Photographers from across the globe have been using one single instruction while capturing their subjects on film for generations now, and that is to tell them to “say cheese.” This is an age-old tradition
associated with taking photographs that can be found anywhere, from wedding ceremonies and family photoshoots to holiday snaps. However, according to reports by various historians of photography, there is a lot more to the use of this odd sounding word than just cheese.
According to experts, the use of the word cheese is a result of phonetics.
This is because of the “ee” sound present in the word, which automatically causes the subject’s mouth to open up and the cheeks to be lifted. Hence, when the word cheese is pronounced, the person automatically forms a smile-like look, which makes it easier to capture.
However, smiling while getting a photograph taken is a relatively recent trend.
This is because, in earlier times, when long exposure was needed to click photographs, it was difficult for the person being photographed to remain happy or smiling for a long period. Hence, subjects used to appear rather grim in their photographs.
Instead of “cheese”, some sources claim that there were other expressions photographers would ask people to use before the expression became common.
Some sources mention that photographers used to tell people to say “prunes” since the word was known to give the mouth a smaller size. Later on, photography started to move away from serious pictures to happier photos.
The phrase “say cheese” reportedly became common among many people in the 1940s.
When it became easier for families to get photos done and they became more fashionable, the phrase was connected to advertising, Hollywood and casual photography.
Many cultures came up with their versions of this famous photographing trick.
In various cultures, photographers have been known to use expressions that result in a smile on people’s faces. According to language references, Koreans say “kimchi” whereas Spanish speakers use the word “patata” meaning “potato”. Some Indians reportedly say “paneer”.
Modern photography has evolved thanks to smartphones and social media.
The trend has become that people are increasingly capturing candid pictures rather than taking formal photographs. Despite this, the expression “Say Cheese” persists even today.
“Say Cheese” is one of the oldest and most widely known photography customs in the world.
This practice evolved from a mere method of posing faces to an international slogan related to smiling before snapping a picture.
