Gathering all family members in one place at the same time for a decent photo while also trying to find the perfect spot and lighting can feel like an Olympic sport or managing a kindergarten full of hyperactive kids. And after many efforts, when everything finally falls into place, ready for the shot, someone’s bound to close their eyes, make a weird face, or drain all emotion from their expression.
The families we gathered in the list below definitely know the struggle, as none of them seem to have achieved the cozy and idyllic family photos everyone strives for. All they’ve managed to capture are very awkward and cringy pictures that somehow got exposed online for our entertainment. Scroll down to find them below, and don’t forget to upvote the ones that probably should’ve stayed in the dusty albums in Grandma’s attic.
While you're at it, make sure to check out a conversation with luxury family vacation photographer Kirstie McConnell, owner and lead photographer at Christopher Todd Studios, Christopher Griffiths, and wedding and family photographer Kelly Williams, who kindly agreed to share their best tips on how to avoid awkward family photos.
#1 This Picture Was Taken At My Daughter’s Preschool Photo Day. I Think The Photographer Thought Having Her Hold A Flower Would Make For A Really Cute And Innocent Picture
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#2 My Family Took This Photo For Our Baptist Church Directory In The Late 90s. It Was A Bit Of A Scandal But In Our Defense, Men In Black Had Just Come Out
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#3 My Dad Liked To Balance Me On One Hand And Sometimes He Used Props
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"An awkward family photo is the opposite of what a professional photographer creates! It’s the kind of photo where everyone looks stiff, the smiles feel forced, and even the viewer can sense the discomfort," luxury family vacation photographer Kirstie McConnell tells Bored Panda.
"The key difference? A great photographer knows how to bring out natural moments—where families look at ease, genuinely happy, and connected."
#4 I Played Keyboard In Elementary School Band And School Photos Were Sometimes Full Of The Rock And Roll That Comes With The Territory
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#5 This Is A Picture Of My Grandpa, Aunt, And Uncle On Christmas Morning. You Can See They Are Full Of Cheer And Excitement For The Holiday
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#6 During Our ‘Perfect’ Beach Photo Shoot, My Oldest Son Jumped On My Back, Propelling My Infant Son Out Of My Arms (As My Middle Son Looked On In Amusement)
My infant son was not harmed, just wet and scared but mommy is forever traumatized.
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For wedding and family photographer Kelly Williams, an awkward family photo is one where attire, posing, smiles, and hairstyles are all wrong in the best way possible. "Normally, these photos are made better by a decade or so of time between when the photo was taken and the present day," she says.
#7 When I Was A Kid My Family Decided To Take A Vacation To Blackpool, England. This Picture Is Perhaps The Only Family Portrait I Have From My Youth. I Treasure It!
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#8 This Was Supposed To Be A Cute Photo Of Me And My Newborn Son
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#9 This Family Photo Hung In My Pop And Gram’s House For Years. To Say They Didn’t Like My Aunt’s Ex-Husband May Have Been An Understatement
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As for owner and lead photographer at Christopher Todd Studios, Christopher Griffiths, an awkward family photo is all about the oozing stress you can feel immortalized in the picture. "An awkward family photo usually tells a story and not the one you want to remember! You can almost feel the stress. Parents are tense, kids are mid-meltdown (or just recovering from one), and Dad looks like he’d rather be anywhere else," he says.
"Add in mismatched outfits or ones that don’t follow the recommended style guide, and the whole photo can feel disjointed. Often, no one is genuinely smiling. There are either fake grins or no smiles at all, and it just doesn’t capture that natural, happy family vibe."
#10 My Brother, Chris’s 1998 Senior Picture. He Really Loved Batman
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#11 This Is A Photo Of Me Faceplanting Into The Ground After What Looks Like My Sister Pushed Me Off The Top
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#12 In Hindsight, My Freddy Krueger Shirt Probably Wasn’t Appropriate Attire For My Cousin's Holy Communion
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The family picture might turn out awkward if people feel rushed, uncomfortable, or badly posed, explains McConnell. "It’s easy to tell when a group has been plonked together without thought! The secret to natural family photos is considering dynamics—who should stand next to whom, how to layer different heights, and what will make everyone feel most like themselves.
For example, if grandma is in the photo, she should be seated comfortably. A teenager will look more natural leaning casually against a wall rather than standing stiffly in a row. Young kids? They won’t sit still for long—so let’s get them moving, whether it’s bouncing on dad’s shoulders or playing a little game to bring out their real smiles."
#13 My Aunt’s Wedding Pictures With Her Bridesmaids And Flower Girl
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#14 The Last (And Arguably The Greatest) Professional Portrait Studio Photo Of My Husband And His Family
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#15 I Was The Punk Rock / Artist Of The Family
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Griffiths adds that not everyone is comfortable being in front of the camera, which can greatly add to a photo's awkwardness level.
"It’s not exactly a natural situation! Unless you're a model, it’s normal not to know how to stand, where to put your hands, or how to give a relaxed, genuine smile. On top of that, parents are often worried about how their kids are behaving or if they’re making silly faces," he says.
"Another big factor? The photographer. If the photographer isn’t experienced with families, it can be tough to guide everyone into natural poses and bring out those real smiles. A great family photographer does more than snap pictures, they help everyone feel comfortable, have fun, and enjoy the experience. That connection makes all the difference when trying to avoid photos from looking awkward."
#16 Me, My Husband And Our 2 Children – It’s Our 2021 Holiday Photo And No Matter How We Tried To Entertain Our Son, He Wasn’t Having It
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#17 This Is My Parents On Their Wedding Day In 1975. She Was Always On His Mind Then And She Still Is Today
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#18 My Swiss-American Great-Grandparents On Their 40th Wedding Anniversary Sometime In The 40’s. So Happy Together
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Most people would like to avoid awkward moments in their photos unless they're participating in a recent trend and trying to recreate cringy family pictures. For the former, photographers have a few tips on how to make any photoshoot less awkward. The first one is seeking out a professional photographer.
"To me, a photo is always a reflection back on the person taking the photo. Do people look stiff and scared in the photo? Well, that's probably how the photographer made the people feel on the other end of the camera," says Williams.
"Are the family members all over the place and not in sync with one another? Do they look like they aren't having fun? Again, that's probably the fault of the photographer. Think of a good photographer as a guide who brings out the best in your family and then captures those happy memories for you to share with your loved ones."
#19 I Think The Stuffed Animal Possessed My Older Brother When He Was 7 Months Old In 1973
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#20 Australia, 1979 Mother’s Day. We Fought And We Needed To Take Photos To Remember
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#21 The Church Directory Photographer Created This Of Me And My Mom And My Parents Bought A 5×7. I Always Hated It
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It also helps to be prepared for the photoshoot in advance, notes Griffiths. "Pick and prep outfits 1-2 nights before. No scrambling on the day of the shoot means way less stress and more fun. Give yourselves extra time. Avoid rushing or squeezing too much into the day. Let the photoshoot be the main event so everyone’s relaxed and in a good mood."
#22 My Sister Wanted To Make Sure Her Eyes Stayed Open For The Picture
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#23 We Just Wanted One Picture With All The Cousins
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#24 This Was Taken In 1976 On Our Country’s Bicentennial. I’m The Little Guy That Resembles A Puppet
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"Consider the timing of your family photos for the best results," adds McConnell. "The soft, golden light near sunrise or sunset creates the most flattering, natural glow. Instead of squeezing in a rushed session after work, plan for a relaxed weekend shoot—or better yet, book a vacation photographer. When you’re already together, feeling your best, and dressed in outfits you love, it’s the perfect recipe for effortless, natural portraits—no awkwardness in sight!" she concludes.
#25 Yes, This Is My Family Photo
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#26 This Pic Is My Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister And Her Husband, Me And My Demonic-Looking Son. This Family Portrait Was Taken In The 80s… We Were Really A Scary Crew
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#27 My Daughter Was Super Sad Because She Couldn’t Eat Any Cookies Yet. Oy Indeed.
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#28 This Was The Only Bench Around To Rest After A Long Hike, So We Sat And Took Five
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#29 This Is A Family Photo From The 90s. We Had Coordinated Halloween Costumes And Yes, We Watched A Lot Of Star Trek
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#30 This Is A Picture From My Sister’s Wedding. My Daughter Is The Flower Girl And My Son Is The Linebacker. Please Laugh And Enjoy. We Did!
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#31 1993. My Siblings And I (The Blonde) Got The Great Idea To Take A Portrait Of Ourselves For A Surprise Christmas Present For Our Mom
However, none of us were in the mood for photos on that particular day.
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#32 Bring Your Parents To School Day In Kindergarten 1990. Apparently, I Wasn’t So Pleased About Who I Brought
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#33 The Time My Sister Put Me In The Dryer And Fed Me Dry Cat Food
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#34 Me And My Mom With Our Matching Christmas Mullets
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#35 This Is A Picture Of One Of My Cousins In The Early 80s Hanging Out In The Kitchen And Blissfully Watching How Sausage Is Made. ‘Cause That’s How We Roll
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#36 This Is A Photo Of Me And My Family Celebrating The Holidays In 1987
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#37 Christmas 1985. Every Time I See This Photo I Wonder How On Earth I Sat There Calmly? I Mean Look At The Dude On The Left
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#38 Yup, It Was A Hole In The Ground
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#39 1980. El Segundo, California. My Grandmother And Her Fourth Husband On Their Wedding Day
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#40 My 3 Stepsisters From A Dance Recital In Garland, Tx In 1983
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#41 This Was From One Of My Dance Recitals. I Was Dressed Like A Fly And Buzzed Around The Stage Until The Other Dancers Trapped Me With A White Parachute (Their Spider Web)
"Possibly the most embarrassing photo of me ever.”
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#42 Our Very 80’s K-Mart Photo Session Taken In Michigan In 1988 And I’m The Chunky Baby
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#43 Me (Mom) And My Family, Minus Our Oldest Daughter, Who Wouldn’t Be Caught Dead In This Photo
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#44 1986 Senior Pictures. So Much To Unpack Here. The Phone, The Boots, The Ornamental Side Clip In The Very Bottle Blonde Hair
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#45 I Spent Much Time In A Leotard During The Late 1970s/Early 89s
Evidently much to the chagrin of my grandmother and sister, both giving me the stink eye here. Mum seems not to care. Thanks, mum.
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#46 We Were At A Restaurant In 2000 And There Was A Birthday In Another Area Of The Restaurant And The Man In The Chicken Suit Was Entertaining At The Party And Going On A Bathroom Break
My father asked if he could take a picture of him with us, he said “sure” and then my father handed me the camera and told me take a picture of your siblings with the chicken. So I did it.
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#47 I Don’t Think Anyone Is Prepared For The 90s Masterpiece Of My Mom, Her Boyfriend, Me And My Brothers. Those Mullets. The Lasers. And So Much Denim
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#48 To Make Sure Our Three Month Old Would Stay Still For The Photo Session, We Needed To Get Creative
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#49 Just Me, My Sister, And Our Dragon. Nbd
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#50 2013, American Fork, Utah. My Mother-In-Law Wanted A Huge Family Photo
For some reason she put us all in ugly bright colored sweaters in the middle of the summer and wanted us all to stand in random spots on the steps and smile. I was on camera duty and so I pushed the timer and hauled it back to my spot but wiped out just as the photo was snapped.
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#51 This Is… Uncle Michael
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#52 Me On The Far Left With My Cousins And My Mother’s Best Friend’s Kids In The Mid 80s In Quincy, Massachusetts
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#53 This Was Taken On A Beach In Connecticut. My Photographer Was Screaming And We Had No Idea Why. Then She Showed Me The Picture And I Saw What Was Coming Out Of My Son’s Nose
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#54 Our Family Is Italian And Proud Of Our Heritage. One Of Our Favorite Traditions Has Always Been Having Stuffed Artichokes On Special Occasion
When my first daughter was born we decided to take a family picture with the newest addition to the family with my cousins. While deciding on outfits one of us suggested we should all hold an artichoke…and for some reason the rest of us agreed it would be a fantastic idea! I think it’s clear from the photo that my daughter was the only one who found it a little odd.
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#55 Late 80s. It’s Me, My Sister, My Best Friend And A Bunny With A Mustache
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#56 I Was Barely A Month Old And My Parents Decided My First ‘Outing’ Should Be A Trip To The Local Mall To Meet These Disturbing Characters
From that moment on, I was cursed to live my life as a NY Jets fan.
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#57 This Is My Uncle Leonard And His Family. Aunt Loujean Was A Great Seamstress, And Just Had To Make Shirts And Pants For The Whole Family Every Time We Had A Reunion
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#58 My Daughter Was Thrilled To Meet Santa
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#59 Tried To Take Nice Family Photos And As The Photographer Said ‘Alright, Serious Faces For This One’ My Daughter Turned And Bit Me On The Shoulder
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#60 This Was Taken In New Orleans Circa 1986 During A Family Vacation. I Am Pretty Sure It Was 105°f That Day
My mother told my Dad and I to pose in front of the mausoleums. This picture is a reminder why Jam shorts and midriffs went out of style.
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#61 It Was The 80s & Hot Sticks And The 'Burning Bush' Hairstyle Was The Latest Craze And My Beautiful Sister Was Rockin’ It
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#62 This Was Taken By My Mother On Father’s Day 1986. My Sister (Far Right) And I Are Less Than Thrilled To Be Missing Morning Cartoons
"Not to mention our king-for-a-day dad obviously scored the only tray in the house so my eggs were precariously balanced on my lap. As for my sister’s cereal…that most likely ended up in the bed as well.”
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#63 My Sister At Her Chuck E. Cheese Birthday Party. I Am The Child On The Right Doing Absolutely Nothing To Console Her
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#64 A Vacation From 1989 To The Luray Caverns In Virginia. It Was A Beautiful And Magical Day
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#65 One Year Old Me, Santa In Furry Slippers And The Most Disturbing And Scary Befana Ever
Italy, 1996 (In Italy the Befana is supposed to be an old, kind woman who deliver gifts to kids on Epiphany eve).
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#66 My Little Sister’s First Holy Communion. She Was Over Getting Her Picture Taken And Wanted To Get Out Of That Dress. We Were Like, "Just One More In The Parking Lot!"
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#67 My Mom Holding My Sister Up For A Photo Op With Chester And Big Bob In 1985
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#68 My Oldest Son Was Ready For Our Church Photo Shoot. The Rest Of Us, Not So Much
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#69 Me And My Siblings And Lots Of Big Hair Taken Near Provo, Ut In The Late 80s. My Mom Scoured Dozens Of Department Stores Looking For The Matching Red Shirts
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#70 It Was The Girl Scout Father-Daughter Dance And My Dad Was Not Happy About Having To Go
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#71 My Mom Went To Dance School With Me In The 80s
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#72 The Time We Were Celebrating My Dad’s Birthday And My Mom Wanted To Make Sure We Got My Sick Brother In The Picture
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#73 Every Year For Thanksgiving My Brother And I Drink Several Cocktails And Deep Fry The Turkey
This was the year I decided to brine the turkey in apple cider and my grandmother declared that I ruined Thanksgiving.
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