Many amateur- and freelance models (and even some professional models) that I meet seem to have a problem with their expressions. While they may look outstanding, they fail to convey desired emotions with their face and their eyes. To help all of you out there who have such problems, here are some pointers to help you work on and improve your expressions:
Emotions
If you emotionally feel something, you will most likely look like it. That means that if you are or feel happy, you will look happy. If you are or feel sad, you will look sad. Some people can turn those feelings on and off at their will. Others need to use other techniques.
Scenarios
If you are one of those people who can not turn on a desired emotion at any point in time, you should use a technique called scenarios. That means you will either remember an event in the past that will bring back the desired emotion or you will make up a story in your mind that will yield that emotion. Even the story of the shoot alone may be able to instill a certain emotion in you.
Mimicking
Try to mimic expressions in front of a mirror. There are many people who do this but still fail to deliver those expressions during a photoshoot. Now there is a little trick to properly practice in front of a mirror. Take a look at the expression that you want to mimic and practice in front of a mirror until you got it. Now close your eyes and remember how your face feels, how the muscles interact to form that expression. Now relax your face and open your eyes. Close your eyes again and mimic that expression with your eyes close. Open your eyes and see how close you came. Repeat this until you achieve the desired result several times in a row. Then try the same technique on another expression until you are happy with the result. Then go back to the first expression, close your eyes and mimic it. Do this over and over with as many expressions as you like.
Webcams
During a photoshoot you would rarely stand as you would in front of a mirror, your face would most likely be tilted in some angle that would make it hard for you to concentrate on the mirror. Instead, use a webcam and record yourself. This way you will be able to see how your expression looks from different angles.
Seduce the Camera
If the photoshoot calls for a seductive look, imagine the camera is your significant other or any other person you may find attractive and seduce it. Seduce as you would in real life without exaggerating and making it cheesy.
Look past the Camera
If you look straight into the camera, your eyes will look boring and posed. Rather focus your eyes at about the point where the photographers eyes would be. This adds more depth to your expression by slightly flexing your lower eye muscle and adds drama to the shot.
Go to Extremes
If you have problems getting into the mood for an expression, take it to the extreme without being cheesy about it. If the concept requires you to be happy, be overly happy at first and then calm it down until you reach the right level. Just be sure to let the photographer know beforehand as to not create any misunderstandings.
Acting Classes
Take an acting class at a Community College. It will surely cost you some money, but if you are serious about modeling and have evaluated your chances and your income potential, it may be one of the best investments you can make. Just keep in mind that in modeling you need to be able to freeze an emotion, while as an actor or actress you play it out.
Music
Many people are intensely affected by music and actually feel what the artist is singing about. If you are one of those people, make yourself some CDs with music that causes you to feel such emotions. If you play those CDs during a photoshoot, it will help you to express those emotions.
The Eyes
Last but not certainly not least – the eyes are the most important aspect of your emotions. No matter how much you practice your facial expressions, your eyes are what conveys an emotion. If your expression is happy but your eyes look bored, you will never be able to be convincing. ALWAYS keep in mind that you do not only need to be able to mimic an emotion, but you also need to feel it to an extent that your eyes will convincingly portray that emotion.
