Tip4 min read

Facial Expressions

A neutral face is a wasted frame. Direct the exact emotion — and the small physical tells that sell it.

Describe the tell, not just the emotion

“Happy” is vague. “A soft, closed-mouth smile with warmth reaching the eyes” is directable. Name the muscles, not the mood.

Understated beats exaggerated almost every time. Subtlety reads as real.

Structure a prompt like a director’s brief — subject, light, lens, mood, grade.

Lock a face, wardrobe, and vibe across dozens of shots with reference workflows.

Name your light source and quality to control mood before you touch a grade.