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

[Anonymous]

I used to work at a tourist destination that attracted many international visitors. I was often asked to take their picture. Many groups--mostly from Europe but some from Asia--would be smiling and laughing together until I was ready to take the picture. Then, they would all drop into neutral or even solemn expressions. As soon as the picture was snapped, they would immediately resume their broad smiles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Example of the French / Euro rich girl no smile pose

I prefer this to the exaggerated open mouth maniac “smiles” American girls do every photo upload.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s the teeth. Americans with bad teeth don’t smile either. Of course your rich friends smile, they have beautiful teeth.

Rich international college gals can afford dental work.

[Anonymous]

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

Why not? Even amongst rich Euros?

[Anonymous]

That is very simple. Huge, open mouth simles with all the teeth showing are vulgar.
Everyone knows this. Well, apartently not in the U.S.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I agree with this and frankly, I love it. I also like that they're not so customer service focused that salespeople are all up in your business. I just want to browse, I will find you if I need you! That plastered on smile some Americans have strikes me as disingenuous.

I am from NY and we're not really known for being the smiliest people either.

And that's why I love NY.
Signed,
- a European who thinks fake smiles this country is known for are annoying and provincial

[Anonymous]

Amazing how it’s ok to generalize about Americans, but not anyone else on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is very simple. Huge, open mouth simles with all the teeth showing are vulgar.
Everyone knows this. Well, apartently not in the U.S.

Huge smiles are a recent thing in the USA. Look at older photos.

I think the post upthread about how Julia Roberts was probably among the first generation of actresses with the HUGE perfect smile is on to something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Example of the French / Euro rich girl no smile pose

I prefer this to the exaggerated open mouth maniac “smiles” American girls do every photo upload.

+1. She is smiling, just not the ear to ear exuberant open mouth smile. I too prefer this, and since I didn’t grow up in the US, have many photos looking like this. This is a smile!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how it’s ok to generalize about Americans, but not anyone else on this thread.

That is bcs Americans like to be the world police. Ruling by force, bombing countries, invading countries, and they(you) still believe you are doing it for the good of others! Peacekeeping, you call it. German's called it cleaning the world from trash that is the cause of all of the ills in the world. Is there a difference? Not to me.
You did not find many people fond of Germans for decades after WWII. Americans are now the Germans of the world. Congrats. There is a reason people around the world hate you, you are just too ignorant to understand it.
The same way you hate Russia, not just Putin, but Russia. Think about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how it’s ok to generalize about Americans, but not anyone else on this thread.

That is bcs Americans like to be the world police. Ruling by force, bombing countries, invading countries, and they(you) still believe you are doing it for the good of others! Peacekeeping, you call it. German's called it cleaning the world from trash that is the cause of all of the ills in the world. Is there a difference? Not to me.
You did not find many people fond of Germans for decades after WWII. Americans are now the Germans of the world. Congrats. There is a reason people around the world hate you, you are just too ignorant to understand it.
The same way you hate Russia, not just Putin, but Russia. Think about that.

Wow, you’ve made a whole crapload of assumptions about me. But that’s your jam, right? Generalizing about entire countries, making assumptions about people you don’t know. I literally told you NOTHING about me and you just went on a crazed rant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how it’s ok to generalize about Americans, but not anyone else on this thread.

That is bcs Americans like to be the world police. Ruling by force, bombing countries, invading countries, and they(you) still believe you are doing it for the good of others! Peacekeeping, you call it. German's called it cleaning the world from trash that is the cause of all of the ills in the world. Is there a difference? Not to me.
You did not find many people fond of Germans for decades after WWII. Americans are now the Germans of the world. Congrats. There is a reason people around the world hate you, you are just too ignorant to understand it.
The same way you hate Russia, not just Putin, but Russia. Think about that.

I don't hate Russians. It's important to separate the people from the government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how it’s ok to generalize about Americans, but not anyone else on this thread.

That is bcs Americans like to be the world police. Ruling by force, bombing countries, invading countries, and they(you) still believe you are doing it for the good of others! Peacekeeping, you call it. German's called it cleaning the world from trash that is the cause of all of the ills in the world. Is there a difference? Not to me.
You did not find many people fond of Germans for decades after WWII. Americans are now the Germans of the world. Congrats. There is a reason people around the world hate you, you are just too ignorant to understand it.
The same way you hate Russia, not just Putin, but Russia. Think about that.

I don't hate Russians. It's important to separate the people from the government.

I’m the person that PP responded to.

I don’t hate Russians either. Hell, I’m half Russian and lived there for awhile. The government is horrific, but the people aren’t.

I despise our Middle East policy; it’s stupid and counterproductive. I wouldn’t compare us to Nazis, but we’re certainly imperialistic and arrogant.

Now, that PP sounds insane for going on that rant in response to absolutely no information about me.

[Anonymous]

Americans smile so much because we're a land of immigrants... helps convey a non-threatening message when meeting. And over the years its become a common part of the culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is very simple. Huge, open mouth simles with all the teeth showing are vulgar.
Everyone knows this. Well, apartently not in the U.S.

Huge smiles are a recent thing in the USA. Look at older photos.

I think the post upthread about how Julia Roberts was probably among the first generation of actresses with the HUGE perfect smile is on to something.

Because like many things in the US, even smiles are overdone. Julia Roberts resembles a hyena.