No more need to say "cheese"! Thanks to the smile detection feature available with many cameras, your subjects’ smiles can now be detected automatically. Here’s how this ingenious feature works, as well as some techniques for getting those cherished smiles!
Camera manufacturers were quick to realize that most images taken are of people. What’s more, the most common complaint about unsuccessful photos is that the people in them look as though they’re not smiling. Smile detection was developed in response to these two facts.
Smile detection is a two-step process. First, your camera detects a face, then waits to see a smile. In more concrete terms, a motion detector divides your shot into thousands of zones, then analyzes parameters such as white balance and flash level for the face area. When a subject smiles, the camera recognizes a “deformation” of the face by identifying multiple criteria, including narrowed eyes, visible teeth, upturned mouth corners and raised cheeks.
You can adjust the parameters of some cameras to increase the sensitivity of the automatic smile detection feature.
Automatic smile detection is more efficient when subjects don’t cover their faces, particularly their eyes (with bangs, etc.). The feature can also be hampered by hats, masks or sunglasses.
It’s best to have your subjects flash a wide, open-mouthed smile. Your camera will always detect smiles more easily when teeth are visible.
Ask your subjects to face the camera directly and keep as still as possible while keeping their eyes half-shut.
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