ADVERTISEMENT

Life was much different before the digital age. We didn’t have instant access to information or the mundanity in the lives of our families, friends, and acquaintances. Photos were primarily private unless you showed people physical copies. 

But as they say, everything on the internet is permanent and public property. Once your awkward family photos go online, they are available for the world to see. If you’re that unlucky, they will be featured on an Instagram page with over a million followers. 

We’ve lifted some of those pictures from the Awkard Family Photos account. Hopefully, you won’t see your face there, but if you do, don’t worry. It’s all in good fun.

#2

"1984, France. The Only Picture I Have Of My Grandma And She Looks Like Grambo."

Elderly woman with red headband feeds baby with bottle, showcasing an awkward family photo moment.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Familial relationships are complex, to say the least. We’ve all had our fair share of drama and unresolved issues, which, according to Knox College psychology professor Dr. Frank McAndrew, could be why many family photos turn out awkward. 

"You bring in all of these people together with their grudges and their histories on the very day where you want everything to be perfect,” he explained. "We all have to appear to be civil here, so you soldier on in some awkward way."

#4

"There Was A Moth In Our Kitchen."⁠

Man in kitchen holding spatula, surrounded by a dog and two cats, looking up confused; a family photo gone viral.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#5

“During A Cousins Photo Shoot, My Brother Fell Off The Stool Mid-Temper Tantrum And The Photographer Managed To Catch All Of My Cousins’ Reactions.”

Four children in colorful outfits looking at another child who has fallen off a chair, creating an awkward family photo moment.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#6

“My Senior Photo, 1989. I Remember The Photographer And His Helper Had To Move Their Set Up Back In Order To Capture My Whole Head. Side Note: This Picture Got Me Voted Greatest 80s Hair By National Geographic TV’s Contest.”

Retro family photo with a young person sporting a large, voluminous hairstyle in a patterned jacket, embodying awkward nostalgia.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

But awkwardness is still a theme in many family photos, even if there aren't lingering tensions. According to Dr. McAndrew, this is likely because of the generally unique family dynamics that are different from other relationships we develop throughout life. 

"Because we share genes with these people, we care about them in a way that we don't care about anyone else.”

#7

"This Old Picture Of My Great-Grandmother, Far Left, Makes It Look Like The Cameraman Just Stumbled Into A Secret Meeting Of The Grandmas..."⁠

Elderly women at a party table, looking surprised. Family photo went viral with unexpected reactions.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#8

“As A Child, My Boyfriend Loved Appliances And In His Eyes, All Other Appliances Paled In Comparison To The Vacuum Cleaner. When He Was Around Five, His Mom Took Him To A Photography Studio To Get His Portrait Taken. He Asked The Photographers If They Had Any Vacuums He Could Take A Picture With. They Found One In A Broom Closet And Brought It Out For Him… The Rest Is History.”⁠

Awkward family photo of a child smiling next to a red vacuum cleaner, wearing a white shirt and blue shorts.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

ADVERTISEMENT

Many people experience anxiety, which is why they inadvertently look awkward in photos. Fortunately, there are solutions to this. Veteran wedding photographer Laura Oswald suggests focusing on the photos' outcome. 

“When your focus is on how you appear in pictures, you are going to miss out on the experience and not really let yourself be natural,” she wrote in a blog post for her website.

ADVERTISEMENT
#10

"I Really Love Those Quirky Space-Themed Family Photos. My Dog Max Was Less Than Cooperative, But We Managed To Snag This Wondrous Beauty." ⁠

Woman with curly hair hugging a dog, both smiling against a starry backdrop, representing a funny viral family photo.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#11

“Skipped Preschool To Go Get Glamour Shots With My Mom. Think It Was The Right Decision.”

Mother and daughter in matching green outfits and large glasses, posing for a family photo that went viral.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
Lotekguy
Community Member
1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That young lady may not always be right, but she's never in doubt.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

"Hi, I’m Jenn And I Sold My First House At Only 3 Years Old."

Child in vintage attire and pearl necklace, posing for a family photo.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Photographer Aimee Liz shares a similar sentiment on the mindset shift. She suggests pretending you’re in a movie to allow the emotions to shine through. 

“Laughter is just as beautiful as romance, so either way, pretending you’re in a movie about your family’s love is a win-win,” she wrote in a post for her personal blog.

#13

"My Mom Was Amish In The 90s. Apparently, When This Picture Was Taken She Was In Trouble With The Church For Breaking Off Three Engagements."⁠

Woman in blue dress riding a red moped on a grassy slope, part of viral family photos collection.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#14

“I Used To Get Really Bad Stomach Aches That Would Keep Me On The Toilet For Hours. I Would Also Get Really Lonely And Apparently Sleepy. Luckily My Mom Was There To Keep Me Company.”

Awkward family photo of a child with head in toilet and a seated woman looking at the camera.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#15

"My Daughter Was Having A Tantrum, And Hid Her Face Under A Pillow. The Results Were Divine!"⁠

Child on a blue couch with a pillow covering their head, blending with pillow art for a humorous family photo gone viral.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

ADVERTISEMENT

People often say, “When you look good, you feel good.” Your appearance influences your emotions, which is why Seattle-based photographer Neyssa Lee suggests wearing something comfortable if you’re having a photoshoot. 

“If you aren’t a short dress girl, or showing off your arms makes you cringe, avoid those things altogether,” she wrote on her website.

#16

“My Grandmother And Great Grandmother Around 1992 Or 93. According To My Grandma, ‘We Went To One Of Those Photo Places In The Palm Desert Mall And They Duded Us Up Like Floozies. We Howled When We Saw These Pictures.'”

Two women in matching pink dresses with curly hair and pearl necklaces, posing for an awkward family photo.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#17

“I Was About Seven Years Old When My Favorite Betta Fish Died. I Was So Devastated That I Insisted On Hosting A Full Blown Funeral For It. We Dressed In All Black And Even Said Nice Words. My Mom Took This Photo In Our Back Yard Before We Buried It. My Older Sister Is Trying Her Hardest Not To Laugh While I Stood There Holding My Dead Fish On A Paper Plate."⁠

Awkward family photo of a woman in a hat posing with a crying girl holding a plate outdoors.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

We’d like to hear your thoughts, too. Do you have a lot of awkward photos with your family? How do they make you feel? Comment below, and perhaps share some of those snapshots, too!

#19

“We Were Doing Family Photos For My Sister’s Bat Mitzvah. The Photographer Told Us To Make Funny Faces But My Mom Took It To The Next Level…”⁠

A family posing for a photo in quirky expressions, wearing formal attire.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#20

"Daughter’s First Camping Trip. This Is How She Woke Me Up At 6:15 In The Morning."⁠

A toddler in pajamas holds a large Doritos bag inside a tent, creating a funny viral family photo moment.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#22

"My Mom Said This Was One Of My Favorite Things To Do As A Child."⁠

Child wearing oversized red pants standing on a lawn, smiling awkwardly; a viral family photo moment.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tha Monkey
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hell, I still do that as an adult!!! (Or, a 60 y/o teen who still thinks fart jokes are funny.)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

"My Dad, The Morning After Finding Out My Mom Was Pregnant With My Brother. 1982."⁠

Man with messy hair standing in a cluttered kitchen with wood cabinets and kitchenware, capturing a memorable family photo.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#24

“My Sisters And I Were Professionally Photographed With Identical Dolls In Matching Prairie Dresses.”

Awkward family photo of four children with matching dolls in floral dresses, capturing a humorous and memorable moment.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#25

My Friend Mike’s Rock Star Mullet When He Was Two Years Old In 1989 In Fairbanks, Alaska. I Think It’s One Of The Best Photos On Earth

Child with a unique mullet hairstyle wearing a striped shirt, smiling.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tabitha
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let me guess, the ring around his mouth and nose is from the chocolate milk that was served in a wide mouth cup.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

"I Was Shooting Family Pics When This Local Obliviously Walked Into Frame."

Man in swimsuit photobombs family at wedding by the sea; a viral family photo moment.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#28

"We Went To The Beach To Find Shark Teeth, So When My Daughter Yelled "I Found Teeth!" This Was The Last Thing I Was Expecting."⁠

Child laughing on beach while someone holds a set of dentures covered in sand; a viral family photo memory.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#29

“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.”

Family photo gone wrong at the beach, with kids and mom in matching blue outfits, capturing a funny moment in the water.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#31

“We Took This Picture At A Friend’s Wedding. It Wasn’t Until After I Posted It And People Started Making Comments About My Husband’s ‘Barbie Arm’ Did We Notice How His Arm Had ‘Shrunk’…”⁠

Awkward family photo of a smiling group outdoors, surrounded by trees and greenery.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#32

“He Always Posed For Photos In The Past. Maybe He Didn’t Like The Photographer.”⁠

Awkward family photo featuring a woman smiling with curly hair holding a surprised cat against a soft background.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#33

“This Photo Of My Family Was Taken As A Christmas Picture In Late 1989, After My Younger Sister (The “Pearl”) Was Born.”

Family photo of three people dressed as lobsters with a baby on a beach.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#35

“My Grandmother, Bless Her Heart, Made This Dress For Me By Hand. However, She Never Noticed The Fabric She Was Sewing Was Covered With Pictures Of A Couple Making Out. She Then Rolled My Hair And Sent Me To School…on Picture Day.”

Vintage awkward family photo of a child with curly hair, wearing a colorful shirt with printed images.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
Marcellus II
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd have less problems with the "making out" than with all the creepy recording (video & photo) equipment together with it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#36

“Me Being An Uber Goth Teenage Posing Next To Tombstones Unknowingly Covering The ‘S’ In ‘Sweeney.’ Kind Of Ruined The Mood Of The Photo!”⁠

Person in black attire sitting by a gravestone in an awkward family photo setting.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#37

“My High School Senior Photo Has Tortured Me For Years And Now I’m Owning The Embarrassment.”⁠

Woman smiling with a cat, surrounded by soft white feathers, capturing an awkward family photo moment.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#38

“When My Parents Were Getting Their Portraits Taken, The Photographer Had An Idea. My Mom Wore A Tube Top And My Dad Took His Shirt Off. The Photographer Even Entered This In A Photography Contest And Won. He Gave Them A Copy Of The Photo For Posing For Him, But What He Truly Gave Us Is An Amazing Captured Moment That Made Me Wonder If This Is What Married Life Is Like. I Saw This Picture Every Day Hanging Up In Their Bedroom.”

Awkward family photo of a serious couple posing, shirtless man and woman, with a vintage-style backdrop.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#39

"A Fly Landed On My Friend's Face As Soon As The Dmv Took His Picture For His Driver's License."⁠

Awkward family photo of a young man making a funny face, with text overlay "Selected Facial Region."

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tabitha
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s alright. He’d probably be looking like that anyway when the cops stopped him.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#41

“My Husband Spent A Good Amount Of His Childhood Years (Early To Mid 1980s) In A Children’s Hospital Where Well-Meaning Samaritans Would Go To Spread Joy And Lift Spirits.”

Awkward family photo of a child in a hospital bed surrounded by clowns and an older man wearing a fez.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#43

"My Grandparents' First Time At A Japanese Restaurant."⁠

Family photo in a restaurant with a chef, fire erupting in background, and people reacting in shock, during a hibachi dinner.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
Teutonic Disaster
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, if you don't know what to expect and suddenly there's a big hot "whoosh" right behind you...

View more commentsArrow down menu
#44

“My Daughter And I Had Been Holding Hands And She Was Leaning Away From Me And Our Photographer Caught The Perfect Moment. So The Rest Of Us Are Looking Fabulous While My 2 Year Old Is Crashing Into The Pavement.”⁠ ⁠ … And Later That Day. Seriously.

Awkward family photo of parents with children, one child peeking from behind the mother, standing in front of rustic doors.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tabitha
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OP sure got her shape back after having three kids. Kudos. I’ve never had a baby, and I still haven’t gotten my shape back.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#45

“My Wife Was The Flower Girl For Her Cousin’s Wedding And Decided To Slide Down The Railing While The Bird Seed Was Flying After The Happy Couple Was Married. This Was The Result.”

Awkward family photo with a girl dramatically lying on the ground during a formal gathering, surrounded by surprised people.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#46

“Apparently Mom Thought I Needed A Cool New ‘Do For Kindergarten. She Must Have Been Confused.”⁠

Child with bowl haircut posing by a tree, wearing floral shirt. Vintage family photo with viral appeal.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#47

“This Magnificent Awkward Moment Was My High School Graduation Photo From 1997. I Remember Thinking To Myself ‘Don’t Fall, Don’t Fall, Don’t Fall!’ While Precariously Balanced On What I Can Only Assume Were Old Books Under A Wrinkled Drop Cloth. When The Photos Were Sent To Me I Was Too Mortified To Give Them To Anyone; In Fact I Still Have The Full Sheets Of Them In A Bin In My Basement. I’m Actually 17 In This Photo, And I Just Recently Turned 40. Not Everyone Gets To Experience Their 40s Twice In Life. I Just Happened To Do It The First Time When I Was In My Teens.”

Person in a sparkly red dress posing on a draped surface, capturing a memorable family photo moment.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#49

“My Sister And My Parents Sporting Their Australia, Gold Coast 1982 Fashion.”

Awkward family photo with three people in matching animal print swimwear, smiling at a social gathering.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#50

“My Cousin Told Me Hooters Was A Donut Shop.”⁠

A kid in a vintage sweater and glasses poses awkwardly for a family photo with a laser backdrop.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
pineapple87
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, in Finnish the same word can be used for boobs and for donuts

View more commentsArrow down menu
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#53

“My Husband As An Infant. I Prayed Our Children Would Not Inherit His Large Cranium.”

“My Husband As An Infant. I Prayed Our Children Would Not Inherit His Large Cranium.”

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#54

“This Is The Way My Mother Found My Sister Sleeping. In Her Pajamas She Has A Puppet, A Stuffed Monkey, A Stuffed Seal, Two Blankets, And A Watch.”⁠

“This Is The Way My Mother Found My Sister Sleeping. In Her Pajamas She Has A Puppet, A Stuffed Monkey, A Stuffed Seal, Two Blankets, And A Watch.”⁠

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#55

“My Husband Wanted Coffee But I Didn’t Want To Be Late For Our Family Portrait Session.”

“My Husband Wanted Coffee But I Didn’t Want To Be Late For Our Family Portrait Session.”

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#56

“My Grandma Took Me To The L.A. Playboy Club For My 4th Birthday In 1974.”

“My Grandma Took Me To The L.A. Playboy Club For My 4th Birthday In 1974.”

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tabitha
Community Member
1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Though it was an odd choice by Grandma, I bet he was the most popular big man in town with all the bunnies.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#57

“My Son’s Senior Picture, Before Which, He Inexplicably Shaved Off One Eyebrow. Apparently, The Photographer Insisted He Draw It Back On For The Photo.”⁠

“My Son’s Senior Picture, Before Which, He Inexplicably Shaved Off One Eyebrow. Apparently, The Photographer Insisted He Draw It Back On For The Photo.”⁠

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#58

“Me, Shortly After Delivering My Twins And With Horrible Nausea And Vomiting From The Anesthesia And My Husband Thought It Was The Perfect Time For A Photo.”

“Me, Shortly After Delivering My Twins And With Horrible Nausea And Vomiting From The Anesthesia And My Husband Thought It Was The Perfect Time For A Photo.”

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
Traveling Lady Railfan
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be honest, it is a great photo. It captures the moment. Giving birth is one of the hardest things ever

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#59

“For My Daughter’s 12th Birthday Party, We Made Masks Of Her Obsession, George Michael, For All Of The Little Girls. Didn’t Realize How Scary It Would Look When They Pulled Them All On At The Same Time.”

“For My Daughter’s 12th Birthday Party, We Made Masks Of Her Obsession, George Michael, For All Of The Little Girls. Didn’t Realize How Scary It Would Look When They Pulled Them All On At The Same Time.”

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#60

“This Is A Photo Of My Ma And Pop Out On A Date In The ’80s. My Mom Must Have Followed The Instructions On My Father’s Shirt, Because 9 Months Later I Was Born!”⁠

“This Is A Photo Of My Ma And Pop Out On A Date In The ’80s. My Mom Must Have Followed The Instructions On My Father’s Shirt, Because 9 Months Later I Was Born!”⁠

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#61

“I Think My Family Might Have Liked Seinfeld.”⁠

“I Think My Family Might Have Liked Seinfeld.”⁠

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tucker Cahooter
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm expecting Kramer to swoop in and snatch the baby to prevent the bris ceremony proceeding

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#62

"A Friend Bought A New House And When A Cable Technician Went Into The Crawlspace They Found This Shrine To Nicholas Cage Complete With Candles, Goblet, Kneeling Rug And Lockbox Of Movie Paraphernalia."⁠

"A Friend Bought A New House And When A Cable Technician Went Into The Crawlspace They Found This Shrine To Nicholas Cage Complete With Candles, Goblet, Kneeling Rug And Lockbox Of Movie Paraphernalia."⁠

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#63

"My Daughter Was Very Upset About Misplacing Her Lost Tooth. I Told Her To Leave A Note Under Her Pillow For The Tooth Fairy Explaining What Happened."⁠

"My Daughter Was Very Upset About Misplacing Her Lost Tooth. I Told Her To Leave A Note Under Her Pillow For The Tooth Fairy Explaining What Happened."⁠

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#64

"I Got E Coli Poisoning While We Were On A Camping Trip And My Dad Thought He Should Take A Photo Of It."

"I Got E Coli Poisoning While We Were On A Camping Trip And My Dad Thought He Should Take A Photo Of It."

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
#65

“Drew This When I Was In First Grade, Circa 1993. Needless To Say, I Wasn’t The Biggest Fan Of My Sister At The Time.”⁠

“Drew This When I Was In First Grade, Circa 1993. Needless To Say, I Wasn’t The Biggest Fan Of My Sister At The Time.”⁠

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#66

"This Is Love. My Dad Is Driving And My Mom Is Squirting Ranch On Each Carrot He Holds Out."⁠

"This Is Love. My Dad Is Driving And My Mom Is Squirting Ranch On Each Carrot He Holds Out."⁠

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#67

"In Middle School, I Told Everyone I Had An Older Boyfriend, Who Also Happened To Be An Abercrombie Model. This Was My Proof."⁠

"In Middle School, I Told Everyone I Had An Older Boyfriend, Who Also Happened To Be An Abercrombie Model. This Was My Proof."⁠

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#68

“Not Sure What Grandma And Her Friend Were Up To.”

“Not Sure What Grandma And Her Friend Were Up To.”

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

#69

"My Daughter's Stuffed Dog Rolled Under Her Bed. Checking The Monitor Nearly Gave Me A Heart Attack."⁠

"My Daughter's Stuffed Dog Rolled Under Her Bed. Checking The Monitor Nearly Gave Me A Heart Attack."⁠

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tha Monkey
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My kid is grown, and we never had this kind of tech, but I cannot look at this picture without getting the heebie-jeebies. {{shudder}}

#71

Announcing The Awkward Family Photo Contest In Honor Of #thepeoplewehateatthewedding 💍!!!

Announcing The Awkward Family Photo Contest In Honor Of #thepeoplewehateatthewedding 💍!!!

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
MargyB
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dad protested. If you didn't buy me matching christmas PJ's I'll wear my birthday suit!

View more commentsArrow down menu
#72

"My Sister Made This Vegetable Tray For My Nephew's Birthday. He Likes Clowns."⁠

"My Sister Made This Vegetable Tray For My Nephew's Birthday. He Likes Clowns."⁠

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#73

“My Mother Had These Shirts Made For A ‘Professional’ Photoshoot.”⁠

“My Mother Had These Shirts Made For A ‘Professional’ Photoshoot.”⁠

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

Add photo comments
POST
zims
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure which is worse, making matching shirts pointing out that your kid is a redhead, or making a redhead wear red.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#75

"My Daughter Fixed Her Cousin's Barbie After The Head Popped Off And Would Not Reattach."⁠

"My Daughter Fixed Her Cousin's Barbie After The Head Popped Off And Would Not Reattach."⁠

awkwardfamilyphotos Report