How do you smile for pictures?!

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#1 Post by **prettybetty3** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 2:33 pm

I have been self conscious of my teeth and smile all my life. When I laughed or smiled I would be sure to hold it in or cover my mouth. I never smile in pictures and in fact hate taking them. It has been a life-long habit of not showing my teeth.

I love my braces and I can't wait to have a beautiful smile...but...

I practice in the mirror sometimes for when I take pictures (the first thing I am going to do after my braces are off is go to a portait studio and take pictures to make up for all the years of lacking fotos of myself) BUT I don't even know how to smile! LOL
I want to know what best smile is for me when I take pictures. Since I still have a year left and I still have my overbite, I assume I still think my smile looks weird since its not done yet. As silly as it seems...it feels so awkward, like I don't even know how to adjust my eyebrows! LOL

Anyone with the same dilemma? How do you do it? I am sure it comes natural but I want to practice! LOL

#2 Post by **SDFD TSchott** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 3:24 pm

I wish I had some sort of answer for you however I don't. I smiled all the time I don't care if my teeth looked bad or not cause in fact they didn't look bad when I smiled. The only thing that anyone knew is that wow you have perfect teeth. Its all deep in molars were in bad shape. Crowing on lower jaw which no one noticed since the lowers are usually hideing behind the lips anyways and the uppers just slight crowding not much and there was also a small open bite that I notice. Anyways my fifth adjustment is coming up in five days!

SDFD TSchott

#3 Post by **Ruby Tuesday** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 5:09 pm

I know what you mean. Before braces, I would either be the one taking the photo or makes sure I was positioned so my 'good side' was taken! Now, I can't stop smiling and smile for the camera at any opportunity!

#4 Post by **iBorg** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 6:02 pm

Before wires, it didn't matter. Teeth didn't show. Looked gumless and stupid.

Now i smile proudly.

Mike

#5 Post by **Danielle** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 6:12 pm

Before braces I never smiled showing my teeth. Things have changed! I was and still am the unoffical family photographer... and at Christmas I got in front of the camera way more than usual displaying my metal mouth. When I developed the pictures I thought "Whoa that's a lot of metal" but I thought these pictures are gonna be so great to look back on in a few years that it didn't matter. As far as naturally smiling showing your teeth, I'd say relax and think of something funny while looking in the mirror (by yourself if you're not ready to have others watch you practice your new smile). Just laugh, laugh, and you'll get it!

#6 Post by **Jillianleab** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 6:47 pm

I totally know what you mean! I always gave a closed-mouth smirk in pics before braces, and that has continued while in braces... When laughing I would sometimes cover my mouth, and I've noticed I do it more often now. I hate that I do it, but it's almost an immediate reaction. I'll smile at myself in the mirror (alone) to see how I'm progressing, and I think I look so weird! I think it's because I'm forcing a smile; when you fake smile your eyes look different; and fake smiles always look, well, fake! I just can't seem to give a genuine smile in the mirror because when I think - "Oh! I'm smiling, let me look in the mirror!" it's too late and I'm back to that damn fake smile!!!!!!

I think it will come naturally once the braces are off - at least I hope so!

#7 Post by **jess214** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:55 pm

I know exactly what you mean. In fact, I think my smile (closed mouth, that is - I've never smiled with my teeth showing) has gotten worse now that I have braces. My mouth looks too unnatural in pictures now, kind of like I'm hiding food in my mouth, and I'm not sure if I want to show my braces. I've tried practising in front of the mirror but somehow it doesn't look right.. that, or I can't replicate it in front of a camera. How annoying.

Website · #8 Post by **Frenchsmile** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:04 pm

As I my upper and lower look strongly metallic with elastic chain, when I smile I really feel handicapped with my metal mouth. In the train people look at my braces when I open my mouth. I get used to my braces but I am very self conscious the way I look.

Since I have a double looped archwire, I feel even more conscious.

Cheers from frenchsmile

#9 Post by **butterfly** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 7:26 pm

I can totally relate

I used to do the closed lip smile for years and didn't even know which muscles to activate to create a smile. The most embarrassing event was taking the photos for the ortho records. I had to smile and didn't know how to do that...! I also ujsed to hide my mouth when laughing.

But don't worry: The smile ability will come naturally as soon as you feel comfortable with your mouth. I started smiling even with full braces on! I felt less embarrassed with crooked teeth in braces than with crooked teth without beaces.

Speech is also affected by the same way. I used to talk with my mouth as closed as possible. I had a "muffled" voice and a lisp. This is now slowly improving. I just read aloud to practice and tape myself

With normal teeth I feel much better being with other people. It is like freedom you never had. I just don't care about it anymore... I enjoy laughing and talking and smilig, photos without thinking about my mouth...

I never thought there will be such a significant difference. You will feel it too.

#10 Post by **Willz** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:30 am

I have the same problem. I never used to smile with my mouth open during photos. I'm a bit scared of doing it with the braces. Hopefully when the braces come off I will be able to smile normally

#11 Post by **chrisd** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 7:17 am

i just say to he** with it and smile big. i love to flash the old tin grin.
i think it will be nice to have pictures showing my braces journey
chris