The Reasons Why Nobody Smiled in Old Photos.
The first portrait photographs often depict adults and children looking serious and not smiling.
This can even be seen in photos of weddings and celebrations where you expect happiness and joy.
You will mostly notice this in portraits taken in the late 18th century and throughout the 19th century.
But why did people not smile in front of the camera? There are many theories and thoughts about why people lack expressions of joy in photos.
In this article, we will look at the history of photography and the traditions around portraiture.
One of the most common reasons is that photos used to take a long time to expose. The first cameras were not as instant as taking a photo on your phone today.
Photos took time to expose, meaning the subject had to sit still for a long time.
On average, the first cameras took around 20 minutes to take a photo. The subject needed to stay as still as possible to get the highest quality photo.
The movement would cause the photo to blur and the subject to be out of focus.
Therefore, sitting with a relaxed face rather than holding a smile for 20 minutes was easier.
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