Should we always smile at the camera?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (342088)
Rockingham, Australia
November 17, 2018 2:42am CST
Sometime back I posted a photo of some Nepalese children receiving gifts of bikes to help them get to school. I commented that they didn’t seem to be smiling a lot. You can catch up here:
In the comments Denise (@petatonicsca) stated that in some cultures, on an important occasion, and I quote ‘they show the importance by being solemn’. She also said that in Japan where she lives and works they are not allowed to smile for official photographs. I can understand this but hadn’t considered it before. So do you ever find that you’re not encouraged to smile when you are being photographed?
I’ve included a photo of the girls’ side of a classroom. They don’t have much spare room, do they?
Vince is providing me with a lot of material for discussions although he doesn’t know I am swiping his photos off Facebook for my own purposes. I might have to...
28 people like this
34 responses
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
17 Nov 18
@marguicha I had to make new photos, because I was smiling in those I presented to renew my ID.
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
17 Nov 18
In some cultures it is not deemed appropriate to smile in photos but afterwards the exhilaration and ecstasy comes out ten fold! Amazing. Of course we are not allowed to smile in passport photos that is why they always looks so odd. My current passport contains a photo of me when I was 30. Good grief I in reality I now look so old! In 3 years time when it runs out I will put an age appropriate photo in it.
4 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
17 Nov 18
@vandana7 They are but I was too busy to get a new one so put an old one on it which was fine 7 years ago but not today! I do look older. LOL BTW I have just applied for a visa for India. It was one of the most painful stressful things I have ever had to do. It took me 3 hours in total to do it for me and only 2 hours for my wife as but that time I knew how the system kept rejecting things. It is a night mare @vandana7 It has put me off ever going to India again!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Nov 18
Hmmm...I'm always making crazy and funny faces when I pose for photos. Maybe I should stop doing that?
3 people like this
@vandana7 (100617)
• India
17 Nov 18
@moffittjc Another admission junior? You admitted you are crazy too..LOL
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121714)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Nov 18
@vandana7 Hey, I'm a crazy guy, what can I say?
2 people like this
@andriaperry (117140)
• Anniston, Alabama
17 Nov 18
I smile, stick out my tongue, make faces.... I have a good time making pictures! Some standing by me may have ears too, ya know my 2 fingers.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342088)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Nov 18
@andriaperry I can believe it! 
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (117140)
• Anniston, Alabama
18 Nov 18
@JudyEv I have made a few people mad. 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342088)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Nov 18
No, mostly we can choose whether we smile or not.
@nawala123 (20871)
• Indonesia
19 Nov 18
@JudyEv when i was akid, no body smile, rarely
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223776)
• Chile
17 Nov 18
In my family, we only take pictures in family occasions and smile. But I don´t think that my passport picture shows me smiling.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223776)
• Chile
17 Nov 18
@JudyEv And I wouldn´t dare as the person that takes the picture is not usually friendly
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342088)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Nov 18
@marguicha No, they don't have much of a sense of humour do they?
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
17 Nov 18
I always smile so I find it really hard not to smile even for that official stuff which I find dreary and awkward.
If you are out in public you are not encouraged to smile here either which I still find odd even now.
So I gave my passport to the police guy in Bilbao Airport and he siad this is not you and I thought some mother do have them and so I dared to say back and who do you think it is then.
Of course normally I would not have said that but it was because I had my hair done in a perm. He did not smile or laugh I was just so longing to get home with two fractious kids I would have liked him to have been in my shoes with the delays they always put on the London to Bilbao flights.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
17 Nov 18
@JudyEv
Its not as if I had done a way out hair style either you know.
Yes that flight is always delayed for two hours there and sometimes in London.
The Cop took my word for it luckily for me but he did go and check the Passport out too.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342088)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Nov 18
@lovinangelsinstead21 The first flight you ever do is very exciting but airports quickly lose all their romance after a few flights.
1 person likes this
Same with me. 
@just4him (317241)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
17 Nov 18
It's sad people are encouraged not to smile. Smiling makes a person look so much better. Back when I rode the city bus every day, there was a woman who looked pretty but plain. However, the moment she smiled, she was beautiful. Gone was the plainness of her appearance. The first time I saw her smile I stood transfixed by the results.
People who don't smile just don't look happy or show their best self. I like to smile. I know I don't have a nice smile without teeth, but it's my smile and I'm learning to like my smile and not be so self-conscious about it. People just look better when they smile.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342088)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Nov 18
@debjani1 While it doesn't worry me TOO much, most members here will not appreciate being called 'darling'. Cultures differ I know but calling a Westerner 'darling' might offend someone. I thought I'd mention it rather than have someone be rude to you. Have a great day.
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
17 Nov 18
They do not want you to smile for your driver's license.
1 person likes this
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
19 Nov 18
Yeah. same for all government IDs with photos.
1 person likes this
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
17 Nov 18
If it`s a family photo and the purpose is to remember that day. Then, we all smile at it not unless it`s a surprise shot 
1 person likes this
@Aquitaine24 (11813)
• San Jose, California
18 Nov 18
They can pretned it's the 1800s,LOL
1 person likes this
@Aquitaine24 (11813)
• San Jose, California
18 Nov 18
@JudyEv AAlso the caera shuter captured less aniated people better.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342088)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Nov 18
Yes, when everyone was expected to be solemn for photographs.
