Why do people smile in photos?

[Snsns]

I don't get why almost every photo I see of someone they are smiling... What about a camera lense is it that makes them laugh or feel happy?
When I'm taking a picture I never feel like smiling... I feel blank so I never smile in photos... how comes every one else is so happy when taking pictures? I don't get it... What is it about taking a picture that fills them with such joy?

[tatianamay]

I don't smile in pictures because its awkward af and posing is kinda unnatural lmao, that's not my thing. People tell me that I have a poker face in pictures, and I look so fake when I smile in pictures. In real life, I smile a lot though and I've been told that I have a great smile

[Snsns]

Yeah lol. I don't see the point in smiling for a. photo if. you don't feel like it. That's fake

[tatianamay]

Right!!! Exacto!

Thanks for the MHO by the way :)

[Snsns]

no prob lol 🙂

[Anonymous]

They do it to make themselves more appealing, or to associate whatever they were doing at the time with something positive

[TheorionMage]

Are you NATURALLY 'somber'?

For a time I was a military promotional Studio photographer At the Ft. Myer, VA phot facility '74-'77, for high ranking officers and passport photos for their families heading overseas.

Of course, the Officers photos for their promotional review packages were to show 'gravitas', most initially posed like someone stuck a stick up their asses. Simple trick... on a tripoded camera, YOU as the Photographer raise your left arm shoulder high with elbow bent make a fist. Say to your subject you'll snap on count of three. Begin your count "1, 2... then say'SHIT!' and your subject WILL crack a slight grin or smirk. Makes a GREAT photo without them coming off as stodgy or 'pompus'.

Another trick when shoot wives, daughters, grandmothers... pose them 3/4 turned. Have them like their lips sloppy wet (yes even the kids) again on the count of '3'... this time substitute the word 'SEX' for 'shit'. Regardless of age from toddlers to grandmothers they'll naughtily giggle or grin and it puts a 'twinkle' in their eyes. EVERYBODY is to some degree sexually repressed and covertly FRUSTRATED!

MOST folks, even Goths, realizing their photograph may WELL 'outlive' them, would prefer to be remembered with at least a mysterious 'Mona Lisa' grin causing the Viewer to wonder: "What were they thinking? What private little secret would they share?"

ALWAYS leave 'em... wanting MORE! ;)

[Snsns]

I don't know if I'm somber but I never really felt any emotion/. cared about anything... I guess I was jus born apathetic towards most things

[Snsns]

not bragging but I even watched this very disturbing snuff video called funky town gore with a blank face and not really affected after watching it... Meanwhile everyone else says it mentally traumatized them and mentally scarred them... I felt nothing... Lol

[WhoRtheseGuys]

I don’t actually. Unless you catch me laughing at something. Back in the day people did not smile when being photographed. I feel fake smiling when I don’t feel like it. Why say cheeeeeese?

[Snsns]

My thoughts exactly. I don't see the point in forcing something you don't feel like doing

[Frank_Woods]

We take pictures to remember good memories. If it's a good memory, we smile and are happy.

[Snsns]

I don't get that but I think I can understand it somewhat

[Anonymous]

They aren't laughing or feeling happy. They are posing. They do it because it makes them look better in the picture. It's also tradition and common practice.

[Snsns]

Oh lol.. I don't see how it makes them look better but if they wanna do that.. that's cool lol

[purplepoppy]

Because we don't want people in the future thinking we're miserable twats

[Snsns]

But can't the people in the future see your fake smiling?
They're think you're forced happiness twats... I rather see someone being real in a photo... So if they don't feel like smiling... They look more real to me if they are doing a straight face.. and not like an actor/poser

[Snsns]

Nice pic by the way

[In_Trance]

Maybe it's the fact they're living in the moment with people they love to be around

[NathanDavis]

you don't have to smile if you don't want to