There’s a reason photographers have asked children to “say cheese” for generations. The word naturally stretches the mouth into a smile. But while it may create a grin, it rarely creates a genuine moment. Parents often discover that the second a child is told to smile on command, the expression becomes stiff, exaggerated, or completely unnatural.
The truth is, authentic smiles don’t happen because someone demanded them. They happen when children feel free to be themselves.
At Studio27, we believe the most beautiful photographs are not perfectly posed portraits with forced expressions. They are the real moments — the bursts of laughter, the curious looks, the cheeky grins, the cuddles with Mum, the playful chaos between siblings, and the tiny expressions that reveal your child’s unique personality.
Children are naturally expressive when they feel relaxed. The problem with “say cheese” is that it shifts their focus away from enjoying the moment and onto performing for the camera. Suddenly they become self-conscious. Some children freeze. Others pull awkward smiles that parents instantly recognise as “not really them.”
That’s why our approach is different.
Rather than expecting children to sit still and pose endlessly, we create an environment where they can play, explore, laugh, and interact naturally. We talk with them, joke with them, and follow their energy instead of trying to control every movement. Sometimes the best images happen in the in-between moments — when they are twirling, whispering to a sibling, hiding behind Mum’s shoulder, or bursting into laughter after a silly joke.
These candid moments tell a much deeper story than a forced smile ever could.
For babies and younger children especially, patience is everything. Little ones don’t work to a timetable, and that’s perfectly okay. Some children need time to warm up. Others arrive full of excitement and energy. By allowing sessions to unfold naturally, we capture genuine emotions instead of manufactured expressions.
Parents are often surprised when they see the final gallery. The images they fall in love with most are rarely the perfectly posed ones. Instead, they treasure the photographs where their child’s true personality shines through — the mischievous smile, the thoughtful gaze, the uncontrollable giggles, or the way they reached for Mum’s hand without thinking.
Years from now, these are the moments that matter.
Photography is about more than getting everyone to look at the camera at the same time. It’s about preserving a season of life exactly as it felt. Children grow and change so quickly, and authentic photographs become priceless reminders of who they truly were at that age.
So during your next photoshoot, forget about “saying cheese.”
Let kids be loud. Let them be playful. Let them cuddle, dance, explore, and laugh.
Because the most meaningful smiles are never forced — they simply happen.
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