Photographers, as a breed, each have our own 'schtick' for photographing people:

Craig in Minneapolis does something like peep-a-boo behind his camera with a weird noise. I've never been on the other side of the camera, but it seems really weird if you are not the target of the attention

I have known photographers who employ a 'fart machine' that throws the sound all over the place - particularly good for Children and commercial work, cause they always be smilin'

I myself have been been told to do some version of 'cheese' on funny version of which I can't remember right now, but that's not what I usually do. What I do is "Give me the love" and "Get closer, it's OK to touch your FAMILY" (you squeamish white people). The Love really brings it for me.

Now...after seeing Napoleon Dynamite four years after everyone else saw it, I have witnessed what I believe to be the best portrait technique - relationship building at it's best (American Beauty has a good version of this - and if I can scan my memory far enough back I believe Sex, Lies and Videotape also has at least an interesting rapport.)

In any case Deb has got it in spades: She creates a mental space like no other and gets props from Napoleon's uncle.