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I'm a photographer, and there are people who see the camera, and plaster on a fake grin, and I have to actively work to get them to relax. There's so much more than just big fake grins - and a natural expression - whether it's serious, or a hint of a smile, or anything in between - is so much more interesting than the standard, say cheese and smile expression!
I love photography but, I hate smiling, as well as having my picture taken. When I do smile it looks fake, unless someone happens to grab a shot of me without my knowledge of it happening... which oddly enough, I'm usually okay with.
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Y'all realize this is a 3 yr old thread don't you?
Nothing wrong with an old thread!
I hate people that say "smile". My grandson (6 yrs old) says "pickle!" It usually brings a smile to the rest of our faces! LOL
Yes, a 3-year old thread and surprisingly to me, it cropped up, but I guess people still have comments to make. As for me, I STILL don't get the "non-smiling" thing! A picture looks so, so much better when the people in it ARE smiling. Nobody is telling anyone they must smile, but.........
And, for those that don't like having their picture taken, simply stay away from the front of cameras! Some folks take smiling or non-smiling as part of a description of your personality, in ways I guess. Non-smiling people in a photo have just haunted me and have just always wondered why they look so unhappy!!
And, for those that don't like having their picture taken, simply stay away from the front of cameras!
Duh. We do, for the most part. Didn't we just cover that? You are not telling us anything new. And if we do allow ourselves to be photographed, simply accept the fact that you cannot control whether or not people smile.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LoveBoating
Some folks take smiling or non-smiling as part of a description of your personality, in ways I guess. Non-smiling people in a photo have just haunted me and have just always wondered why they look so unhappy!!
You are HAUNTED? That IS funny. PICKLE!
I think historically, the smiling snapshot is relatively new. In the past photography was formal and the cameras a bit slow shutter speed. And maybe because in the olden days people had bad teeth.
I have read that in some cultures, people never smile for photographs. Read that somewhere in anthropology studies. As a non-anglo, I think the fake smile looks goofy on some people. But I don't really care one way or the other.
It's personal preference, for some, as some think they look better in photographs when they don't smile.
Very good reasons. But still, a couple of non-smiling people can make a photo look........?????? Oh well, I guess!
How many people are in these pictures, you are talking about? What about people who always close their eyes? Groups with more than 3 or 4 people are going to have imperfections.
I've never really cared, about the actual photo being "perfect", but that we have a photo to reinforce the memories. Any picture, is better than NO pictures.
My son died 6+ years ago. I'd be happy with some more photos of him....smiling, or not. In fact, I've begged his friends for anything.
Yes, a 3-year old thread and surprisingly to me, it cropped up, but I guess people still have comments to make. As for me, I STILL don't get the "non-smiling" thing! A picture looks so, so much better when the people in it ARE smiling. Nobody is telling anyone they must smile, but.........
And, for those that don't like having their picture taken, simply stay away from the front of cameras! Some folks take smiling or non-smiling as part of a description of your personality, in ways I guess. Non-smiling people in a photo have just haunted me and have just always wondered why they look so unhappy!!
I like to catch different expressions. People have such a wide range of emotions they express, all of them interesting. Those expressions illuminate their character. Of course that may not be considered portrait photography. Genuine smiles are good. Just my 2 cents.
A lot of times, in taking a group photo, I look thru the viewfinder and make sure EVERYONE is smiling and tell them about it if they aren't. I don't sound demanding when I ask for smiles, I say it sort of jokingly and that gets the smiles going.......then I'm happy!! The shutter button doesn't go all the way down 'til I satisfied with the photo I'm taking. IMO, there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with wanting everyone to smile and getting them to do it!
After I took a few photos with my wife's sister, who doesn't smile in a photo, and my wife's sister's husband, who is the same way, I started making them smile in photos I'd take with them in it. Never had a problem getting them to smile!
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And if we do allow ourselves to be photographed, simply accept the fact that you cannot control whether or not people smile. 
That IS funny. PICKLE!
