The “fake” smile versus the “real” smile

David turned 8 today!! This morning we went to Toys R Us and he picked
out a new bike. He and Daddy are assembling it now (in our very dark
family room – booooo on the pics!). Then we went out to dinner at his
favorite restaurant – it’s a local place that is a sports bar with
arcade too. Fab food.

So when we got home, I managed to convince him to let me take his
birthday pics. Most were like this:

Kimhill_0353_Web

But then, the 17th shot was this. Yeah, it’s a bit soft on focus. He
was laughing and moving all around cuz his Dad was making him laugh.
But soft or not, I love it. THIS is the smile I love!!!

Kimhill_0370_Web

So the next time you take your own kids out for pics, whether you do them yourself or have a professional do them for you, remember to engage your child in conversation that will produce the natural smile.  Telling the child to “look at the camera” or “say cheese” will just get you the fake smile.

About Kim Hill

I’m passionate about my work and helping women feel comfortable in front of my lens. I want women to feel confident and sexy regardless of age or size. All women are beautiful and I'm here to help them see the beauty in themselves and the boudoir photographic experience is one step in that direction. I am dedicated to bringing a high-quality experience to the boudoir portrait session. My goal is to offer a fun yet relaxing environment where a woman can let down her guard, allowing that inner sparkle to shine. I’ve been a photographer for more than 25 years now. I started as a young child with my parents' 110 film camera, moved on to study photography in college, interned with a wedding photographer for a couple of years and then struck out on my own. I've been doing general portraits since 1998 and boudoir work since 2009. In addition to boudoir, I also offer high school senior portraits, fashion inspired sessions, and business executive head shots.
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2 Responses to The “fake” smile versus the “real” smile

  1. Wow….these are awesome and that is so true. I heard a good tip is to do burst shooting, too, because sometimes people relax after the shutter goes off. 🙂

  2. Birthdays are the happiest days children could ever have, ’cause they surely have been treated excellently by their parents! Haha! Your story is quite funny, though, ’cause I remember my nieces long time ago when we were having picnics in the park. I have asked them actually to smile on the camera, but they weren’t really smiling! What you’ve said in the end is undeniable! Joyful conversations would really make them smile naturally! Btw, your son’s smile made me smile, too! Thanks for sharing!

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