Do you know what a smize is? Apparently it’s smiling with your eyes and according to WikiHow there are a number of steps on how to achieve the smize.
The smize has been on my mind lately since I saw this article from Refinery 29 on “How To Look Gorgeous In Pictures”. When I was younger I was never comfortable taking pictures as I hating posing and smiling. I was told by many that I kind of had a “Mona Lisa” thing going on since I never gave a full out smile. Since I’ve gotten older I don’t take myself as seriously and smiling for the camera has been more comfortable. But now I find out that the “Mona Lisa” that I had seemed to perfect I can’t do anymore LOL!
Oh well, c’est la vie!
Here is my attempt at my smize while in one of my go to cozy outfits this season:
My kitten Baxter decided to jump into the picture too!
Heehee, thanks Lisa! Tell me how the the smize goes!
I think you do a great job with the smize in picture 1. I might try the smize myself and see how it turns out, even though I hate showing my face on the blog. Baxters expression is priceless. He’s got the smize down pat! I love your sweater!
Funny yet very interesting, Elaine. 🙂 I tried to smize but I look ridiculous, need more practice? hahaha. You look cute in your photos and nice cardigan! 🙂
Oh man Lor I can imagine during performances your facial expressions are so important!
LOL – my pictures are never “on time” – this is from a few weeks ago when it was chillier 😛 But unless it’s hot and humid I’m generally always cold anyway so I’m more comfortable in layers 😉
I know exactly what you mean! Its really important when I’m dancing/performing…and after so many years, I still don’t have it right!! And especially lately my artistic director has been bugging me about this issue too, one of the reasons why I’m struggling to improve/advance further! If you ever get a chance to watch Chinese Opera (I’ll admit its pretty boring!)…but its fascinating to see its all about the eyes, they can communicate with their eyes!
Not only that…my mom saw my blog pictures and she told me that I keep giving my “fake” smile.
I’m going to be working on my smize too!!!
Btw why are you wearing a sweater, its super warm outside! 😛
Well you always look great and natural in your photos, don’t change what you’re doing!
I guess I just need to get used to it, I felt so silly hahahaha!
LOL I’m learning so much about cats, they are hilarious!
LOL pissed or constipated, yeah there were many of those looks that I didn’t post 😛
Yes that article was pretty helpful!
LOL I think it was coined to make all them self conscious and overthink what they are doing – it works for me LOL!
Thanks Tara! 🙂
Man I guess I should be crediting Tyra in this post LOL!
Hahaha, thanks JoAnn! Yes wonder if he’ll be more curious on future outfit shots 😛
Yes, seems I’m late to the whole “smize” thing 😛 LOL you always look great in your photos! Yea looking away is another good trick!
Thanks HappyChinadoll!
Awww thanks Kelly, that makes me feel less self conscious, I guess it’s just about practice and getting more comfortable! You should show some pics of your cats too!
LOL Katherine, new for me too! Yes this sweater is so cozy I wear it all the time!
Yeah he’s my favorite colour – grey hahahaha! LOL I wish I had a secret I was keeping, maybe I’ll just tell people that 😛
Hahaha thanks Tracy! 😛
LOL he might very well be trying to smize, so funny!
LOL cat lovers are hilarious! I’m such a dog person, and know nothing about cats so I find him hilarious! so much to learn too!
I stopped watching ANTM a long time ago (Tyra got on my nerves hahahaha!) so I guess I’m late to the whole “smize” thing 😛
LOL isn’t he hilarious? He has the funniest expressions but so hard to get on camera!
Yeah I guess it’s from ANTM, I haven’t watched in YEARS!
awww thanks Michelle!
Perhaps I should tune in to ANTM again just to master the smize LOL!
Hahaha! ‘naughty googly eyes’ I’ll take it 😛
hilarious! I know exactly what a smize is – I believe Tyra Banks coined the term. I’ve tried it and I look ridiculous! I always show my pearly whites when taking pictures, I look goofy otherwise.
hahaha you are so funny, Elaine! Smizing makes me think of America’s Next Top Model and Tyra Banks but I don’t think you did as bad of a job as you think! Your cat looks like he wanted to take photos as well. =P Cute cardi from ON!
I could not do it better! I used to have a cat and her expression looked similar to that. Love your sweater.
I think you do a great job with the “smize.” You still look friendly and happy. When I tried “smize,” I looked either pissed or constipated…yup!
Elaine, you’re so cute! Love the sweater! I need to practice smizing too! haha Heading over to read that article since I need help posing for pictures too!
Lol! I can’t even pretend to understand that whole smize thing! I saw a post about it at “Kendi Everyday” too and was wondering if they just made it all up to weed out the model want a be’s. I adore Baxter’s expression too, how cute is that?!!
You got the smize down girl! Your sweater is super cute!
every time i hear “smile with your eyes” i think of tyra and america’s next top model lol 🙂
i like your sweater!
Nice smizing! I love the pattern of your sweater — it’s so pretty. Love that Baxter got into the action, too!
I think smizing was coined by Tyra Banks on ANTM, but yeah, I can’t do it. My face seems to only have two modes–happy or angry/sullen (even if I’m not feeling remotely angry or sullen!). So I stick to smiling in my outfit photos or looking away from the camera lol.
I like your smize. I love that sweater. 🙂
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You should definitely smize more and it doesn’t look silly to me! Baxter is too cute 🙂 My younger cat loves being in pictures too lol
Hahah I learnt a new word – Smize! That sweater looks cozy and your cat’s look is priceless!
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Aww, Baxter is soooo cute! I love your sweater – so ski chalet chic 🙂 Your smize photo makes you look mischievous with a secret!
Hahaha I love your smize! And Baxter’s eyes in that last photo-hilarious!
Love your smite. Looks like Baxter may be trying to smite too.
Awww!! I just said out loud! “Aww! She’s got a kitty!!” and my husband did an “aww” behind me! Did that sound bad?! Lol!!
Well…I love your smize! Have you ever seen “America’s Next Top Model.” Tiara Banks always says that! Lol!
And that sweater looks so cozy!
You are too funny, Elaine. I kept on laughing at Baxter in the last picture. Is there a Smize going on there as well? lol.
I love your go-to cozy winter outfit. I would see myself in it too. 🙂
Love your smize! I first heard it on ANTM. haha Baxter is so cute
You look great smize and all!
LOL. But I like it! I really dislike blogs where the bloggers’ eyes are *always* empty. You don’t need to smile in every photo, but the eyes have to show life! I’m not saying I’m the best picture taker, but some of them need to watch a few episodes of America’s Next Top Model. HAHA. Kills me. But I think Baxter has the “smize” down.
I love the pics! Kinda like the naughty google eyes 🙂 Love the cardigan and the stunned cat look 😀