Co-founder Mike revealed to Bored Panda that the 'Awkward Family Photos' brand has been growing by focusing on some new projects that they're pursuing. One of these is their "Successful card game which now includes our first expansion pack available here!" he was happy to share.

According to Mike, they've seen the most growth on their Instagram page where they receive lots of submissions. "We have streamlined our process and brought on help so that we can look through everything we get and post the best-curated submissions. At the end of the day, our community is everything so we appreciate every photo and message," he told Bored Panda.

I was curious whether Mike had any advice on how to take 'normal' photos. However, he pointed out that the concept of 'normal' is pretty boring. "Well, we are Awkward Family Photos so we don't offer advice on taking normal photos. From our standpoint, the normal photos are boring. It's the awkward ones that reveal the most about us and our families. But in general, posing, matching outfits, and feuding families always make for glorious awkwardness so please keep it coming!"

Confidence is everything. Photographer Dominic told Bored Panda that being photogenic comes down to being comfortable in one's own skin. "It's an ability to be comfortable in front of the camera and know how to make yourself look good. I think this can be self-inflicted, but also taught through many trials of being the subject," he said.

One of the tips that Dominic shared about photographers helping their subjects feel more comfortable is very simple (if not immediately obvious): "Just make them comfortable."

The more photographers engage with their subjects, the quicker they're bound to get used to being photographed. Trying to relate to the subject and their interests can yield great results. And the more relaxed the subject becomes, the more natural they'll look in the photos. Your goal here is to create an environment where people who feel stressed by cameras forget that they're even being photographed.

"I've photographed people who were really unsure at the start, but by the end of it were pretty comfortable having their photo taken. I think if you engage in conversation on a topic that they have interest in, you'll see the subject open up more and become more comfortable, almost as if they forget they're having their photo taken."

As for the subjects themselves, photographer Dominic suggested that they try and focus on something else if they're feeling particularly nervous. "Don't think of it to be so daunting and scary. I know this is much easier said than done, but just remember it's okay to be yourself, and seeing yourself as you really are in an image can be really fun," he told Bored Panda.

"It really comes down to being comfortable in the situation. I'm not sure it's something that can be turned on or off though. Some people just inherently don't like to have their picture taken and that's their method of operation. It isn't a bad thing, but it should be respected and not forced upon anyone."

When you look at the ‘Awkward Family Photos’ project, the first thing that hit us is just how much fun everyone’s having. People are having a whale of a time submitting the most peculiar pics they have at home to AFP.

It might be a tad embarrassing to show someone, especially internet strangers, the silly photos we’ve got stored in our albums, but it’s also liberating. And, if you make someone else laugh and make their day a smidge better, well, that’s a bonus that makes everything worth it.

The founders of the ‘Awkward Family Photos’ project, Mike and Doug, started the AFP blog nearly 12-and-a-half years ago. It all started when Mike spotted a weird vacation photo in his parents’ house which sparked the idea to invite others to share uncomfortable family moments. They’re one of the things that we’ve got in common, no matter our status or background, dreams or desires. Silliness, I’d say, is as human as walking on two legs or browsing cat and dog pics during your lunch break.

Currently, AFP has over 2.6 million followers on Facebook and a whopping 1 million Instagram fans. Sprinkle 27k Twitter fans on top of that and you’ve got popularity for days. It’s well earned, too, as the creators constantly seem to have idea after idea on how to improve things for the better.

Mike and Doug use their creativity on new projects related to AFP and have published a game about the Greatest Hits and released a party game called Cringeworthy. Keep in mind, though, the latter’s for adults only (the outrageous hilarity might be too much for the younger crowd) while the former’s a great laugh for all ages.

A year ago, my colleague, Rokas, had a great conversation with Mike, one of the co-founders of AFP, about the roots of the project and why it’s been resonating with people ever since 2009. In an in-depth interview, Mike shared with Bored Panda that he has always felt connected to awkwardness and comedy.

“As a kid, I was very aware of awkward situations. I didn't exactly want them to happen but when they did, I was excited to have a new story to tell. I think it led me to become a writer after graduating college. I wrote my first movie at age 22 called Not Another Teen Movie and continued to work as a screenwriter for about 13 years,” Mike opened up to Bored Panda.

However, Mike started looking for greener pastures when the film industry started changing. He noticed that the internet provided a lot of space for creative expression and various projects. Not long after, the idea to create AFP was born.

“Around that time, in 2009, I went home to my parents' house for the weekend and saw my mother putting up what was for me an awkward family photo from my teenage years. She had framed it and was going to hang it on the wall,” Mike told Bored Panda about the origins of ‘Awkward Family Photos.’

"I thought that was such a peculiar idea—to memorialize this awkward moment. But I also thought it was intriguing. So I met with my writing partner and friend, Doug Chernack, who I grew up with in New Jersey, and he told me that his childhood home was full of awkward family photos. And so we decided to start a website and our only hope was that if we posted our awkward pics, others would do the same."

The duo’s gambit paid off. Within just a week of launching the website, it took off. Mike and Doug were both surprised by the massive positive reaction. “We started receiving awkward photos from all over the world! It felt like something big was happening,” Mike said.

In September 2020, Mike noted that they receive hundreds of awkward photos each week. The co-creators try to focus on the most surprising pics, choosing to feature them front and center on their social media platforms.

According to Mike, the success of ‘Awkward Family Photos’ lies in its relatability: peculiar, silly, sometimes even uncomfortable photos are something many of us can deeply empathize with. “Even if it's not their family, they see their family in others and there's something comforting about knowing that you're not alone.”

Which of these photos did you like the most, dear Readers? Do you enjoy having your picture taken? How do you feel about showing people your family albums? Let us know in the comment section at the bottom. Oh, and if you’ve got any uncomfortable or silly pics of your own to share, you can post the photos in the comments as well.