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

[Anonymous]

Is it seen as adolescent to them or something? They always have flat faces, like a too cool for school sort of look.

[Anonymous]

I'm French.

Everyone I know in France smiles for photos. They pose for selfies just like Americans.

You seem very prejudiced and intolerant.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is friends with quite a few wealthy international students. Euro jetsetters. Their faces in photos are 9 times out of 10 flat or mere soft smiles. On their Facebook and Instagram it’s years flat expression photo. The contrast between them and their boisterous always happy with big smile American gal peers is hilarious.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is friends with quite a few wealthy international students. Euro jetsetters. Their faces in photos are 9 times out of 10 flat or mere soft smiles. On their Facebook and Instagram profiles it’s years of flat expression photos. The contrast between them and their boisterous always happy with a big smile American gal peers is hilarious.

[Anonymous]

Teeth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm French.

Everyone I know in France smiles for photos. They pose for selfies just like Americans.

You seem very prejudiced and intolerant.

It’s 2020 so I cannot tell if you are being sarcastic or if you really are offended by OPs statement.

[Anonymous]

Braces are not as ubiquitous in other countries as they are in America

[Anonymous]

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-18april2011-cannes-french-model-laetitia-casta-shot-by-mario-testino-81520292.html

[Anonymous]

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

It has nothing to do with braces. It has all to do with not having a reason to smile all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

It has nothing to do with braces. It has all to do with not having a reason to smile all the time.

I think it is both.

[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.

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

Yep. I am an immigrant, and it took me a while to start smiling reflexively as the first reaction, no matter what. What’s interesting, I smile way more when I speak English, it’s like I have two different personalities which are language specific

[Anonymous]

When I was in my 20s I was an actress and we never smiled for publicity shots - it was deemed far too "cheesy" and "American"