Why Do We Say “Cheese” When Taking Photos

What this episode covers

This episode explores the origins of the familiar command “Say cheese!” and how it became the universal cue for smiling in photos. Early portraits in the 1800s featured serious faces because long camera exposures made smiling impractical. As photography evolved into a faster, more social activity, smiling became a symbol of warmth and happiness. The word cheese caught on in the 1940s because the “ee” sound naturally stretches the lips into a grin, creating an easy, photogenic smile. The phrase spread through media and celebrity photography until it became a global habit. Other cultures developed their own versions—like “qiézi” (eggplant) in China, “patata” (potato) in Spain, and “kimchi” in Korea—all designed to produce similar mouth shapes. Psychologically, smiling for photos doesn’t just look pleasant—it can actually boost mood by triggering happy signals in the brain. Today, the “photo smile” has become universal, evolving from a stiff Victorian expression into a symbol of joy, connection, and shared memory.

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