Why didn't people in the 18 and 19 hundreds smile???also who made up the phrase ''say cheese''?

Question

Why didn't people in the 18 and 19 hundreds smile???also who made up the phrase ''say cheese''?

Answer 1

People didn't really have nice teeth back then, not something to show off. Saying "cheese" will kinda form your face into a smile, kinda.

Answer 2

It's not that they didn't smile; cameras could take up to 15 minutes to take the actual picture (depending on camera type and year)--you try holding still that long and smiling!

And no one is able to trace the origin of "say cheese."