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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."

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

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Tucker Cahooter
Community Member
11 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After the photo was taken she chopped a pile of bricks with her hand

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#3

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

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

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Lotekguy
Community Member
12 hours 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.

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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

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

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

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#5

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

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

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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

"There Was A Moth In Our Kitchen."⁠

"There Was A Moth In Our Kitchen."⁠

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#8

"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."⁠

"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."⁠

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#9

“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.”

“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.”

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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.

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#10

“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.”

“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.”

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#11

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

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

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#12

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

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

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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's Bed Hung From Chains, And She Had A Mini Bar For A Headboard. 1972."⁠

"My Mom's Bed Hung From Chains, And She Had A Mini Bar For A Headboard. 1972."⁠

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#14

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

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

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Tha Monkey
Community Member
12 hours 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.)

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#15

“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.”

“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.”

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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

“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…”⁠

“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…”⁠

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#18

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

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

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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

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

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

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#21

“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.'”

“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.'”

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#22

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

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

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#23

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

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

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Tabitha
Community Member
12 hours 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.

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#24

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

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

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#25

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

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

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WindySwede
Community Member
12 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We all need a little bit of air... 😅 (even though I guess it's nitrogen, and you get no oxygen from it..)

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#26

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

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

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#28

“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."⁠

“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."⁠

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#29

“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’…”⁠

“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’…”⁠

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#31

“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.”

“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.”

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#32

“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.”

“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.”

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Marcellus II
Community Member
12 hours 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.

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#33

“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.”⁠

“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.”⁠

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#36

“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.”

“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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#37

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

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

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Tabitha
Community Member
12 hours 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.

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#38

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

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

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#39

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

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

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#40

“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.”

“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.”

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#42

“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.

“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.

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Tabitha
Community Member
12 hours 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.

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#44

"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."⁠

"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."⁠

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#45

“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.”

“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.”

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#46

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

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

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#47

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

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

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Tucker Cahooter
Community Member
12 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope that is a flambe dish in the background and not someone self-immolating

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#48

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

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

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zims
Community Member
11 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm guessing your parents didn't know. What did they say when they got the pictures?

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#49

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

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

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#50

“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.”

“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.”

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Note: this post originally had 75 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.