# Smiling in Pictures

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smiling-in-pictures/54370>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 13, 2001, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smiling-in-pictures/54370 "2001-02-13T22:12:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Deimos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Deimos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deimos)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smiling-in-pictures/54370/1 "2001-02-13T22:12:10Z")

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when did people start smiling in photos?

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**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smiling-in-pictures/54370/2 "2001-02-13T22:21:56Z")

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Apparently, it was when camera speeds became fast enough to capture a smile, according to this GQ thread on a similar topic:

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=39309](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=39309)

Arjuna34

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**Author:** ![sewalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@sewalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sewalk)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smiling-in-pictures/54370/3 "2001-02-13T22:30:53Z")

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Back in the early days of photography, sitting for a portrait was not the trivial undertaking it is now. First of all, it was much more expensive than it is now, making a rather serious event of the process. Second, exposure times were measured in minutes (at least early on, early 20th century cameras still required a second or two of exposure time), and the subject had to sit quite still and avoid any movement, including chaniging facial expressions. Since a serious face is easier to hold (smiles tend to fluctuate a bit), that is the expression most people used, probably at the suggestion of the photographer. I’m sure it provided a great oppurtunity for mischief on the part of many a younger sibling.

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**Author:** ![TheThill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheThill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheThill)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smiling-in-pictures/54370/4 "2001-02-13T23:38:01Z")

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I think smiling in pictures is also a cultural thing. I would guess that there are a few places in the world today where people still haven’t started to smile in pictures. Any ideas on this?

Btw, I personally have trouble forcing a smile for pictures and then break out laughing after the flash, but that’s just me…