Why didn't people smile in old pictures?

Question:Yeah, everybody got it right. Exposures were so long in the beginning of photography(several minutes sometimes) you try smiling that long. That's why their eyes look weird too (kind of blurry) from blinking. There was even a stand they used to keep children still, it held them behind the neck kind of like a doll stand. Sounds comfortable.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Yeah, everybody got it right. Exposures were so long in the beginning of photography(several minutes sometimes) you try smiling that long. That's why their eyes look weird too (kind of blurry) from blinking. There was even a stand they used to keep children still, it held them behind the neck kind of like a doll stand. Sounds comfortable.

cuz a lot of times that was the only picture they ever got

I am guessing that no one can hold a smile for too long.

Exposure for old photos lasted much longer than a fraction of a second by today's cameras.

Pooky gave you the correct explanation.

The posers had to stand/sit for a long time and not move before the flash/camera worked. That's why family pictures have the kids kind of blurred. Ha Ha

They had to sit very still for old photos, because they didn't have fast technology like they do now. No one could hold a smile for that long, so they always were frowning.