I picked this up from working with actors and now use it on a lot of shoots, especially upper body and close head shots. Before you start ask your model, or if you are a model to try to get the photographer to join you, in a few basic face exercises. If you have an MUA etc get them to join in as it not only relaxes your subjects face but can get everyone relaxed.
1. Chewing imaginary toffee, start with a small piece and then imagine it gets bigger and stuck in your teeth.
2. Run your tongue around the front of your top teeth, then round the back. Next, run your tongue round the front of your bottom teeth then round the back, do this slowly so you can feel each tooth.
3. Cat’s bum, elephant’s bum: Be careful with this one if you have a lot of eye make-up on, for cat’s bum screw your face up tight and squeeze your hands into small balls, then elephants bum is the opposite, wide open mouth and eyes and big ‘jazz hands’! Do this a few times and the muscles around your mouth and eyes will warm up.
I am sure there are plenty of others but these have worked for me over the years.
