Patrick Oconnell
Saying cheese when taking a photo is a well-known practice in modern times, but did you know that in the 1840s, people would say prunes instead? Photographers of the past, particularly in British studios, encouraged their subjects to say prunes to achieve a tightening of the lips, resulting in a more stoic and socially preferable expression. This practice can be attributed to the expensive and time-consuming nature of early photography, as well as social norms that favored more serious and solemn portraits. With advancements in technology and the increasing popularity of photography, the preference shifted towards more casual and natural-looking smiles, leading to the eventual adoption of say cheese to elicit a broader grin.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time period | 1840s, 19th century, early 20th century |
| Reason | To tighten lips into a more socially acceptable solemn expression, to appear sophisticated |
| Alternative words used | Prunes, plum |
| Alternative words in other languages | Chinese: "eggplant", Bulgarian: "cabbage", Spanish: "whisky", Hindi: "paneer", Japanese: "sei, no" or "chīzu" |
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What You'll Learn
Photographers wanted a stoic look
The word "prunes" was used to tighten the lips and create a more sophisticated resting face. This look was socially preferable to a wide smile, and it was easier to maintain a neutral expression than a smile during the long exposure times of early cameras.
Social norms also played a role in the stoic expressions of early photographs. Stern faces remained popular even after photo technology had improved. Additionally, people in the 1800s did not have access to good dental care, so they may have been uncomfortable smiling due to unattractive teeth.
The phrase "say cheese" emerged in the 20th century as photography became more casual and affordable, and smiling became the norm.
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Long exposure times
In the 1840s, photographers asked their subjects to say "prunes" instead of "cheese" to keep their mouths small. This was due to the long exposure times of early cameras, which made it difficult to maintain a smile for several minutes. The word "prunes" also reflected social norms at the time, which favoured a more stoic and solemn expression over a wide smile.
The practice of saying "cheese" emerged later in the mid-20th century when photography became faster, cheaper, and more casual. People also started taking better care of their teeth, making them more comfortable with smiling in photographs.
The phrase "say cheese" is now commonly used by photographers to encourage their subjects to smile with their lips apart and teeth showing. However, other words and phrases are used in different countries and languages to achieve the same effect. For example, in China, people say "eggplant," and in Bulgaria, they say "cabbage."
The use of these words and phrases shows how the art of photography has evolved over time, from a rare and expensive luxury to a casual and common occurrence. It also highlights how social norms and cultural practices can influence the way we present ourselves in photographs.
Overall, the shift from "prunes" to "cheese" reflects the changing nature of photography and the increasing importance of capturing joyful and natural expressions in our visual history.
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Social norms
The social norms of the time dictated a preference for stern and solemn expressions over smiles, which were often seen as less sophisticated or serious. This preference for a stoic appearance extended into the early 20th century, even as photographic technology improved and shortened exposure times. Photographers of the time encouraged their subjects to say "prunes" instead of "cheese" to achieve a particular lip position.
The word "prunes" was chosen because it caused people's lips to tighten and purse, resulting in a more restrained and refined expression. This was considered more socially acceptable than a wide smile, which may have been seen as too exuberant or unrestrained. The phrase "say cheese" and the associated smile became more common in the 20th century as photography became more accessible and casual.
The emergence of affordable cameras, such as those produced by Kodak, played a significant role in changing social norms around photography. People began to embrace more natural and happy expressions in their photographs. The phrase "say cheese" was first recorded in 1943 and quickly became a popular way to encourage subjects to smile for the camera.
While the phrase "say cheese" has become an integral part of our cultural lexicon, the earlier use of "say prunes" offers a fascinating insight into the social norms and aesthetic preferences of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It demonstrates the influence of social expectations on self-presentation and the evolution of photography as a medium.
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Poor dental care
In the 1840s, photographers asked their subjects to say "prunes" instead of "cheese" to encourage a more subdued expression. This was partly due to the social norms of the time, which favored more stoic and solemn expressions over wide smiles. However, poor dental care during this period also played a significant role in the preference for closed-mouth poses.
In the 19th century, good dental care was not widely accessible, and dental practices such as root canals and caps that we take for granted today did not exist. The standard treatment for a decayed or broken tooth was often simply to extract it. As a result, many people had missing or chipped teeth and were self-conscious about their smiles. The act of saying "prunes" helped to tighten the lips and create a more restrained expression, which was considered socially preferable.
The emergence of "say cheese" as a photographic prompt occurred later, in the 20th century, as photography became more casual and accessible to the general public. The increased availability of cameras and the improvement in dental care meant that people became more comfortable smiling with their teeth showing. "Cheese" was recorded in 1943 as the word used to elicit a smile, with the mouth slightly open and the teeth visible.
It is worth noting that the transition from "prunes" to "cheese" also reflected a shift in societal norms and aesthetics. While the 19th century favored more serious and stoic expressions, the 20th century embraced more casual and joyful expressions in photography. The widespread adoption of "say cheese" marked a cultural shift towards valuing and capturing smiles and happiness in photographic portraits.
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Say cheese emerged in 1943
In the early days of photography, portrait photos were characterised by solemn expressions, attributed to long exposure times and the social norms of the time. In the 1800s, good dental care was not widely available, and people with missing or chipped teeth might have preferred closed-mouth expressions. As a result, most 19th-century subjects wore neutral, humourless expressions.
However, in the 1840s, photographers used a different technique to capture a stoic look. Instead of "say cheese", photographers in British studios advised their subjects to say \"prunes\", which led to a tightening of the lips. This expression was more socially preferable and gave the subjects a more sophisticated resting face.
By the mid-20th century, photography had become faster, cheaper, and more casual. People also started taking better care of their teeth. It was then that "say cheese" emerged in 1943 as a word that was said in English. Photographers started using the phrase to encourage their subjects to smile with their lips apart and teeth showing.
Today, "say cheese" has become so ingrained in our culture that it simply means "smile", rather than a command to utter the word "cheese".
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in the 1840s and 19th century, photographers asked people to say "prunes" instead of "cheese" to encourage a more neutral expression.
In the 19th century, most people were expected to use a neutral facial expression when being photographed. This was partly due to the expensive and time-consuming nature of early photography, and also due to social norms, which preferred solemn faces over wide smiles.
The word "prunes" causes people to pursed their lips, creating a more stoic expression.
Saying "cheese" in photos became popular in the 20th century as photography became faster, cheaper, and more casual.
No, different countries have different phrases to encourage smiles in photos. For example, in China, they say "eggplant", in Bulgaria, they say "cabbage", and in India, they say "paneer".
