What do you say to get people to smile?

[jammy_c]

Just a quick one here. I found myself taking some impromptu group shots (30-40 people) recently for the first time and felt a bit of a wally saying "everyone smile!"

What do you guys say to command groups to give big cheesy natural looking smiles?
And the same question for portraits and couples, too?

 

[minnnt]

*Jazz Hands*

Never really had to do it, but helped a friend out on a wedding and he used that and it actually worked really well. Let them think you've took the pic then as they finish 'jazzing their hands' take another as they usually feel as daft as you do so they're laughing etc.

Probably a really crap one though

 

[damianmkv]

Ask them to say "whiskey"...( now you're sitting there saying it ... )

 

[Phil V]

I'm afraid there's no 'magic bullet', it's about your personality, and it was 'being out on the spot' that reduced you to feeling 'a big smile please' as inadequate. The preparation for it begins as soon as you start assembling them. If I used Daryl's big cheesy pig line I'd look ridiculous, because I couldn't deliver it convincingly but I got away with taking the p*** out of 100 cold wedding guests, by asking them to hurry as I was burning my leg on the upstairs radiator I was shooting from.

 

[minnnt]

Ask them to say "whiskey"...( now you're sitting there saying it ... )

 

[big soft moose]

Sausages

or if you think you can get away with it "lift your chin madam.... and the other one"

or on one notable occasion " for f***s sake smile you miserable b*****d" - that was while covering my sisters wedding , and my now brother in law looked like he was attending his own funeral.

 

[jon ryan]

"Pretend you're enjoying yourselves" "Pretend you'd rather be here than watching the football"

 

[amtaylor]

I've on occasion used "its not a funeral"