This is not an app.
It’s a way of thinking about human expression more intentionally.
Prompts (Free) — A Simple Tool for Better Expressions in Portraits
Most people pose the same way when a camera comes up: pleasant, polished, and a little blank. That “eCommerce face” is normal, but it is not what creates memorable portraits.
The best portraits usually happen in the moments when someone’s mind is fully engaged. When they are thinking. Reacting. Amused. Competitive. Curious. Confident. When there is a real idea behind the expression.
That is exactly what this free Prompts app is designed to do.
Where the idea came from
Peter Hurley and “Hurleyisms”
Portrait photographer Peter Hurley popularized the idea of “Hurleyisms,” the funny, unexpected directing lines that wake up someone’s face. He teaches an important principle: the moment right after a laugh or smile is often the best moment of the entire shoot. The face has energy, the eyes brighten, and the expression looks real.
The challenge is that making someone laugh on demand can be surprisingly hard.
So I built a simple web app that rapidly displays great prompts, including many humor-driven lines, to make it easier to create those “alive” moments consistently. Peter is now building a version of this approach into his Headshot Crew workflow.
Albert Watson and the “thought that changes the face”
I work with a lot of actors, and I’ve seen a related truth: when you give someone a specific situation to imagine, their “acting muscle” kicks in. You get authentic micro-expressions for a brief window while the brain is fully engaged.
A classic example is the iconic Steve Jobs portrait by photographer Albert Watson (the photo widely shared when Jobs died). Albert has described the moment: “Imagine you’re across a table from four or five people who don’t agree with you, but you know you’re right.” Boom, an iconic photo. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7znNPbGqk8&t=11s
That’s the kind of organic engagement that’s so fun to capture.
What the Prompts app does
The Prompts app shows large, easy-to-read directing lines on screen, one at a time, on a timer. The prompts are intentionally designed to create:
It is inspired by Hurley-style humor, but crafted to consistently produce those Albert Watson “the brain just engaged” moments.
How to use it (simple workflow)
If you find a prompt that consistently works with a specific person, repeat it. The goal is not volume. The goal is that one real moment.
Want to contribute lines?
If you have prompts you love and want me to add, email them to: dp@davidperryphotography.com