20 Fun Ways to Elicit Laughter for Perfect Portrait Photography

The Foundation: Setting the Stage for Genuine Smiles

Before you can capture a laugh, you have to create an environment where one can happen naturally. The most technically perfect portrait will fall flat if the emotion isn’t real. The secret to those coveted, joy-filled images isn’t just about having the right prompts; it’s about laying the groundwork for authenticity from the moment your session begins. This foundation is built on understanding why forced smiles fail and embracing your role as the chief architect of the atmosphere.

Why Forced Smiles Don’t Work

We’ve all seen them: the stiff, awkward photos where everyone is looking at the camera with a tight, painted-on smile. The command to “say cheese!” is often the fastest way to get an inauthentic expression. That’s because there’s a profound, scientifically recognized difference between a polite, forced smile and a genuine expression of joy.

This is often described as the difference between a standard smile and a Duchenne smile, named after the 19th-century neurologist who studied facial expressions. A “cheese” smile only engages the muscles around the mouth. A true Duchenne smile, however, is involuntary. It engages not only the mouth but also the orbicularis oculi muscles around the eyes, creating those tell-tale “crinkles” at the corners. It’s the kind of smile that makes the eyes sparkle and the whole face light up.

Authentic laughter is a full-body experience that a forced expression can never replicate. It engages the entire face, raises the cheeks, and softens the jaw. This genuine emotion is what transforms a simple picture into a timeless portrait. Years from now, you won’t remember the prompt you used, but you will feel the real joy captured in that fleeting moment. That connection is what makes a photograph truly priceless.

Your Role as the Vibe-Setter

As the photographer, you are more than just a technician; you are the director of the mood. Your energy is incredibly contagious, and your subjects will mirror the vibe you put out. If you’re stressed, anxious, or impatient, they will sense it and become tense and self-conscious. But if you are relaxed, enthusiastic, and having fun, they will feel safe to do the same.

This process starts before you even raise your camera. The most important work happens in the first few minutes of interaction. Build rapport. Don’t start by immediately giving instructions. Greet them warmly, ask about their day, and chat about non-photography topics. Getting to know them as people, not just as subjects, breaks down barriers and builds a crucial layer of trust. When people feel seen and comfortable, they are far more likely to let their guard down and share genuine expressions with you.

Finally, a master vibe-setter knows how to read the room. Not every prompt works for every personality. A loud, silly game might be perfect for an outgoing family with young kids but could make a reserved couple feel awkward. Pay attention to their energy levels and social cues. Are they shy? Start with quiet, imaginative prompts. Are they full of energy? Jump into physical games. Tailoring your approach shows that you’re paying attention to them as individuals, making the entire experience feel more personal, collaborative, and ultimately, more fun.

Verbal Prompts and Auditory Tricks (Tips 1-6)

Sometimes, the quickest way to a genuine smile is through the ears. Verbal prompts are fantastic for breaking the ice and shifting the focus away from the camera. These auditory tricks are designed to catch your subjects off guard, interrupt their self-conscious thoughts, and replace them with spontaneous joy. This is a great technique to use when practicing portrait photography.

1. The Bad Joke Challenge

Never underestimate the power of a truly terrible joke. The goal here isn’t to be a stand-up comedian; it’s to deliver a line so cheesy and predictable that the groans and eye-rolls quickly dissolve into laughter. The shared moment of acknowledging the joke’s badness is what creates the connection and the genuine smile. It’s a low-pressure, high-reward technique that works on almost everyone.

Try a few of these classics:

• Why don’t scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything!
• What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta!
• I’m reading a book on anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down!
• Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field.

2. The Fake Laugh Contest

This prompt works by embracing the awkwardness. Ask your subjects to give you their best, loudest, most ridiculously over-the-top fake laugh on the count of three. The initial attempt will feel silly and forced, but something magical happens when a group of people all start producing loud, fake “HA-HA-HAs.” The absurdity of the sound and the act itself almost invariably triggers a wave of authentic, contagious laughter. Be ready to capture the moment the fakeness turns real.

3. Whisper a Ridiculous Secret

Perfect for couples, siblings, or close friends, this prompt creates an intimate and mischievous moment. Ask one person to lean in and whisper something completely nonsensical to the other. The key is to give a specific, silly instruction to avoid the “I don’t know what to say” pause. The combination of close proximity and a bizarre prompt is a surefire way to get a beautiful, candid reaction. You can also practice this when trying to capture candid moments while travel photography.

Try prompts like: “Whisper your favorite vegetable in a deep monster voice,” or “Tell them what you had for breakfast this morning, but say it like it’s the most romantic secret in the world.”

4. The Funny Word Swap

Move beyond the tired “say cheese!” command. Instead, tell your subjects that on the count of three, they all need to shout a funny word or phrase. Start with something simple and then get progressively more absurd. The unexpectedness of hearing a family member yell “funky chicken” or “pickle juice” is often enough to make everyone break character and laugh for real. It turns a command into a fun, shared game.

5. Rapid-Fire Word Association

Engage your subject’s brain in a way that bypasses their “photo smile” filter. Start a simple word association game: you say “sky,” they say “blue.” You say “water,” they say “fish.” Keep the rhythm fast and predictable for a few rounds. Then, suddenly throw in a completely unrelated, nonsensical word like “waffles” or “blimp.” The pattern interrupt will catch them by surprise, often resulting in a delightful, confused laugh.

6. Animal Impersonations

This is a fantastic ice-breaker, especially for kids and fun-loving adults. Simply ask your subject to make the sound of their favorite animal. It’s an inherently silly request that gets people out of their heads. To take it to the next level, ask for an impossible hybrid. The mental gymnastics and resulting sound of someone trying to figure out, “What sound would a cat-penguin make?” will produce some of the most genuine laughter you’ll capture all day.

Physical Games and Interactive Fun (Tips 7-13)

Sometimes, the best way to get someone out of their head is to get them into their body. Verbal prompts are fantastic, but incorporating a little bit of movement and playful interaction can unlock a different, more uninhibited kind of joy. These games break down physical barriers, create motion, and result in wonderfully candid moments.

7. The “Try Not to Laugh” Game

This is a classic case of reverse psychology. Challenge your subject (or a group) to maintain a perfectly serious, straight-faced expression for ten seconds. Tell them, “Whatever you do, do not laugh.” Then, you can make a few subtle silly faces or funny noises. The sheer pressure of trying to suppress a smile is often the very thing that causes the dam to break, resulting in an explosive, genuine laugh. It’s the anticipation that does all the work for you.

8. The Gentle Tickle Attack

Perfect for families with young children or established couples, the tickle attack is a guaranteed laugh-getter. The key is to orchestrate it. Give one person the secret mission: “On the count of three, you’re going to give them a quick, gentle tickle on their side.” The surprise and physical reaction almost always produce pure, unadulterated joy.

It is critically important to use this technique only when you are certain the subjects are comfortable with each other and with physical touch. Always read the room and gauge their relationship. This is about creating a fun, comfortable experience, so consent and awareness are paramount. Never use this with clients you’ve just met or in a more formal setting.

9. The Hip Bump

Posed photos can sometimes feel stiff and static. The hip bump is an incredibly simple way to inject instant energy and motion. Ask your subjects to stand side-by-side and then, on your cue, gently bump hips with each other. It’s a small action that forces a reaction, breaking a rigid pose and often creating a ripple of laughter and a more relaxed posture afterward.

10. The 15-Second Dance Party

Have a fun, upbeat song ready on your phone. Announce a surprise “15-second dance party.” The short timeframe removes any pressure to be a “good” dancer. It’s just a quick burst of silly, uninhibited movement. This is fantastic for capturing dynamic shots filled with motion, flying hair, and wide-open smiles. It completely changes the energy of the shoot in an instant.

11. The Walking and Bumping Stroll

This is an evolution of the hip bump, ideal for couples, families, or friends. Ask them to walk toward you, holding hands or with arms around each other. The instruction is simple: as they walk, they should gently and playfully bump into each other. This creates a beautiful, flowing interaction that looks far more natural than a static pose. You’ll capture the little glances, smiles, and adjustments they make as they navigate the walk together.

12. The “Smell Their Hair” Trick

A long-standing favorite for photographing couples, this prompt works because of its gentle absurdity. Ask one partner to lean in and gently smell the other’s hair or the side of their head. The request is so unusual and intimate that it almost always elicits a surprised smile from the person being sniffed and a playful grin from the sniffer. It’s a great way to get a couple to relax into a close, natural-looking embrace.

13. Silly Face Follow the Leader

Turn your subjects into a comedy duo. Ask one person to make the silliest face they can think of, and then have the other person copy it exactly. The act of mirroring a ridiculous expression—puffed cheeks, a crossed eye, or a goofy grin—creates a shared moment of fun. The laughter often comes not from the first face, but from the slightly-off attempt at copying it.

Mind Games and Imaginative Scenarios (Tips 14-18)

Sometimes, the best laughter comes not from a physical action, but from a mental spark. These prompts use imagination, memory, and surprise to unlock genuine, thoughtful smiles and hearty laughs. They require your subjects to think for a moment, which often leads to more personal and authentic reactions.

14. Recall an Inside Joke

For couples, families, or close friends, shared history is a goldmine of genuine emotion. Ask them to think of a specific, hilarious memory they have together—the time the dog stole the Thanksgiving turkey, or that one ridiculous vacation mishap. The key is to tell them, “Don’t say it out loud, just picture it in your head and look at each other.” The simple act of remembering a private, funny moment will almost always bring a knowing, authentic smile to their faces without them having to say a single word.

15. Describe Each Other with Food

This is a wonderfully creative game for pairs. Ask one person to describe the other’s personality, with one catch: they can only use food items. You’ll get answers like, “She’s like a pineapple: tough on the outside, but really sweet on the inside,” or “He’s like a burrito… complex and a little messy.” The imaginative, and sometimes baffling, comparisons are a perfect recipe for laughter and reveal a sweet, playful dynamic between your subjects.

16. The Useless Superpower

Tap into your subject’s creativity with a quirky hypothetical question. Ask them, “If you could have one completely useless superpower, what would it be?” The goal is to be as impractical as possible. You might hear things like, “The ability to perfectly parallel park, but only shopping carts,” or “The power to know the exact temperature of any piece of toast.” This prompt encourages creative thinking and the resulting silly ideas are a fantastic source of amusement.

17. The “Wrong Name” Gag

A well-timed bit of absurdity can instantly break the ice and shatter any photo-shoot tension. In the middle of giving directions, casually and confidently call your subject by a completely random, slightly old-fashioned, or elaborate name. For example, instead of “Okay, Mark, look to your left,” try, “Alright, Bartholomew, chin up just a little.” The momentary confusion followed by the realization of the joke almost always gets a surprised laugh. It’s unexpected, low-pressure, and very effective.

18. The Movie Quote Delivery

Unleash their inner thespian by asking them to deliver a simple, mundane phrase as if it were the most important line in a dramatic movie trailer. Give them a silly line like, “I have to return some videotapes,” or the classic “I love lamp.” Then, ask them to say it in their most over-the-top, dramatic, movie-star voice. The contrast between the serious delivery and the ridiculous content is pure comedy, getting them to laugh at their own performance.

Using Props and The Environment (Tips 19-20)

19. Introduce an Unexpected Prop

Sometimes, all it takes to shatter a stiff pose is a dose of pure absurdity. While photo booth props have their place, the real magic comes from introducing something completely out of left field. The goal isn’t to create a themed photo; it’s to use an object so silly that your subjects can’t help but react with genuine surprise and amusement. Handing someone a rubber chicken or a ridiculously tiny hat instantly breaks the “I’m having my picture taken” mindset and replaces it with a moment of playful fun.

The key is the element of surprise. Keep the prop hidden until you need to break the tension. The more random it is, the better the reaction. For example, using a leaf blower (from a safe distance and on a low setting) to create a “supermodel wind” effect is almost guaranteed to elicit peels of laughter. This can be a fun way to explore manipulating light and shadows in an unexpected way.

• A rubber chicken: The undisputed champion of silly props.
• A ridiculously small hat: A tiny sombrero or fedora placed on an adult’s head is comedy gold.
• Bubble gun: Fun for all ages and creates beautiful visual elements in the photo.
• A single, giant googly eye: Ask them to hold it over their own eye.
• An unusual vegetable: A lumpy gourd or a comically large zucchini can be surprisingly funny.
• Groucho Marx glasses: A simple, classic gag that always works.
• A fly swatter: Ask them to pose with it as if it were a royal scepter.

20. Involve a Pet

If your subjects have a furry (or feathery, or scaly) friend, you have an incredible, built-in laughter generator. Animals are unpredictable, uninhibited, and often hilarious, making them the perfect catalyst for candid moments. Shifting the focus from the people to the pet takes the pressure off and allows for natural interactions to unfold. This is a great way to capture genuine moments, similar to what you might aim for in street photography.

Instead of just having them hold their pet, turn it into a game. Ask the owner to whisper their biggest secret into their dog’s ear or to try and get their cat to give them a high-five. The attempt to get the pet to cooperate—and the pet’s inevitable and amusing refusal—is often where the most authentic laughter happens. These moments feel less like a photoshoot and more like a genuine slice of their life, filled with the joy their animal companion brings.

Capturing the Moment: Technical Tips for Laughter

Eliciting a great laugh is only half the battle; capturing it effectively requires the right technical approach. Genuine laughter is a fleeting, fast-moving event. A split-second of hesitation or the wrong camera settings can mean the difference between a blurry, missed opportunity and a perfectly crisp, joyful portrait. Here’s how to set yourself up for success.

Camera Settings for Fleeting Expressions

When the fun starts, you won’t have time to fiddle with your dials. Prepare your camera with these settings to ensure you’re ready to freeze the perfect moment in time.

• Shutter Speed: This is your most critical setting. Laughter involves quick head movements, crinkling eyes, and wide-open mouths—all of which create motion blur at slow shutter speeds. A fast shutter speed is non-negotiable. Aim for at least 1/250s, and don’t be afraid to go higher (1/500s or more) in good light, especially with energetic kids.
• Focus Mode: A subject who is laughing is rarely static. They may lean forward, toss their head back, or shift their weight. Switch your camera to its continuous autofocus mode (AF-C for Nikon/Sony, AI Servo for Canon). This allows the camera to constantly track your moving subject, keeping their face and eyes sharp as they react.
• Aperture: There’s a delicate balance to strike here. A wide aperture (like f/1.8 or f/2.8) lets in plenty of light and creates beautiful background blur, but it also creates a very shallow depth of field. For a single person, this can be stunning. For a couple or family, however, you risk one person being in focus while the other is soft. Consider stopping down slightly (to f/4 or f/5.6) to ensure everyone in the group remains sharp while they laugh together.

The Power of Burst Mode

If you take one technical tip away from this article, let it be this: use burst mode. Also known as high-speed continuous shooting, this setting allows you to capture a rapid sequence of photos by holding down the shutter button. A genuine laugh isn’t a single expression; it’s a dynamic sequence of emotions. This is a key technique for capturing the essence of portrait photography.

Shooting in burst mode ensures you don’t just capture the peak of the laugh. You also get the subtle smile that comes just before it and the gentle, contented expression that settles in right after. Often, these “in-between” moments—the slight smirk, the build-up of a giggle, or the quiet exhale after a big laugh—are the most authentic and heartwarming images of the entire series. By capturing the full arc of the emotion, you give yourself a wealth of beautiful, genuine options to choose from later.

Adapting Your Approach for Different Subjects

A “bad joke” that works wonders for a stoic adult might fly right over a child’s head. The key to consistently capturing genuine laughter is to tailor your techniques to your audience. A one-size-fits-all approach rarely works; understanding the dynamics of who you’re photographing will make you a more effective and intuitive director of fun. This is especially true in portrait photography, where connection is key.

Eliciting Laughs from Kids

Children operate on a different wavelength—one fueled by energy, silliness, and play. To get genuine smiles from kids, you have to be willing to get on their level and embrace the chaos. Forget quiet, contemplative prompts; think action and absurdity.

• Embrace Physical Comedy: Don’t be afraid to be silly yourself. Make funny noises, trip over your own feet (safely!), or play a quick game of peek-a-boo from behind the camera. Their laughter will often be at your expense, and that’s perfectly okay. Understanding how to manipulate light and shadows can also add an element of fun and surprise for children.
• Use High-Energy Games: Kids have short attention spans. Turn the session into a game. Ask them to do their best impression of a T-Rex, make the sound of a monkey, or challenge them to a “Simon Says” game with silly poses.
• Keep it Quick: Move from one prompt to the next quickly. The moment you sense their interest waning, switch to a new game or sound to keep the energy up.

Photographing Couples

With couples, the most beautiful laughter comes from their shared connection and history. Your goal is to create a small, intimate bubble where they almost forget you’re there. Prompts should encourage interaction and remind them of their bond.

• Lean into Their History: Prompts like “Recall an Inside Joke” or asking one to whisper a shared memory to the other are incredibly effective. The smile that emerges is authentic because it’s tied to a real, joyful moment.
• Create Gentle Physical Interaction: Simple actions like the “Hip Bump” or the “Walking and Bumping Stroll” break static poses and create natural reactions. The “Smell Their Hair” trick is a classic because its gentle absurdity almost always works.
• Foster a Private Moment: Ask them to face each other, close their eyes, and think about their favorite thing about the other person. When they open their eyes, the resulting expressions are often soft, genuine, and deeply emotional. This is a great technique for couple poses during travel.

Working with Individuals

Photographing a single person can be the most challenging, as they have no one else to play off of. All the focus is on them, which can feel intimidating. Your primary job is to build a strong, comfortable one-on-one rapport and make them feel at ease.

• Use Self-Deprecating Humor: Making a lighthearted joke about yourself can instantly lower their guard. If you fumble with a setting, laugh it off. This shows you’re human and makes the environment less formal.
• Engage in Word Games: Techniques like “Rapid-Fire Word Association” or the “Funny Word Swap” are perfect for individuals. They don’t rely on interaction with others and can break a person out of their own head.
• Be Their Mirror and Hype Person: Offer plenty of positive reinforcement. When a prompt gets a small smile, tell them how great it looks. Your confidence in them will boost their own.

Managing Groups and Families

The secret to authentic group photos is to get the members to interact with each other, not just with the camera. When a family is laughing together, they create a scene filled with connection and personality. Your prompts should act as catalysts for these interactions.

• Create a “Target”: Use prompts that get everyone to focus on one person. For example: “On the count of three, everyone point to the person who is the messiest cook,” or “Everyone look at the person who tells the worst jokes.” This creates a wave of reactions, pointing, and laughter. Consider how you might use different lighting techniques to highlight these interactions.
• Encourage Group Actions: Ask the whole family to try the “Fake Laugh Contest” at the same time. The resulting cacophony is almost always hilarious. You can also try a group hip bump or a very short, silly walk toward the camera.
• Start a Chain Reaction: Use a prompt like “Silly Face Follow the Leader,” where one person starts and the others have to copy them. This creates a shared experience and ensures everyone is engaged in the same fun activity.