Why Were Old Photos Expressionless? The Journey to Smiling in Photography | Focus #557
Cover photo by filmtaaabooo777
Being told to “smile” when facing a camera is something we take for granted today. However, in 19th-century photography, smiling was considered unnatural.
Understanding how photos were taken and the emotions captured in them can offer a new perspective on the meaning behind photography and the emotions we associate with it.
Photo by Geyao Grace Chen
The Tradition of the “Dignified Expression”
In the early days of photography, the traditions of painted portraits were directly carried over. In paintings, a broad smile was often associated with “madness” or “frivolity,” while a calm, serious expression was ideal for conveying respect and dignity.
Photo by TEN
Photography was also seen less as a “family record” and more as a “formal portrait,” making expressionless faces the natural choice.
It Wasn’t Just About Exposure Time
In the early days of photography, exposure times could take several minutes, making it impractical to maintain a natural smile. However, even as technology advanced and exposure times dropped to less than a second, expressionless faces persisted.
This was because photography was still regarded as an “official record,” and smiling was not yet seen as appropriate for such formal documentation.
The Rise of Smiling Culture and the Democratization of Photography
The introduction of the “Brownie Camera” in 1900 revolutionized photography, making it accessible to the general public. In casual snapshots taken in everyday life, natural smiles became desirable, eventually becoming the “norm” in photography.
Photo by Aya
In Japan, the “smile boom” arrived during the Taisho era, and photography evolved from being a means of “recording” to a form of “expression.”
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