We develop tricks over the years to get people to ease up in front of the camera. Many people are uncomfortable getting their photos taken, perhaps because someone is in essence - staring at you for extended periods of time, or perhaps we don't know how to act or stand---seems we forget how to be natural once that camera goes up. So in order to get people to have less tension in their shoulders and brows we try things like--just spin around, do it again, do it again---suddenly the person is laughing and perhaps a little dizzy. Another is--stick your tongue out. Now back in the film days when every frame cost money I might ask someone to stick their tongue but not take the picture(ok ok everyone who knows me knows that I still took the picture), but now its just fun and sometimes we have something fun to paste up on facebook. And what it does is amazing. Suddenly a laugh replaces an awkward smile and the uncomfortable tilt of the head becomes natural. Now I have been told no on this a few times. Some people just don't want a picture taken with their tongue out--thats ok, I've got over ways of making you smile! SayerMotter Photographs by Richard Sayer.
I took pictures for my friend of her nieces and nephews after their uncle's funeral and told them about sticking out their tongues! I did get some fairly good shots - not professional like yours, but acceptable. We did have some laughs about ways to "get ready for the flash".