Gathering to take a family photo often turns out to be more of an awkward struggle than the perfect family photo people want. But these photos allow us to capture a moment in time and where we’ll look back in a few years to laugh at and cherish those awkward moments with the people we love.
Although each of us may think our own family has the most awkward family photos, one social media account called Awkward Family Photos is dedicated to showing its followers the best of the best. Or you could say the best of the worst. Whether they are awkward, cringe, funny, or even a tad creepy, this social media account invites everyone to submit theirs for all to enjoy.
Here are 45 of some of the best and worst awkward moments families have shared for all to get a good laugh at.
1. Out Of All The Photos, This One Was The Best
Everyone knows when you go to take a family photo it’s never going to be one and done. That is something this family is all too familiar with. As the user who shared this photo recalls they don’t necessarily remember taking this photo however they do remember that at the time their parents had a few photos to choose from and this was the one they liked the best.
2. Born To Be Wild
When children are young, parents like to dress them up in rather unique outfits for photoshoots. As the years go by these are the photos that turn into gems we cherish. As for this young girl she has photo proof that she was born to be wild.
3. Ventriloquist 1st Grader
As we grow up we often grow out of hobbies we once couldn’t get enough of. Then when we look back on those old photos of us and those hobbies we really wonder what we were thinking at the time. Such as this kid who chose to include his slightly terrifying ventriloquist puppet in his school photo.
4. Very…Festive!
There is a lot to take in for this photo. So many things that attract the eye first. Did you zone into the “BUM” t-shirt first? Or maybe the child sitting on the floor looking absolutely miserable. Or did you first take notice of the causal goth vibe that the family seemed to agree on for that year?
5. Head Of The Household
They just don’t create photos as good as this anymore. This is a photo that truly shows who is head of the household. A fantastic photo to proudly display for years to come.
6. “The Princess Who Never Smiled”
Here we have a “classic post-Soviet photoshoot at school” to which she was dressed up as a character from a Russian fairy tale. Who was the character they picked for her? She was dressed as “The Princess Who Never Smiled” and as we can all see she did a mighty fine job. So much so her parents decided it was a must to purchase a whole calendar.
7. First Family Portrait
No this photo is not staged. This was actually the family’s first family portrait! But this mother wasn’t too upset with the photoshoot as she believed this photo “really captures the family dynamic“.
8. 9th Grade School Photo In The Late ’80s
Late 80’s. Long Island. This photo and her hair speak volumes.
9. First Born Is Not Happy About The News
The world revolves around you when you are the firstborn. It’s the best! That is until the day you hear the news there’s a new sibling on the way.
10. Old Picture Of Dad
Old photos of parents can tell a lot about their personalities. Quirky awkward personalities separate from being a parent raising children. Here we have a great photo of a classic dad out in the world.
11. Wedding Day
The best and worst photos of us are the ones that we don’t know are being taken. It’s a 50/50 chance depending on the angle and what is exactly going on at that moment. If this photo from their wedding day says anything it’s that they are definitely meant to be.
12. Power Suit Pam
There is nothing like a good suit to make any man or woman feel powerful. The year is 1992 and this is Power Suit Pam. From the color of the suit to the pose, the power emanates through the photo.
13. Thumbs Up
Some genes are so strong they can be passed down for generations. At this 2002 family reunion, these siblings decided to document their shared “talent“. Nothing like a hereditary gene to bond siblings.
14. Clown Child
As children we can be pretty weird sometimes. Take this child who liked to dress up as a clown whenever there was a celebration. The reason for celebration in this photo: the birth of his younger brother.
15. Lotsa Pizza
The year is 1991 and this dad is about to open up his very own pizza shop called Lotsa Motsa Pizza. But before the big opening day, he wanted to document the important moment with his family. We hope he had this framed and displayed in the shop.
16.Possibly The Saddest Photo Ever Taken
Trying to take photos of children you are lucky if you get a good smile. Most times they are too wiggly, crying, or just miserable. But this photo takes the cake for the saddest photo ever taken.
17. Play-Along
When the wife tells you to “play along” for the photo you play along for the photo. That is what happened with this husband after the photographer slipped a pacifier in his mouth to match the baby. He went for the classy yet with a binky look.
18. Nobody Will Notice
For this school picture day these parents didn’t want to send their little girl who was born with a lazy eye in with an eyepatch. So they came up with something they thought would be less…noticeable. Their solution: blue masking tape.
19. Removing The Ex-Husband In Old Photos
Removing an ex from old photos can be a difficult task. Do you cut them out? Do you put a different face over them? Or just leave the photos alone and try to avoid looking at them. One dad came up with a different solution on how to alter a family photo after his sister divorced her husband, just completely draw over the face.
20. 101 Dalmatians
Some old photos haunt our lives forever. Just as the person who shared this photo recalls when the three siblings were forced into a “pet look-alike competition“. They state the photo still haunts them to this day. We can understand why.
21. This Family Loves Basketball
When marrying into this family, this wife to be had an understanding that her in-laws enjoyed basketball. But when she came across this photo of her husband with his three siblings she couldn’t help but think it was a little strange. Her husband doesn’t think there seems to be anything odd about it though.
22. 4th Grade School Photo Featuring Headgear
Nobody wants to take a school photo with their headgear on. Back in 1984, all this little girl wanted to do was take off her headgear for the photo. However, her parents had a different idea. They asked the orthodontist to wire them in so the headgear couldn’t be taken off for five months.
23. Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner
She was absolutely not having picture day at daycare this day. The little clench in her fist and her stance look like she is ready to fight anyone who steps near her. Maybe it’s because she’s dressed like she’s ready to go into the office to work her 9-5 job.
24. This Family Is Cool & They Know It
This family isn’t a regular family they are a cool family and they know it. Nothing but smiles in this photo, even the 10-month-old baby is dawning a big grin! Future so bright they all had to wear shades.
25. Holiday Card Attempt
When one family scheduled a photoshoot for their vacation lakeside in Idaho they had high hopes. That is until they got to the dock and suggested their two-year-old say “cheese” for the photo. Still makes for a good and memorable Christmas card.
26. Great View!
During a long hike you need to take pauses here and there to rest. When this family decided to stop to rest they could only find one bench. A bench to not only rest your legs but your eyes from the views.
27. 1986 Senior Pictures
Senior pictures often tend to be quite awkward since not all of us are born to be models. Especially when living in the 80s. Always good to look back on old photos and see how much we’ve changed through the times.
28. Good Aim
Snowball fights are some of the funniest yet dangerous things of the winter season. Depending on the type of snow if it’s icy or fluffy you can really create the perfect snowball. That’s exactly what this dad did and his aim was spot on. At least it looks like he feels some remorse about the bull’s eye to the face.
29. Mom Was Not Pleased
Most times our styles do not match our mothers. This mother made sure to vocalize that she did not like her daughter’s style and complained that she wore too much black. So for picture day, she topped off her look with one of her mother’s white sweaters. Mom was not pleased.
30. Playing Catch
You don’t really know what your childhood was like until you get a glimpse at all the family photos. Take this photo for example. Back in 1993 two uncles playing catch with their…nephew.
31. 1 Too Many Enchiladas
We all know the feeling of eating too much and just wanting to lay down for a good sleep after. This child was right in the middle of eating when he got the feeling. Enchiladas not only make for a good meal but also a nice warm pillow.
32. Bouquet Toss
Usually we get to see the slow-motion cinematic bouquet toss. Rarely do we ever get to see the true reality of the intense moment. But at this wedding, the photographer captured the reality which shows the true determination and grit it takes to actually catch the bouquet.
33. Glamour Shots
When we are younger our moms can sign us up to do some pretty crazy things with high hopes we will become the star she sees us as. So when this girl’s mom signed her up for glamour shots for her modeling portfolio she showed up and give it her all. We hope this was only the beginning of a long career.
34. When Your Mom Is A Rod Stewart Fan
Not only do our moms sign us up for some interesting things they can also dress or style us in some unique ways. For this young boy’s fourth-grade school picture, his mother decided to recreate Rod Stewart’s hairstyle. Fourth grade going on forty.
35. Dad & Daughter Bonding
There is nothing like the bond between a father and his daughter. Even taking naps can be a bonding moment. This little one couldn’t be close enough to her father so close she snuggled right into his armpit.
36. Man In The Mirror
Before photoshop there were just extremely clever photographers. Just as this photographer shows their creative eye hiding the husband to be in the reflection of the mirror as his bride gets ready. 40 years later this husband and wife get a good laugh from their wedding day photo.
37. Say Cheese!
When giving the prints of these three siblings to their mother the photographer threw this photo in for free. The two older ones making scrunchy faces and the youngest looking like a 50-year-old insurance salesman. You could say the photographer thought this photo to be simply priceless.
38. Expectation Versus Reality
Kids get so excited to meet their favorite Disney characters in real life. But most times expectation is very different from reality. When Daisy duck came in hot for a hug this little one was quite surprised.
39. Poor Kid
As we’ve seen it can be hard to get kids to smile for photos. So this photographer decided to try to use a stuffed animal in an attempt to crack a smile. However, they got something very different…sheer terror.
40. Peek In From Outside
No photoshop here just a creative photographer taking wedding photos in a studio. For this photo, the photographer used a faux bay window and the peek in from the outside photo was born. We hope they recreate this photo someday.
41. Little Guy Had One Too Many
Nothing will get between Auntie and her dessert. Not even watching the baby for a moment. The poor little guy had one too many and missed dessert.
42. Halloween Or Christmas Card
Every man for himself in this photo it seems. We aren’t sure what the photographer did for this reaction but the children did not like it. At least the family could potentially use this as a Halloween card if they wanted to.
43. Not Fast Enough
If you are lucky to get the kids smiling it may be only for a passing moment so you need to work swiftly to capture it. Unfortunately, this photographer wasn’t fast enough. This gift was not appreciated by the mother-in-law either.
44. Dogs Must Be Included
This dog was very loved. Loved so much this mother needed the dog to be included in the background of the family photo. She didn’t seem to mind much that the dog covered up half of her son.
45. Engrained In The Brain Forever
A wedding photo to truly showcase the love this bride had for soon-to-be her husband. Apparently, this was the wedding photographer’s specialty. Photo’s that will be engrained in your brain for a lifetime.
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