Picture Perfect: How to Smile for the Camera

* Take deep breaths before the countdown. This will relax the muscles in your face and chest and make you look calm and collected.
* Practice smiling in front of a mirror. No, this isn't dorky. Try different angles and facial positions to get comfortable in your skin. Have a friend take pics of you with a digital camera to immediately determine your best angle.
* Stick your neck out there. Think yoga spine stretch to fully lengthen your neck. Now slightly tilt the head down to emphasize your eyes and to get that "come hither" look.
* Laugh it up. Your natural smile comes out when you let out a legitimate laugh. Get someone to tell a joke or tell the photographer to snap away when the group is giggling.
* Check yourself out. Make sure you love how you look so your confidence shines in photos. Before any picture, take a look at yourself in the mirror. Fix any blemishes, smudges or stray hairs.
* Try the model pose. Turn your body 3/4 towards the camera with one shoulder closer to the camera. Now put one foot a little in front of the other. Push your shoulders down and back and tighten your abs for a genuine, poised presence.
* Don't hold the same smile for too long when many people are taking pictures of you or your group. Relax every now and then. Move your jaw and lips around and reset that gorgeous grin for another round of snapshot memories.