They did the same shit to me when I turned 17 a few years back. I was chewing gum, (you have to do something to kill the hours you spend in the DMV), and I finally am told to move forward to get my picture taken. So, I'm standing there for like 2 minutes, chewing my gum and blowing bubbles, waiting for her to say "smile" or "cheese" or something. Well she didn't say shit and took my picture right as I was about to blow a bubble.. so my cheeks were all puffed out and shit.
I think they get off at making your license pictures as horrible as possible.