When did the tradition for smiling in photos start?

Question

I see old photos and everybody is so serious, but now everyone smiles in photos, when did it change?

Answer 1

There was really no "tradition" for smiling in pictures. Usually people make whatever expression they wish to capture in a particular moment. Most of the time people want to remember being happy, thats why most people smile. But the "smiling thing" did not happen until photography advanced. It was quite an ordeal to get a picture taken in the 19th century. Sometimes it would take all day. There were actually these restraints which held up the people getting their picture taken like dolls. It took a long time to get the image and sitting in the same position with perhaps a baby crying is really not going to induce anyone to smile.

Answer 2

Well at first (when camera's were new) taking photos were expensive and therefore, formal. Formal back then didn't mean smiling and having fun. And people didn't want to wait for hours smiling till their cheeks hurt for the picture to be set up and taken.

So when famous photographers started to take photos of people doing everyday things it was a big deal. It later became more popular.

I guess people saw that when you were smiling and looked like you were having fun in a casual picture you looked your best and so did the photo. Also, the time it took to take a photo shortened, so people could do more in their pictures, like smile. :)

Answer 3

I'm not really sure, but I've noticed this to. I do know in other countries its not polite to smile because they think its bad to show their teeth. Maybe this has something to do with it?  

Answer 4

i think sometime recently, like at the beginning of the 1900s. lol i know that's not terribly accurate, but my thinking is that back in the day it took forever to expose a shot on film, and the people had to stand there for a really long time, smiling for that long was not too fun, so they didn't. i think the tradition of smiling just came when exposure times were shortened.

Answer 5

Well back then pictures took really long to take. People would have to be sitting still for about 5 minutes for a picture to be taken. To be more comfortable they wouldn't smile, instead just relaxed.

Answer 6

i never smile cuz my teeth are yellow..

Answer 7

i think the reason y people didn't smile is because it waz something wit the camera like if u smiled your pic wouldn't come out right so u had 2 stay still for a while but now the cameras r more high tech and up dated