Why do some women make funny looking smiles for the camera (not trying to be silly, but actually trying to take a nice photo)?

[Anonymous]

I have a couple of examples of this:

1. In high school, I swear every girl liked to make an expression with worried looking eyes and eyebrows, yet with a smile. I don't know how else to explain it. Almost like that Hide the Pain Harold meme, lol. These were not their natural smiles, just for photos.

2. I've noticed more than one woman who widens her eyes to the point she looks crazed when she takes a photo (not trying to be rude, just trying to explain how it looks, lol). None of these women smile like this in organic conversation, only in photos.

[Oliverlogan263]

Oh girl I totally get it! For some reason I think a lot of us feel weird about our natural smiles in photos. Like we feel exposed or something if we just laugh normally.

I think it comes down to always worrying how we'll look and comparing ourselves to perfect Instagram photos. So we end up doing weird stuff with our eyes and eyebrows to try and "enhance" our features somehow.

Like raising the eyebrows makes the eyes look bigger. Or widening the eyes makes us look more "awake" I guess? Even if it really just looks kinda crazy lol.

And don't even get me started on duck lips! I swear every girl I know does them, including me sometimes. It just feels "safer" than a real toothy smile.

We're so hard on ourselves. I think real smiles where you can see teeth and laugh lines are way prettier. Maybe we need to stop overthinking it so much! Easier said than done though. Selfies are high pressure, lol.

[SeriouslyNotSerious]

Hahaha! Just trying to look good in photos. Maybe they haven't learned their best angle, just yet.

[Daniela1982]

I assume they really didn't want to have their pictures taken for the yearbook. I sure didn't.

[SweetPi]

Cause they don't know how to take a good photo or they are working Thier face muscles before hand.

Working at the DMV for a bit no one took a good photo. Even the insta models! Who whines to no end for us to redo them again and again...

[SugarSugarplum]

Men seem to smile funny and they never seem to know what to do with their hands in a picture.

[Asker]

You're right. Most of the men's selfies I've seen are taken from a very unflattering downward angle and they have a funny look on their faces 😂

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Comparison is the thief of joy, even comparisons that are made to make you feel better about yourself

[Nikki1989]

It is difficult to look serious with a camera pointing at you.

[Radiate143]

Well, when I was younger like grade 10 and stuff. I felt uncomfortabwuth my looks so I would go the goofy route. Can't speak for everyone

[MoonFace2]

I just hate having people taking snaps of me. So it shows in the photos.

[Anonymous]

I saw this question on SimilarWorlds. I don't make funny faces for the camera.