Learning how to smile sounds ridiculous – surely everyone can do it? but when the photographer requests a smile, how do you make it look genuine?

Models Direct gives you some helpful tips to giving your best genuine smile on demand.

In almost every modelling assignment, photographers need the models to convey some kind of emotion through their facial expression or body position.

You can work on facial expressions by practising them in a mirror. Everything you feel is reflected in your face, and models need to be adept at projecting all the major emotions.

Make a list of key emotions (love, hate, sorrow, joy etc.) and practice expressing each emotion in front of a mirror. After you have practiced for a while, try out your skills on a friend and see if they can tell what emotion you are conveying.

How to smile

Learning how to smile sounds ridiculous – surely everyone can do it? In fact, smiling on demand is a real skill, and one that professional models need to master.

To improve your smiling skills, position yourself in front of a mirror and practise the following steps.

• Put your lips together without moving them. Look at your face in the mirror, concentrating on the eyes. At first, they’re lifeless. Now lift up the corners of your mouth and watch your eyes come alive.
• To create a smile, say “MMM” without opening your mouth. No teeth should be showing. Don’t forget to turn the corners of your mouth up.
• To create a broader smile, say “MMM” again with your mouth still closed and again, don’t forget to turn up the corners of the mouth.
• This time say “ME”, whilst opening your mouth and showing your teeth but keeping it soft. Next say “ME” again, this time with a big smile showing all your teeth.
• When you say “HEY,” you produce a very natural facial expression. Say “HEY” and hold it – you will notice your tongue is coming forward and your lips are apart. Now try it again, saying “HEY” with a smiling expression.
• Create a gaunt look by saying the word “POOR”, keeping the lips very soft and sultry and holding for a few seconds.
• To achieve an open and happy laugh try saying “HAA”, remembering to focus your gaze on someone or something to avoid a “lifeless” look.

Posing

You can practise posing in front of a full-length mirror. Check out some fashion catalogues to find the most popular poses. Pay attention to the tilt of the head, the position of the hands and the turn of the ankle. These little things can make a big difference – just as with facial expressions, your body posture can convey a variety of emotions. Consider taking up activities that teach you how to move your body gracefully. Dancers and gymnasts move well in front of the camera because they know how to create long sweeping lines with their bodies.

Both facial expressions and poses can be improved by practising with props, products and wardrobe. Examples of props could be a floppy hat, a long shawl or a beach ball. The idea is to practise using and reacting to the prop.

Since one of the key areas of modelling is promotional and marketing work, it is a good idea to practise with a product that might be sold – a perfume, household product or foodstuff, for example. Practise holding the product so it may be clearly seen and you don’t cover the label.

In fashion shoots, you’ll be selling clothes, so practise showing the important features of each item. Show off the pockets, collar and belt or how the garment moves. You need to bring attention to whatever makes the garment interesting.

Click here for more modelling advice or to speak to a member of the Models Direct team

Henmores stock luxury brands such as Dubarry, Barbour, Schoffel, Gant and many more, Models Direct were delighted to be able to offer new model Raj this exciting opportunity to work with such a professional and creative team.

“Great day shooting for Henmores in the beautiful countryside in Derbyshire. Charlie at Models Direct was incredibly helpful. From the moment the booking came in Charlie was in constant communication with me making sure that I knew what was happening and where I had to be and when. The ladies from Henmores were a joy to work with and Alex the camera man was brilliant and made the shoot work well.
I’m really looking forward to the next job” – Raj

Why not speak to one of the Models Direct team today and see if you have model potential – Click Here

Gary was selected to feature in the latest online commercial for Kwikfit Motability – as an experienced model with a disability, Gary was the perfect choice to work with such a well known client and a professional film crew to produce their latest mobility campaign.

Gary gives his feedback on his filming experience:

As ever the day went very well and was quite seamless despite the very early start!
The crew were very well organised and very welcoming, it was once again a great insight into just how much effort and planning goes into such a short presentation.
My short acting role was great fun, I’d like to say it was a high octane stunt scene but in reality I just had to pull up in my car, get out, shake hands with the Kwik Fit engineer and ask for a new tyre! 
 This all said, it didn’t matter, it was a great experience and I enjoyed it. Let’s just hope I did ok! – Gary

Models Direct are very excited to see the final version of the commercial featuring Gary – click the link below to view:

https://www.weareiris.co.uk/kwikfit

To be considered for modelling and filming work, get in contact today – click here

Getting the opportunity to star in a golf gaming commercial  is a pretty exciting assignment to be booked for!

Earlier this year  Models Direct booked nine of their models  to be part of the filming of the new online commercial for ‘Golf Clash’ –    Cris, Ed, Emily, Jess, Kudzai, Lana, Marco, Tamia & Theo were successfully selected by the production team and  super excited about this opportunity!

Filming would be taking place in London and for some of the models  it was a first, for others were more experienced with this type of work.

The filming was a great success and  Models Direct are now delighted to be able to share the final commercial with you!

https://www.facebook.com/GolfClashPlaydemic/videos/840024442839181/

Marco’s feedback from the day:

“Really good assignment with models direct shooting in Hackney, it was great to work with the team again. The clients were very good and easy to work with, also working and meeting the other models and actors on set was really nice. Thank you guys @modelsdirect can’t wait till the next assignment.”

A great #bts pic of the crew from the filming day –  Models Direct  would like to say a huge congratulations to all who were involved.