Capturing the perfect photo of a child can be challenging. Kids often struggle with the tasks that come naturally to adults: sitting still, focusing, and giving a genuine smile. Instead, their smiles can sometimes resemble a forced grimace, reminiscent of Matthew Perry’s character on “Friends.”
This common issue was recently tackled in a viral tweet by children’s author Adam Perry, which garnered nearly 300,000 likes. Perry posted side-by-side photos of his 5-year-old son, showcasing the stark difference in his smile when prompted with a playful word—one that isn’t “cheese.”
On Twitter, Perry shared: “My son when I tell him to smile vs when I yell out ‘poop!’”
Perry, who has written books such as The Thieving Collectors of Fine Children’s Books, The Magicians of Elephant County, and The Big Book of Horrendous Diseases, explained his discovery in an interview with Good Morning America. He recounted how the method emerged during a hectic first day of school photo session. “We were rushing and struggling to get a good picture,” Perry said. “I noticed that if I shouted ‘POOP’ just before snapping the photo, it elicited a much better, more natural smile from my son. The results were so striking that I decided to share them.”
The unexpected popularity of Perry’s tweet took him by surprise. “I thought maybe 5 to 10 people would find it amusing,” he told Good Morning America. “But it kept gaining traction and now it’s at 297k likes. It even went viral on Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook.”
The tweet prompted many parents to share their tricks for getting kids to smile.
“Our family secret isn’t ‘cheese,’ but ‘cat butt,’” wrote John Horton.
Marie commented, “My kid loves it when I say ‘fart, poop, dootie’—it’s from Boss Baby and makes her laugh.”
Another user, USAF Lady Vet 410 FMS, offered a valuable tip from her experience as a school photographer. “I found that phrases like ‘chicken lips,’ ‘stinky feet,’ and ‘turkey toes’ produce the most natural smiles. Avoid telling kids to ‘smile’ if you want an authentic expression.”
Perry is thrilled that his simple trick has resonated with so many people. “Parents have told me it worked for them, and it’s even brought some laughter to adults as well,” he told Today.com.
Perry’s son is equally delighted with his newfound fame. “He’s excited to be ‘famous’—he even had his photo in the local paper,” Perry shared. “He’s enjoying his moment in the spotlight and thinks it’s all very cool.”