The Real Reason No One Ever Smiled In Old Photographs

When photography first became mainstream in the 19th century, having your picture taken appeared to be a solemn affair, as the subjects almost never smiled. Obviously, a lot has changed since then, as you are bound to be asked to try for another photograph if your smile isn’t perfect these days. But what was the reason people didn’t smile as much back then? The answer is a bit complicated, and it’s definitely not as simple as “the world is a lot happier now." So let’s take a look at the real reason why no one ever smiled in old photographs.

#Photography #BlackAndWhite #History

[jimmyshepherd]

Many folks back in that time had bad, missing, or NO teeth also.

[intotheabyssoftheunknown]

Some smiles in photographs appear as if they're nuts.

[RayJerry]

More of this narrator and/or writer PLEASE Grunge... All of the interesting and none of the brutal dad jokes...

[crimsonghost]

My grandmother used to take pictures at funerals
When she passed we found a trunk full of pictures of people in coffins.

[GrungeHQ]

Does smiling in photographs really make people look stupid, or was Mark Twain being a little too harsh?

[bks]

I thought it was because they had bad teeth

[jdlnz]

Years from now: “Real reason why people used to pout and do duckfaces in pictures”

[SolarSailor]

Camera invented: 1836
Toothpaste invented: 1892

[DavidLeeAndrews]

People were also sceptical about photography and some thought that taking their picture would damage their soul. Particularly religious people and those of certain faiths

[waterhead]

WOW! This whole time I thought they didn't smile because of constipation!

[THECAR]

Back then 1 photo was very valuable and costly than the pics we delete and accidentally click

[lookinforthes]

I don't fake smile for pictures. It's the worst when you're at the DMV and they ask you to smile before snapping the photo. It's like, I've been here all day, I'm at the DMV, and you want me to smile for a picture like an idiot? Just take the picture already.

[cfsekkx]

They had it right. Why put on a fake smile for a picture? Ive never understood this.

[jim]

They weren't told to smile. Nobody said until many years later.

[badgerrrlattin]

Had 3 tintypes made of me back in '84 (wazzit?). Had to sit a LLLLoooonnnngggg time for each shot. Also had to do so while almost staring into the sun (cause the more light the better). Sure am glad I didn't have to try to grin like a slack jawed fool at the same time.

[purplerocket]

It’s not that people wanted to smile back then but couldn’t, they just thought it made them look stupid.

[brettgau]

We that don't smile are considered miserable. Those that smile are considered STUPID

[shotgunblast]

My dad said it was because they never had anything to smile about.

[JamesK]

Ahh back when smiling wasn’t the hardest part of taking photos 😅

[timothykissinger]

The Romanov daughters loved to smile at the camera.