Why Do We “Say Cheese” When Taking Pictures? - a brief history and some fun activities
The classic command before the camera clicks is usually: “Say cheese!” but why?
The idea of “cheesing” in photos first appeared around the 1940s. No one knows for sure who came up with it or why but the word itself obliges you to smile. The “ch” sound causes you to clench your teeth, and the long “ee” sound parts your lips, making a facial expression that resembles a grin. 0
Can you believe that smiling for a picture used to be considered unattractive? Before dental hygiene was made a common practice, most people had a mouth full of missing or broken teeth. The common command given used to be “Say prunes” to force the lips together and cover the rotten teeth! This kept their faces neutral, which was considered attractive and dignified at the time.
No matter the original reason for these serious-looking photos, the trend didn’t last long. The invention of Kodak’s $1 camera in the 1900s, along with the rise of the Hollywood movie industry, allowed more and more “everyday” moments to be captured on film. Thus, smiling in photographs became the norm—and so did saying “cheese.”
The classic command before the camera clicks is usually: “Say cheese!” but why?
The idea of “cheesing” in photos first appeared around the 1940s. No one knows for sure who came up with it or why but the word itself obliges you to smile. The “ch” sound causes you to clench your teeth, and the long “ee” sound parts your lips, making a facial expression that resembles a grin. 0
Can you believe that smiling for a picture used to be considered unattractive? Before dental hygiene was made a common practice, most people had a mouth full of missing or broken teeth. The common command given used to be “Say prunes” to force the lips together and cover the rotten teeth! This kept their faces neutral, which was considered attractive and dignified at the time.
No matter the original reason for these serious-looking photos, the trend didn’t last long. The invention of Kodak’s $1 camera in the 1900s, along with the rise of the Hollywood movie industry, allowed more and more “everyday” moments to be captured on film. Thus, smiling in photographs became the norm—and so did saying “cheese.”
- Look in a mirror. Say "cheese" and observe your face. Now say "prunes" and observe your face. Record your observations on this printable sheet.