MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why do we use “Say Cheese!” when taking a photo?

Say cheese, message on photo frame, 3D rendering

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why do we use “Say Cheese!” when taking a photo?

I’m sure you took a million family photos over the holidays and inevitably someone yelled out “SAY CHEESE!” to get everyone to smile. But why do we do this? Why cheese?

The most popular theory behind it is that the word “cheese” is the perfect term to get you to make a great smile. The “ch” part gets your teeth into proper position while the “ee” parts your lips just enough to see those pearly whites. The earliest recorded moment that someone used it when taking a photo seems to be in the 1940s.

Personally, my photo taking trick has always been to laugh a little bit just before the photo is taken.

 

Photo credit: Getty Images