There was a time when, upon the arrival of a camera, the photographer or someone nearby would instruct you to “say cheese.”
Even though this practice has diminished with the rise of smartphones, people still occasionally use “cheese” when a camera is pointed their way. Have you ever wondered why this phrase became so popular? The answer lies in a blend of history and the quest for the ideal smile in photographs.
How It Probably Started
The origin of the tradition of saying “cheese” during photo sessions is somewhat ambiguous, but it seems to have emerged in the 1940s.
Before this period, photography was a meticulous process. The very first photograph took a staggering eight hours to complete. Considering such lengthy sittings, no one paid much attention to smiling for the camera. Thankfully, by the 1900s, the process of taking pictures had become much simpler.
Here Comes Cheese
With the advent of snapshots, photography became more enjoyable, but the challenge remained: how to capture a spontaneous smile. Photographers experimented with various words like “whiskey” and “cheese and crackers” to elicit smiles.
Ultimately, “cheese” proved to be the ideal choice. The “ch” sound makes your mouth part slightly, while the prolonged “ee” sound lifts the corners of your lips into a smile. This combination produces a natural-looking expression perfect for photos. It’s a minimal-effort way to ensure a pleasant appearance without an exaggerated grin, making it an effective technique for capturing bright, inviting photos.
Alternatives to “Cheese”
Interestingly, not every culture uses “cheese” to prompt smiles in photos. For instance, in China, the word “qiézi,” meaning eggplant, serves a similar function because it causes the mouth to form a smile.
In Korea, people say “kimchi,” the name of their well-known fermented dish, when posing for photos. While “cheese” has become the norm in English-speaking countries, other cultures have developed their own words to achieve that perfect smile, highlighting the universal desire for happy, smile-filled photos.
So, the next time you hear “say cheese” before a photo is taken, you’ll know it’s more than just a routine. It’s a time-tested trick to get you smiling and ensuring your photos look bright and engaging.
