And then I saw it: Almost every model had her mouth slightly open, as if she were about to say something. This moment just before the next word creates an almost erotic tension. The viewer becomes a conversation partner, a confidant. The open mouth promises intimacy, invites dialogue, makes the static photo dynamic.
But as is often the case with supposedly universal recipes, they unfortunately don't always work. With some models, the open mouth looks forced, unnatural, almost like a caricature of themselves. So it's not about rigidly repeating a formula, but about capturing a moment that feels truly authentic.
My solution? I serve small treats during the shoot. "I got this especially for you," I then say (which is actually true), and there it is — that priceless mixture of surprise, full mouth, and inevitable laughter.
Sometimes I also tell a silly joke: "The doorbell rings. Intercom: 'Hello, this is Mike Hunt. I've come to see your daughter.' - 'Who did you say?' - 'Mike Hunt!'" That often works to break the ice. But it can also backfire. Keep this between us.
Communication is so important. I talk a lot during my shoots. Not to fill the silence, but to build a connection. The model forgets the camera for a moment, becomes a conversation partner. The open mouth then comes all by itself, natural, unstaged, in the middle of an amusing story.
