When posing for the perfect photo, it’s important to keep your eyes open, brush the hair out of your face, and of course, say “cheese.” But why cheese? A turophile loves cheese enough to make them smile, but that’s not the reason behind this cheesy order. The origins of this phrase are as murky as they are recent, so let’s go back several decades and discuss what we know.
Long before people were ever told “say cheese,” smiling in photos was far from the norm. When photography was invented in the 19th century, displaying a more serious expression (as to mimic portraiture poses in paintings) was preferable. In fact, Richard Beard — a portrait photographer working in 1840s Britain — reportedly told subjects to say “prunes” so their mouths stayed small and refined.
Photography became more casual after the turn of the 20th century, and in turn, people began smiling in photos more frequently. But the earliest evidence — at least in print — of anyone saying “cheese” is in a 1943 edition of a Texas newspaper, The Big Spring Daily Herald. An article titled “Need To Put On A Smile? Here’s How: Say ‘Cheese’” discussed advice issued by former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union Joseph E. Davies, who said that he learned to say cheese when posing from “an astute politician.” Some believe that his vague answer implied he was referring to his former boss, President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
No matter whom the advice originated with, it seems like the phrase has nothing to do with any desire for cheese; rather, it was selected for its vowel sounds. The long “e” in “cheese” pulls the subject’s cheeks up into a grin. Other words with a long “e,” such as “cheer” or “geese,” would work just as well.
The likeliest origin story for “Say cheese!” is that it was coined in an impromptu manner by an anonymous photographer looking to make their subjects smile, and it just so happened to become popular thereafter.
Saying “cheese” is a common trend among English speakers, but other languages have equivalent phrases when it’s time to pose for a photo. In Mandarin it’s 茄子, or qiezi, meaning “eggplant.” French speakers say ouistiti, which means “marmoset.” In the Czech language it’s the word for cheese: sýr. And Koreans say 김치, or kimchi, a popular delicacy made of fermented cabbage. These terms were likely chosen for the same reason we use “cheese” — the words translate into a big, cheesy grin.
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