Alternatives to “Say Cheese” — 50+ Photo Cues That Get Real Smiles

“Say cheese” has a well-documented problem — and it isn’t just that it’s cliché.

Back in 1862, French anatomist Guillaume Duchenne identified two distinct types of smiles. A genuine smile — what researchers now call a Duchenne smile — recruits the orbicularis oculi muscle around the eye. It causes the corners of your eyes to crinkle. A posed smile only moves the mouth. The eyes stay flat.

When you tell someone to say cheese, you’re almost always getting the second kind.

Paul Ekman and Wallace Friesen later confirmed Duchenne’s distinction using their Facial Action Coding System, cataloguing over 3,000 facial expressions. Their research established that the eyes are the giveaway — a real smile reaches them, a performed one doesn’t. And a UC Berkeley study that tracked women from their college yearbook photos across 30 years found that those who displayed genuine Duchenne smiles in their early twenties reported significantly greater wellbeing and marital satisfaction by 52. The smile in the photo wasn’t just a reflection of how they felt in the moment — it was a window into something deeper.

None of which means you need to carry all this into your next group photo. It just means: what you say before taking a picture genuinely affects what you get. And “cheese” is probably the phrase least likely to give you the real thing.

Here are the alternatives that actually work — organised by who you’re photographing, what you want to capture, and why the psychology behind them matters.

Why “Say Cheese” Fails (The Short Version)

The word “cheese” became standard in the 1940s because the “ee” sound naturally pulls the lips back and the teeth slightly apart — it approximates a smile shape. The problem is that approximating a smile shape is not the same as actually smiling.

When people hear “say cheese,” they:

1. Consciously focus on how their face looks
2. Arrange their mouth into a smile-like position
3. Hold that position while being watched
4. Anticipate a click — then immediately relax into their real face

That’s a performance. The camera catches it as one.

The alternatives below work by doing the opposite — they redirect attention away from the face, trigger genuine emotion or surprise, or give people permission to stop performing altogether. The smile, when it comes, is a side effect of actually feeling something.

50+ Alternatives Organised By Situation

Every phrase below is unique to this update — none repeat from the previous version. Each includes exactly when to use it and when it quietly works against you.

For Kids (Age 3–10)

Kids see through “cheese” faster than anyone. They’ve been photographed enough times to know what’s expected, and they deliver exactly that — a face that looks like a grimace in training. The key with small children is surprise and permission to be absurd.

1. “Say ice cream!” The two long vowels open the face naturally, and the word itself generates a tiny jolt of excitement. Works especially well if there’s actual ice cream in the vicinity. Backfires when: You’ve used it in every photo session. Kids habituate fast — rotate your words.

2. “Who can make the best silly face?” Gives them a task instead of a performance. The transition from silly face back to normal is often where the best expressions live — catch it half a second after they’ve stopped. Backfires when: You want a traditional portrait. This method produces chaos, not composure.

3. “Say dinosaur!” The hard consonants and multiple syllables make kids think about the word rather than their face. The result is usually a genuinely distracted — and therefore genuinely expressive — moment. Backfires when: You need a quick shot; some kids will actually want to roar.

4. “Whisper a secret to the camera.” Leaning in to whisper creates movement, proximity, and often a conspiratorial little smile. Works beautifully for sibling photos. Backfires when: Kids want to actually tell you the secret. Build in time for that or you’ll lose the mood.

5. “On three, everyone jump!” The landing face — the moment right after a jump — is almost always genuine and joyful. Shoot just as they land, not mid-air. Backfires when: Your camera or phone has any significant shutter delay. You’ll get the aftermath, not the moment.

6. “Say your favourite superhero!” Kids light up talking about things they love. The word itself doesn’t matter as much as the flash of enthusiasm it produces. Backfires when: Two kids have different favourite superheroes and a debate starts. Which is also fine if you don’t need the photo immediately.

7. “Pretend you JUST saw a puppy.” Imagination-based prompts work powerfully on children because they actually use them. The resulting expression is genuine delight. Backfires when: A real puppy is present. Then you’ve lost them completely.

8. “Make a face like you just bit into a lemon.” The exaggerated expression breaks any stiffness, and the return to normal — laughing about the face they just made — is usually when the real photo happens. Backfires when: You want warmth rather than comedy. This is an energy reset, not a warmth prompt.

For Couples

Couple photos fail most often when both people are trying to look good individually rather than relating to each other. The best prompts interrupt that self-focus and create actual interaction.

9. “Tell them one thing you love about them — but don’t say it out loud.” The thinking face — the quiet warmth of someone genuinely appreciating the person next to them — is stunning in a photo. You’re not capturing a smile; you’re capturing something real. Backfires when: Either person is emotionally closed off or feeling disconnected in the moment. The exercise requires genuine feeling to work.

10. “Nose to nose.” Physical closeness interrupts the “how do I look in this photo” spiral. When people are close enough to feel each other’s breath, they tend to laugh or relax into genuine warmth. Backfires when: The lighting doesn’t support very close framing — check your composition first.

11. “Whisper something that will make them laugh.” The reaction — not the whisper — is what you’re after. Real laughter is never unflattering. Backfires when: They whisper something too funny and the result is full-body laughter rather than a composed shot. This is only a problem if you need a formal photo.

12. “Don’t smile. Look at them like you’re still getting used to how much you like them.” This produces an expression that’s warm, slightly vulnerable, and distinctly real. Couples who actually like each other respond to this prompt naturally. Backfires when: The couple is going through tension. The discomfort shows in exactly the way you don’t want.

13. “Forehead together, eyes closed. When I count to three, open your eyes at the same time.” The moment of opening eyes together — the sudden visual reconnection — produces a genuinely intimate expression that’s almost impossible to manufacture otherwise. Backfires when: You’re shooting in a busy location with a lot of distraction. The concentration required doesn’t work in chaos.

14. “What’s your favourite thing you’ve done together? Tell me in three words.” The scramble to think of it, then the warmth of the memory, then the slight laughter of reducing it to three words — the emotion cascade shows on both faces. Backfires when: One partner immediately defers to the other and the moment becomes uneven.

For Family Groups

The challenge with family photos is coordinating people of wildly different ages, energy levels, and willingness to participate. Prompts that work on one age often alienate another.

15. “Everyone put one hand on the tallest person’s shoulder.” Physical prompts create natural orientation and closeness without making anyone feel singled out. The rearrangement moment is often where the best expressions live. Backfires when: Height difference creates a pile-on rather than a natural arrangement. Use for groups of 4+.

16. “Someone say something that’ll make everyone groan.” The resulting collective eye-roll or groan is genuine group expression — usually followed by laughter about the groan. Works beautifully for families with teenagers. Backfires when: The dad/mum joke is actually good and everyone laughs rather than groans. Also fine.

17. “Tell me what you had for breakfast today. Everyone, at the same time.” The chaos of everyone answering simultaneously creates a kind of joyful nonsense. People laugh at themselves and each other. Very unposed. Good for candid family energy. Backfires when: You need the photo done quickly. This prompt extends the session.

18. “Who’s the funniest person in this family? Point at them.” Everyone points somewhere, a few people point at the same person, someone’s offended they weren’t chosen, and the resulting cluster of expressions is usually excellent. Backfires when: Family dynamics are fragile and this could genuinely hurt someone’s feelings. Read the room.

19. “Last one to smile buys dinner.” The paradox of trying not to smile almost always produces smiling. The competitive element adds energy. Backfires when: One person takes it seriously and stares at the camera stonily for 20 seconds. Also usually funny enough to rescue the mood.

20. “Pretend you’re at the best family holiday you’ve ever been on.” Memory-based prompts produce genuine warmth. The visual of that shared memory shows on people’s faces even if they don’t say a word. Backfires when: Significant members of the family weren’t at that holiday — they can’t access the memory the same way.

For Friend Groups

Friends already have shared history, inside jokes, and genuine affection — or at least genuine familiarity. The best prompts for group shots leverage what already exists between people rather than importing something artificial.

21. “Everyone look at the person to your left and hold it.” The cross-cutting eye contact creates connection and usually confusion, which generates real expressions. What you’re shooting is the web of relationships, not a line of posed faces. Backfires when: Your group is in a single-file line rather than a cluster. This needs spatial arrangement to work.

22. “Say the most embarrassing thing that happened this year.” No one actually says it, but the thinking face — the flash of internal “oh god that thing” — is excellent. Backfires when: Someone actually says theirs out loud and derails the session. Which is also a good memory.

23. “Be a group that is absolutely delighted to be photographed together.” The meta-awareness of performing delight is funny enough to produce genuine delight. It only works if your group has enough collective irony to enjoy the bit. Backfires when: Not everyone is in on the joke. Someone might just… actually perform delight without getting the layer.

24. “If this were a movie poster, what genre would it be?” Groups with shared creative sensibility respond beautifully to this — they immediately arrange themselves based on their answer and it creates dynamic, character-specific poses. Backfires when: Your group doesn’t think this way and the question falls flat. Know your crowd.

25. “Everyone do your best impression of the person to your right.” Pure chaos. But the laughter that follows is usually real and the expressions while doing the impression are always interesting. Backfires when: Impressions are mean-spirited rather than affectionate. Be sure the dynamic supports it.

26. “Say whatever you’re actually thinking right now.” No one says it aloud, but the self-awareness of actually accessing that thought — which is usually “this is awkward, I don’t know what my face does in photos” — generates a genuine and often warm expression. Backfires when: Someone is genuinely having a bad time and their honest thought is that.

For Professional and Corporate Shots

The default problem in professional photos is that people treat them like passport photos — perfectly composed, emotionally zero. The prompts that work here need to be subtle enough that people don’t feel foolish responding to them.

27. “Think of a recent work win — something that actually went well.” Genuine satisfaction shows. You’re not asking for a smile; you’re prompting a state that produces one naturally. Backfires when: The person is going through a difficult work period and the prompt lands awkwardly.

28. “Imagine you just got off a call where you said exactly the right thing.” Specific, professional, and produces that confident-warm expression that reads well in headshots. Backfires when: The person is too literal and starts reconstructing the imaginary call in detail rather than just accessing the feeling.

29. “Eyes half-closed, then open slowly.” The transition from hooded to open eyes produces a natural, relaxed expression. Works especially well for headshots where you want approachable rather than intense. Backfires when: The person struggles with the coordination. Try it once and move on if it doesn’t click.

30. “Take one deep breath, exhale fully, and look at the camera on the exhale.” Post-exhale faces are relaxed. The tension stored in the jaw and shoulders releases. What you get is genuinely more natural than most posed expressions. Backfires when: Someone takes an enormous breath and the photo catches them mid-exhale with puffed cheeks.

31. “You’re a few years in the future, and this went really well. What does your face look like?” Future-projection prompts create a kind of calm, confident warmth. Particularly good for founders, speakers, and professionals who need to look both credible and approachable. Backfires when: The person is a pessimist and this prompt makes them anxious about the future rather than warm about it.

For Portraits (Single Subject)

Photographing one person is harder than photographing a group because there’s nothing to distract them from the camera. Everything you say goes directly toward managing their relationship with the lens.

32. “Find something in this room that you actually like looking at and look at it.” Real attention to something genuinely interesting produces a completely natural expression. Not a smile necessarily, but an authentically engaged face. Backfires when: What they find to look at is behind you or badly lit.

33. “Talk to me about something you’ve been thinking about lately.” People’s faces when they’re genuinely explaining something they care about are more interesting than any posed expression. Shoot while they’re talking, not when they stop. Backfires when: The topic is stressful or emotional and what you capture reflects that.

34. “What would you be doing if you weren’t here right now?” The slight wistfulness or humour in the answer usually shows. It also creates a tiny moment of personality that photographs well. Backfires when: The answer is “anything but this” and the person looks like they mean it.

35. “Look at the lens like it’s someone you’re glad to see.” Extremely simple, slightly sentimental, and it works. The warmth directed at something imagined is still real warmth. Backfires when: The person can’t quite make themselves feel it. Some people need more scaffolding.

Globally Around the World (Say Cheese Equivalents)

Most of these alternatives already exist — just not in English. Different languages use different words to produce the “ee” sound or trigger a natural smile shape.

36. “Say eggplant” (茄子 — qiézi, China) The word produces an open, natural expression and is genuinely how photographers prompt smiles in China. Using it in any multilingual group generates curiosity and genuine laughter.

37. “Say orange” (appelsin, Denmark) The long vowel opens the face in a different way to “cheese.” More rounded and natural.

38. “Say spaghetti” (Germany) Used particularly with children. The silliness of the word works across language barriers.

39. “Say money” (any language) Consistently produces a slightly conspiratorial, genuine smile. Works across cultures in a way that “cheese” doesn’t because the word carries emotional resonance regardless of language.

40. “Say yoga” (English — from photographer communities) The open “ah” sound relaxes the jaw and the “ee” at the end softly extends the mouth. Produces a more natural expression than cheese and is increasingly recommended in portrait photography communities.

Unexpected Words That Interrupt Self-Consciousness

These work because the brain is distracted by the strangeness and can’t simultaneously manage its smile performance.

41. “Say existential dread.” The absurdity of the phrase in a photo context produces laughter almost every time. The mismatch between the word and the situation is the joke.

42. “Say bureaucracy.” People trip over the syllables slightly. The concentration required to say it correctly, plus the absurdity, usually produces a genuine expression.

43. “Say guacamole — but make it sound romantic.” Two instructions at once. The result is usually excellent.

44. “Say your own name like you’re introducing yourself at a very important meeting.” People do a tiny performance of their own name, then laugh at themselves doing it.

45. “Say absolutely nothing and look impressive.” The impossibility of “looking impressive” on command usually produces the opposite — a self-aware, warm, slightly laughing face. Which is more impressive anyway.

Timing Tricks (No Words Required)

Sometimes the best alternative to saying anything is changing what you do with the countdown.

46. “I’ll count to three, but I’m taking it on two.” The unexpectedness of the early shot catches people with whatever real expression they had before they reached full performance mode. Backfires when: You actually take it on three anyway because of hesitation. Commit to the deception.

47. “Ready? … Actually wait. Okay — NOW.” The pause-and-surprise approach interrupts the locked-in smile people have been holding. The “now” catches the real face underneath. Backfires when: The pause is too long and people have reset into a new performance.

48. Take three shots in a row without saying anything. Let people know you’re shooting continuously. The first is usually posed. The second is slightly uncertain. By the third, people have run out of performance energy and what you get is real. Backfires when: You haven’t told them you’re shooting continuously — then the later shots just catch confusion or disengagement.

49. “Last shot. Make it count.” Telling people it’s the last one often produces relief and genuine ease. The performance energy drops and something more authentic surfaces. Backfires when: “Last shot” was a lie and you need twelve more.

When Nothing Is Working

Sometimes the prompt isn’t the problem. Here’s what to do when the session has gone wrong.

50. Stop taking photos. Talk for five minutes. If the energy in a session has become tense or self-conscious, no amount of clever prompts will rescue it. Put the camera down, have an actual conversation, let people forget about the photos. Then pick it back up.

This isn’t a prompt. It’s the most useful thing on this list for difficult sessions.

The Science Behind What Makes a Photo Prompt Work

Every effective photo cue does at least one of three things:

Triggers real emotion.

When someone accesses genuine feeling — a funny memory, warmth for the person next to them, delight about something they love — the face reflects it. The Duchenne smile activates involuntarily. You can’t manufacture this by telling someone to smile; you can engineer the conditions that produce it.

Redirects self-consciousness.

The biggest enemy of natural expressions in photos is self-awareness. When someone is thinking “how do I look?”, they’re allocating attention to monitoring their appearance rather than simply being present. Prompts that give the brain a different task — saying an absurd word, imagining a scene, physically engaging with someone — steal that monitoring attention and leave the face to do what it naturally does.

Creates genuine social interaction.

Group prompts that involve people relating to each other — pointing, whispering, responding, reacting — produce authentic expressions because the interaction is real. The camera is capturing the byproduct of something actually happening, not a performance staged for the lens.

Research from the University of California at Berkeley tracked women from their college yearbook photos across 30 years and found that those who displayed genuine Duchenne smiles showed significantly greater wellbeing and marital satisfaction decades later — not because the smile caused those outcomes, but because it reflected something genuine about the person at the time. The photo tells you something real when the smile is real.

As far back as 1862, French anatomist G. B. Duchenne identified that the orbicularis oculi muscle surrounding the eye is recruited in smiles that occur with spontaneously experienced enjoyment — but not in smiles that are posed. The practical implication: you can identify a fake smile by looking at the eyes. So can the people who later view the photo.

This is why “say cheese” keeps producing unsatisfying photos even after 80 years of use. The word has become a signal for everyone in the frame to begin performing. And the camera, faithful to a fault, records the performance.

Quick Reference: The Right Prompt for the Right Situation

What to Avoid (And Why These Common Prompts Backfire)

“Smile!” It’s an instruction, not a trigger. People produce a compliant smile — mouth-only, eyes flat. Worse than cheese in most situations because it’s even more obviously a command.

“Look natural.” Nobody knows what their natural face looks like. Telling someone to look natural makes them intensely conscious of how they currently look, which produces the opposite.

“Stop looking awkward.” Naming the problem embeds it. The person immediately becomes more aware of their awkwardness and more likely to display it.

“One more — this is the last one.” Fine the first time. If you say it four times, people stop believing you and the brief relief of “last shot” is gone. Use once and mean it.

Multiple prompts in rapid succession. “Say cheese! Say butter! Actually, say — everyone look here — say something funny!” creates confusion, not natural expression. Pick one thing and commit to it. The momentum of a session depends on the photographer being decisive.

Inside jokes when not everyone’s inside. Generational, cultural, or group-specific prompts exclude people in the frame who don’t share the reference. That exclusion shows — a slightly confused or disconnected expression in one person pulls the whole photo.

FAQs

Final Thought

The reason “say cheese” stuck for 80 years isn’t that it worked. It’s that it was familiar, quick, and universally understood. It told people when to expect the photo. That part is genuinely useful.

The problem is what it asks people to do in the meantime — perform happiness for a lens that can see the difference between a performance and the real thing.

Every alternative on this list is trying to solve the same problem: how do you help people relax into their actual face? How do you trigger something real in a moment that’s inherently a little artificial?

Sometimes it’s an absurd word. Sometimes it’s a memory. Sometimes it’s putting the camera down entirely and talking for a minute.

The best photos don’t look like photos. They look like life interrupted.

Related on SpeakAwesomely: Alternative Ways to Say “To Whom It May Concern” · Best Ways to Say Hi in Japanese · Other Ways to Say Happy New Year

Sources:

• Guillaume Duchenne (1862) — original anatomical identification of the orbicularis oculi in genuine smiles, via Paul Ekman Group
• Paul Ekman & Wallace Friesen — Facial Action Coding System (FACS), University of California San Francisco
• Harker & Keltner, UC Berkeley — yearbook smile study linking Duchenne smiles to long-term wellbeing (PNAS Nexus, 2024 replication reference)
• Royal Society Open Science (2023) — “Let’s put a smile on that face” — portrait aesthetic study
• Psychological Science Observer — “The Psychological Study of Smiling”
• Wikipedia — “Say cheese” origin and international equivalents
• MetaFilter photography community — practitioner-sourced alternatives (“say yoga,” “pretend you like each other”)

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