Why don’t European women (especially French?) smile for photos?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I lived in Europe for many years, in several countries. In my experience, eastern europeans are far far less likely to smile in photos and feel that it is corny. There are basically entire countries filled with family pictures of everyone constantly looking like a relative just died. Germany to some extent is similar - they do not like to put on a grin in their photo unless something overwhelmingly joyous is happening at the moment.

Again. There is a different definition of a smile, clearly in the U.S. parts of the U.S. and in Europe and different parts of Europe. And even within one country, you have older people. My dad did not smile for photos for a long time. That was how you took photos. We also smile, what is a smile here, might look idiotic there. Imagine you grinning like a wolf about to chomp down a sheep, and all the rest in the photo having small grins?
Looking like a relative just died? See, the thing is, no they do not look like that. The pretty, insane culture in the U.S. is the cause that many people thing their lives are wrong unless they are laughing hysterically every minute of their lives.
1920 family portrait:
[img]
1950
[/img]http://c8.alamy.com/comp/CTG255/1940s-1950s-family-of-four-portrait-sitting-in-living-room-chair-looking-CTG255.jpg
2000
[img]

You also realize that shutter speeds were not what they are today. They sometimes had to hold a pose for a while.

[Anonymous]

Are people in other countries told to say “cheese” or another word to make them smile and show teeth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I lived in Europe for many years, in several countries. In my experience, eastern europeans are far far less likely to smile in photos and feel that it is corny. There are basically entire countries filled with family pictures of everyone constantly looking like a relative just died. Germany to some extent is similar - they do not like to put on a grin in their photo unless something overwhelmingly joyous is happening at the moment.

Again. There is a different definition of a smile, clearly in the U.S. parts of the U.S. and in Europe and different parts of Europe. And even within one country, you have older people. My dad did not smile for photos for a long time. That was how you took photos. We also smile, what is a smile here, might look idiotic there. Imagine you grinning like a wolf about to chomp down a sheep, and all the rest in the photo having small grins?
Looking like a relative just died? See, the thing is, no they do not look like that. The pretty, insane culture in the U.S. is the cause that many people thing their lives are wrong unless they are laughing hysterically every minute of their lives.
1920 family portrait:
[img]
1950
[/img]http://c8.alamy.com/comp/CTG255/1940s-1950s-family-of-four-portrait-sitting-in-living-room-chair-looking-CTG255.jpg
2000
[img]

You also realize that shutter speeds were not what they are today. They sometimes had to hold a pose for a while.

Damn the man in this photo was hot AF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Braces are not as ubiquitous in other countries as they are in America

I'm a teacher in Germany. Many of my students have braces (we have been back in school for almost three weeks, too). I can't understand why Americans insist Europeans have poor teeth because this just isn't something I see in my generation or younger.

And we smile in photos. Less stupid huge grins, but we definitely smile here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I lived in Europe for many years, in several countries. In my experience, eastern europeans are far far less likely to smile in photos and feel that it is corny. There are basically entire countries filled with family pictures of everyone constantly looking like a relative just died. Germany to some extent is similar - they do not like to put on a grin in their photo unless something overwhelmingly joyous is happening at the moment.

Again. There is a different definition of a smile, clearly in the U.S. parts of the U.S. and in Europe and different parts of Europe. And even within one country, you have older people. My dad did not smile for photos for a long time. That was how you took photos. We also smile, what is a smile here, might look idiotic there. Imagine you grinning like a wolf about to chomp down a sheep, and all the rest in the photo having small grins?
Looking like a relative just died? See, the thing is, no they do not look like that. The pretty, insane culture in the U.S. is the cause that many people thing their lives are wrong unless they are laughing hysterically every minute of their lives.
1920 family portrait:
[img]
1950
[/img]http://c8.alamy.com/comp/CTG255/1940s-1950s-family-of-four-portrait-sitting-in-living-room-chair-looking-CTG255.jpg
2000
[img]

You also realize that shutter speeds were not what they are today. They sometimes had to hold a pose for a while.

Damn the man in this photo was hot AF.

I’ve notices that too, the men, in general were way hotter in the past. Less estrogen and fitter perhaps?

[Anonymous]

^^^ and younger. I doubt those two were older than 25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^ and younger. I doubt those two were older than 25.

The equivalent of that man today would be 50lbs heavier, bald, have at least a few tats, facial hair, but have a beautiful diamond bright smile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^ and younger. I doubt those two were older than 25.

The equivalent of that man today would be 50lbs heavier, bald, have at least a few tats, facial hair, but have a beautiful diamond bright smile.

Or he would be gay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Google image of typical American women exaggerated smiles in their curated social media. This looks sooooo fake (and crazy!)

+1000

The expression in the second picture, of the woman scrunching her nose and eyes, has become ubiquitous lately. It’s not a good look!

Perfectly described. Where did this scrunchy nose and eyes & ajar mouth thing come from? I feel like growing up everyone would say that’s a terrible photo and you look crazy. But now gals think it looks fun?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^ and younger. I doubt those two were older than 25.

The equivalent of that man today would be 50lbs heavier, bald, have at least a few tats, facial hair, but have a beautiful diamond bright smile.

LOL that's what it is. Men have become porky and full of estrogen. It's really sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, where are you getting this? All the Europeans I know smile in photos.

I do think Europeans smile less than Americans on average. It's not about trying to look more serious. There is just less imperative to be cheerful in European cultures. Americans smile when they are happy, but also when they are nervous, scared, insecure, even sometimes when they are angry. It is actually a peculiar cultural trait that people in other countries sometimes find off-putting because it comes off as disingenuous.

I work with immigrants in the US a lot and I have noticed that often when they arrive they don't smile a lot but that after about 6 months they can become very smiley. I used to think this was because they were settling in and becoming more relaxed and happy. But now that I am deeper into my career, I think what actually happens is that once they have been interacting with Americans for a while (especially if they work in service-oriented jobs) they start to reflexively smile in greeting because this is something a lot of Americans do. Also, Americans often get offended by people in service roles who don't smile at them (even if the person is doing their job perfectly). So many immigrants learn to smile as a form of defense, as though to say "I am not threatening."

Again, this does not happen in the other countries where I have lived and worked.

Exactly right. I'm the French poster above, and this is what I've noticed too.

Interesting response, French poster

[Anonymous]

wowee the guy is that photo is really good-looking!

[Anonymous]

Men in those days did mostly physical labor, including plain old walking instead of driving. Not like the fatty guys now who hang out with technology. I am grossed out how out of shape most men are. Sticking with my triathlon group men!

[Anonymous]

Ever look at Asian children’s high school photos? In their uniforms, they look like prisoners or communists for that matter.

[Anonymous]

Eh baby, why don’t you smile more?