the night before.

For seniors, the yearbook shoot is usually longer and more relaxed, so you'll get more tries. See how to look good in yearbook photos.

Get a smile you actually like in your next photo

That's how to smile for school pictures: practise a home base smile, breathe out in the chair, think of something real, smile with your eyes and keep your chin forward. If you're 18 or older, take one selfie with your best smile and Glowmaxx gives you a glow score out of 100 across five levers with three moves for today, in your browser. Glowmaxx is for adults 18 and over.

Start my glow-up

FAQ

How do you smile naturally in school pictures?

Breathe out slowly, think of something that really makes you smile, and let your eyes move first. Use a smile you've practised so you're not guessing in the chair.

Should I smile with teeth in school pictures?

It's up to you. A small smile with top teeth showing looks friendly and natural for most people, but a relaxed closed-mouth smile looks just as good.

How do I not look fake when smiling in photos?

Fake smiles usually move the mouth but not the eyes. Think of a real funny moment, let your cheeks lift, and don't hold the smile too long.

How do you smile for a yearbook picture?

Use the same routine, but you'll usually get several shots. Try one closed-mouth and one with teeth, and stay relaxed between clicks.

What if my smile looks awkward in my school photo?

Ask about retake day at the school office. Practise your smile the night before and use the breathe-out trick in the chair.