Almost every client I meet worries about not knowing how to make sexy faces or what exactly “bedroom eyes” are. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. This post will break down come-hither looks—what they are, how to master them, and why men find them irresistible.
Why Expression is Important
A great final image depends on strong expression. If you’re worried about not making sexy faces, you’re right—expression is what truly connects you with the viewer.
While body language plays a role, let’s focus on facial expressions so we don’t overwhelm you with too many details. Mastering this will elevate your photos and bring out your confidence.
Want to dive deeper into what makes a good boudoir photo? Check out this post which show how location. lighting, composition and technical settings all work in concert for exceptional boudoir photos.
Bedroom Eyes 101: The Art of Seductive Expression
Every body language book I’ve read stresses the importance of clusters—multiple cues working together to convey intent. No single facial expression tells the whole story; it’s the combination that creates a clear message.
For example, you can nail the perfect bedroom eyes, but if your lips don’t match, you might unintentionally project skepticism or irritation.
At first, expressing clusters of emotions on command can feel tricky. That’s where I come in. During your session, I provide real-time feedback to help you create expressive combinations that translate beautifully on camera. In boudoir, I guide clients to embody confidence, desire, dominance, or submission—whatever best fits their unique vibe.
How to Make Come Hither Looks With Your Eyes
We all know confidence is sexy, but most people don’t realize it’s primarily communicated through the eyes. Tyra Banks famously coined the term “smize” to describe smiling with your eyes. While catchy, the term can be misleading. A smize alone can come off as fierce—which isn’t necessarily bad—but when not balanced with other facial cues, it can sometimes look unapproachable or even bitchy.
That said, Tyra’s point is still crucial: confidence shines through your eyes. The simplest way to achieve this is by subtly raising your lower eyelids toward your pupils. Sound tricky? It’s not. Try it in front of a mirror. Most people do it naturally in daily interactions without even realizing it. The goal is to train yourself to do it intentionally.
When I teach this to clients, I always start by standing in front of a mirror with them and practicing together. Done right, it feels like applying a slight, controlled pressure to your eyes—almost like a hint of a squint, without actually squinting.
Practice until you can do it instinctively, even without a mirror. I’ve never photographed someone who couldn’t learn it, and most of my clients can do it on command in under five minutes.
Tips for Making Bedroom Eyes
Important note: a smize is NOT a squint. The orbicularis oculi muscle, which controls eyelid movement, is circular. Because of this, you’ll always get a little movement from your upper eyelid when engaging the lower one. However, the key to conveying confidence and interest—especially in photos—is making sure most of the movement comes from the bottom lid, not the top. If you squint by lowering your upper lid too much, you’ll end up looking suspicious instead of engaged.
This subtle movement signals confidence, engagement, and presence. This creates an instant connection, making the other person feel engaged and bonded with your photos.
Come Hither Looks: Completing the Cluster
Now that we know confidence comes from the eyes, let’s talk about how the mouth signals approachability. When we combine mouth and eye cues, we create a complete facial expression. Get the eyes right but miss with the mouth, and the result can come off as unapproachable—or even bitchy. Not exactly the goal.
It’s important to note that mouth cues don’t have to be smiles or variations of them to create stunning boudoir photos. One of my favorite cues to direct during a session is a slight breath in or out of the mouth. This subtle gasp, paired with a smize, creates an expression that oozes sensuality and confidence. Add a slight chin dip, and suddenly, you’ve got a look that practically short-circuits a man’s lizard brain.
There’s a lot of nuance in lip positioning—smiles, no smiles, gasps, lip bites, and everything in between can all work beautifully. The key is keeping the jaw relaxed. Most great beauty expressions include a slight 1–2 millimeter gap between the teeth. Anything wider—or a clenched jaw—needs to be used carefully, or it can quickly look over-the-top.
The “Novocain jaw” technique is so effective that pro models often yawn between takes to reset their jaw and keep it loose. When you’re new to this, you’ll only be able to hold an expression for a few minutes before it starts to look… forced. Resetting your jaw really helps most people as they tend to clench as I pepper them with posing cues. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to execute sub consciously—and for longer durations.
Conclusion
That’s pretty much it for the basics of how to make come hither looks and how to do bedroom eyes for your upcoming photo shoot. Basically if you master the smize and the novacane jaw, you’ll be well on your way to expressing like a pro model.
If you found this post helpful, drop a comment below and share it! And if you’re ready to create stunning, connection-driven photos, contact me here and I’d be happy to capture photos for you like I show on this site.