Hide the Pain Harold Meme

Hide the Pain Harold meme has long been an internet legend in stock photos. Shutterstock contributors didn’t expect success from such a simple staged shoot.

You’ve probably seen dozens, if not hundreds, of memes featuring him. He’s that man with the strained smile and sad eyes, known online as "Hide the Pain Harold." He became a cult figure thanks to a series of stock photos, where his peculiar facial expression sparked a whole wave of internet humor.

Some of the most popular memes show Harold holding a coffee cup or sitting at a laptop. One classic example reads: “My face when I check my bank account” — and there he is, staring at the screen with that iconic forced smile hiding quiet despair:

Another meme says: “When you want to hang up but your friend just keeps talking,” and Harold, with that same iconic smile, holds a phone to his ear, looking like he’s been stuck in that conversation for hours — too polite to end it, too desperate to keep listening:

In real life, this man’s name is András Arató. He’s very much real, and his backstory is just as fascinating as the memes. András is a Hungarian retiree who once agreed to pose for a photoshoot at the Shutterstock photo studio Stock Light. Back then, no one could have predicted that these images would go viral and bring him global fame — even if not in the way most aspiring models imagine.

Why did he become a meme? It’s simple.

His expression in those photos is truly unusual. He’s smiling, yes, but there’s a subtle sadness behind it — as if he’s silently enduring something unspoken. That contrast turned him into an icon: the man who "smiles through the pain," symbolizing those who hide their feelings behind a polite mask.

Most likely, the photographers at Stock Light never imagined their work would find success in such an ironic and comedic way. But that’s the magic of stock photography. Sometimes you capture something ordinary, and it ends up becoming a cultural phenomenon.

If you’re curious about trying stock photography yourself — whether you want to create funny or serious content — but don’t know where to start, I recommend reading this article. It offers a clear, step-by-step plan on how to sell photos online and get started in the world of stock content.