19th century “photo booth”
While today we aim to smile at the camera, in the past photographs were considered formal and dignified, and so people were instructed to look somber in photographs, rather than cheerful and smiling. That’s why this Victorian couple were trying their best not to laugh while having their picture taken.
It wasn’t a photo booth, of course, but a photographer taking their portraits. Since it took the camera a couple of minutes to go off, the couple couldn’t contain their laughter any longer, and at one point, they burst out laughing. It’s hard not to smile when seeing these photos, although they were meant to be serious!