Smiling in Pictures and MBTI Type

thirtyfour · 05-10-2007, 06:55 AM

I've noticed a lot of INT*s don't smile in pictures. What's your type and do you smile or not smile and why?

I'm an INTP and I never smiled until I had my son. Since he was born at such a contentious time in my life I never wanted him to look back at pictures and think I was unhappy he was born. The habit stuck.

MacGuffin · 05-10-2007, 06:58 AM

This ain't fluff. Moved.

I smile in pics. Why not?

Cerpin_Taxt · 05-10-2007, 07:40 AM

Only if its sincere, I cant fake smile.

outmywindow · 05-10-2007, 07:54 AM

I've been told many times that I look really mean and/or overly intense if I don't smile. Generally, I don't really give a shit and walk around with whatever look I happen to have on my face. However in pictures, I take the two seconds required to slap a smile on just to look a bit less thuggish.

Chaselation · 05-10-2007, 09:25 AM

I've tried smiling in self portraits for forums and facebook. They always appear fake and get tossed into the recycle bin. I've tried reliving funny moments to elicit a smile from myself but I get the same result. I look too intense without the smile but at lease it does look like me.

On a tangent. My camera has taken five thousand pictures (a guess) I have about ten of myself. I wouldn't say I like having my picture taken but I don't avoid them either.

Littlelostnf · 05-10-2007, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thirtyfour

I've noticed a lot of INT*s don't smile in pictures. What's your type and do you smile or not smile and why?

I'm an INTP and I never smiled until I had my son. Since he was born at such a contentious time in my life I never wanted him to look back at pictures and think I was unhappy he was born. The habit stuck.

Im an ENFJ and unless someone catches a candid shot of me I don't even like being in pictures. I don't like forced smiles and when someone is taking a picture of me I feel forced to smile. Hate it. I'm always the one volunteering to take the picture. I'm much more comfortable behind the lens than in front of it. I'm generally hiding in the pictures I am in.

I think btw that it's really kind of you to think ahead in terms of your son looking back at pictures of you at this time. It's hard to smile when you're not feeling it from the inside but for you to consider how he might feel or what he might think about your facial expressions...that's really fantastic. I hope perhaps just your son's being here will turn this time in your life towards the positive.

meshou · 05-10-2007, 10:39 AM

I tend to give a Mona lisa smile, if any, because when I was a kid I had buck-teeth, and when I was not a kid I had braces. And then I managed to have somewhat bad teeth. Now that they're (nearly) fixed, I may get more into the habit.

Another factor is I am extremely child-like, especially when I look or act happy, I feel to a degree unattractive in someone my age, and certainly not to my benefit. Few people take me seriously at all unless I project a kind of coldness-- and that means they do not trust me with their money or responsibilties I am more than qualified and prepared to handle.

Even so, a more cool demeanor ups age estimates from fifteen to an aged seventeen years old. Wonderful.

Wolf · 05-10-2007, 11:13 AM

I was trained to smile on command, and specifically for the camera. In college I actually practiced smiling when there was no reason to, because I got so many comments about how I didn't seem friendly or approachable.

Latest age estimates are mid-to-late 30s, and people tend to be very shocked that I'm as young as I am.

Randomnity · 05-10-2007, 03:43 PM

I always smile for pics, unless I see someone's trying to do a candid shot. You can tell really easily in pictures whether my smile is real (when I'm with friends) or forced (with family) though, even though I'm good at faking smiles in real life.

nightning · 05-10-2007, 04:02 PM

I figured this one out from way back... cameras and I do not go well together. I tried smiling for photos, it never works. In fact the picture will probably end up looking better if I don't smile, but people insist I "smile"... and I ended up ruining group photos. So nowadays I run away from cameras whenever possible, or be on the other end of things and get take shots.

05-10-2007, 06:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
thirtyfour Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: INTp Location: Texas Posts: 56	Smiling in Pictures and MBTI Type I've noticed a lot of INTs don't smile in pictures. What's your type and do you smile or not smile and why? I'm an INTP and I never smiled until I had my son. Since he was born at such a contentious time in my life I never wanted him to look back at pictures and think I was unhappy he was born. The habit stuck. Last edited by thirtyfour; 05-10-2007 at 06:56 AM. Reason: typo*

05-10-2007, 07:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
outmywindow Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: INTP Location: Berkeley, California Posts: 171	I've been told many times that I look really mean and/or overly intense if I don't smile. Generally, I don't really give a shit and walk around with whatever look I happen to have on my face. However in pictures, I take the two seconds required to slap a smile on just to look a bit less thuggish. __________________ INTP

05-10-2007, 10:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
meshou Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: INXP Location: Sanitized for your protection Posts: 244	I tend to give a Mona lisa smile, if any, because when I was a kid I had buck-teeth, and when I was not a kid I had braces. And then I managed to have somewhat bad teeth. Now that they're (nearly) fixed, I may get more into the habit. Another factor is I am extremely child-like, especially when I look or act happy, I feel to a degree unattractive in someone my age, and certainly not to my benefit. Few people take me seriously at all unless I project a kind of coldness-- and that means they do not trust me with their money or responsibilties I am more than qualified and prepared to handle. Even so, a more cool demeanor ups age estimates from fifteen to an aged seventeen years old. Wonderful. __________________ Let's do this thing.

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05-10-2007, 06:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
MacGuffin Mister Cactus Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: xkcd Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 5,516	This ain't fluff. Moved. I smile in pics. Why not?

05-10-2007, 07:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
Cerpin_Taxt Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Type: INTP Posts: 137	Only if its sincere, I cant fake smile.

05-10-2007, 09:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
Chaselation Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: INTP Location: Sin City Posts: 145	I've tried smiling in self portraits for forums and facebook. They always appear fake and get tossed into the recycle bin. I've tried reliving funny moments to elicit a smile from myself but I get the same result. I look too intense without the smile but at lease it does look like me. On a tangent. My camera has taken five thousand pictures (a guess) I have about ten of myself. I wouldn't say I like having my picture taken but I don't avoid them either.

05-10-2007, 11:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
Wolf only bites when provoked Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: HPLS Location: Plant Hardiness Zone 10 or 11 Posts: 2,181	I was trained to smile on command, and specifically for the camera. In college I actually practiced smiling when there was no reason to, because I got so many comments about how I didn't seem friendly or approachable. Latest age estimates are mid-to-late 30s, and people tend to be very shocked that I'm as young as I am.

05-10-2007, 03:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
Randomnity insert random title here Join Date: May 2007 Type: ISTP Posts: 1,692	I always smile for pics, unless I see someone's trying to do a candid shot. You can tell really easily in pictures whether my smile is real (when I'm with friends) or forced (with family) though, even though I'm good at faking smiles in real life.

05-10-2007, 04:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
nightning ish red no longer sad Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: INfJ Location: INTJ license revoked :( Posts: 3,833	I figured this one out from way back... cameras and I do not go well together. I tried smiling for photos, it never works. In fact the picture will probably end up looking better if I don't smile, but people insist I "smile"... and I ended up ruining group photos. So nowadays I run away from cameras whenever possible, or be on the other end of things and get take shots.