50 People That Absolutely Nailed Their Family Photo Recreations (New Pics)
Looking at old family photos is like riding an emotional roller coaster. You smile at those happy (read: goofy) moments spent with your parents and siblings, but you also feel nostalgic for the days gone by. And then sometimes, fueled by emotions, you just grab props and costumes, ready to recreate those memories all over again!
Adults recreating their childhood family photos has become a popular (and wholesome) trend on the internet. And it's not a simple task— people are putting in the effort to get even the tiniest detail just right. Whether it’s cradling their now-90 kg baby brother or rocking a bib at 42, individuals are going the extra mile to ensure the picture looks exactly as it did years ago.
While few folks are reenacting scenes with identical outfits and poses, others have snapped pictures with uncanny resemblances to their loved ones. And, here at Bored Panda, we've put together a collection of these wonderful recreations for you to enjoy.
This post may include affiliate links.
This Has Been 14 Years In The Making. I Present To You The Final Chapter
This is so lovely! I hope they have them framed on a wall somewhere.
This is beautiful. Looked at this one the most. Truly inspirational
Today I Got To Fly In My Grandfather's Restored WW2 Hurricane
You flew it? That's truly something.. What a way to connect to your grandad.. Most will not get a truly magical way to be close as you are to a lost loved one. Brilliant
Made My Mom Laugh More Than I've Ever Seen (Recreation 18 Years Later)
Say cheese! Capturing any special occasion is so easy today—anyone with a smartphone can click a photo anytime, anywhere they want. But it wasn’t always this simple. Until the mid-1950s, cameras were a luxury that many people couldn't afford. Back then people visited photo studios for formal portraits, family photos, and even special occasions like weddings.
Picture this: your grandparents, dressed in their favorite clothes, stepping into a studio decked with backdrops and props. With the glow of studio lights, they strike a pose, with big smiles on their faces as they celebrate their fifth anniversary or their child's first birthday. Imagine trying to strike the same pose for your wedding anniversary. Precious.
25 Years Apart. My Dad And Uncles Holding Me
Top photo's like "tell me you've never held a baby before without telling me you've never held a baby before"!
My Grandparents, 1970 To 2014
That was/is a flash-bar! Holy cow, I haven't seen one of those in forever!
Load More Replies...Grandma's Genes Are Strong With This One
Now, as cameras became more accessible and affordable in the 20th century, photography became a part of our everyday life. Whether it's a snap of your morning coffee, a beautiful sunset, or a spontaneous dance party in the living room, we capture and preserve almost everything. In fact, approximately 1.72 trillion photos were snapped in the year 2023 alone!
In the sea of photos today, it's often the old pictures that we resonate with as they transport us to a happier time. Leading UK behavioral psychologist Jo Hemmings said, “Taking the time to look back on our treasured memories can be truly beneficial for our wellbeing as it can help to evoke feelings of positivity and happiness.”
First Photo Of Us, Six Years Later
1984 And 2013 - 29 Years Later, My Brothers And I Recreated Our Family Vacation Photo At The Texas State Capitol
It's hilarious that the guy on the left could get the same exact outfit all these years later. Men have it so easy when it comes to fashion.
Just do what I do and wear men's jeans and men's cargo pants and cargo shorts XD I don't give a poop about sticking to gendered fashion XD
Load More Replies...My Brothers' And My Gift For My Parents: A 12-Page Calendar Of Recreated Photos
So, when we revisit those carefree childhood memories, our brains release feel-good chemicals like dopamine, which boost our mood. The fun times spent with family in our younger days make us feel content and satisfied with our lives. And recreating those cherished moments brings us joy and helps reduce the stress and anxiety we might be feeling in our daily lives.
My Grandmother Wearing Her Original Wedding Dress On Her 60th Anniversary With My Grandfather. They Are A Proof Of True Love And Commitment
My grandparents died a few years ago only 6 months apart. They had recently celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary. Can you imagine being married that long??
The Family That Showers Together, Stays Together. 1993 vs. 2015
Didn't even notice the brother at the bottom until the photo on the right 🤣😂🤣😂🤣
My Parents Took Pictures Of Us Asleep In Weird Positions When We Were Kids. We Recreated The Photos As Adults, But Just Look Like A Bunch Of Drunks
I spy two things. Middle, left pic- what were those mugs called?? Where you could put in your picture? Also, fourth pic left- an Eames chair/foot rest!
According to a recent study published in Emotion, researchers found that prompting lonely people to take a trip down memory lane helps them rediscover meaning in their lives. Dr. Abeyta, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Rutgers University, said, “What we have found in our research is that after engaging in nostalgic reflection, bringing to mind special memories from one’s past, it inspires a sense of social confidence and gives people the strength to put themselves out there socially.”
Imagine, you are scrolling through old high school photos and laughing at silly times with friends. Afterwards, you are comfortable meeting new people at a party, thanks to the confidence boost from those nostalgic reflections.
For Our Father's Birthday, We Tried To Take The Same Picture 20 Years Later. We Grew Up A Bit
She's looking down at the kid in the 1st pic and UP at him in the 2nd. :)
I like how the mom had to look down at first, and the up in the second.
People Always Told Me I Looked Like My Father. So When I Found A Photo Of Him At 28 Years Old, I Had To Recreate It When I Turned 28
Wait what? These were NOT the same person?.. could have fooled me
18 Years Later, My Brothers And I Recreated A Portrait From Our Childhood
Their teeth are whiter now than when they were kids. Creepy.
Humans generally have two sets of teeth. XD The baby teeth are deciduous. Those aren't the same teeth. Adults are usually better at dental hygiene than children are. It's not creepy at all XD
Load More Replies...A study from the Human Flourishing Lab in Washington, DC, revealed that nostalgia is a powerful tool for our well-being. Their survey, which included more than 2,000 American adults, revealed that a whopping 84% of folks said that nostalgic memories reminded them of what truly matters in life.
When you look at all the wholesome moments you spend with your family, it makes you realize how loved you truly are. And when the going gets tough, 77% of the American adults turned to such moments for some much-needed comfort. Imagine a rainy day when everything seems gloomy, you cozy up on the couch and start flipping through your old photo albums.
I Convinced My Parents To Recreate Their Wedding Photo 45 Years Later, Including The Same Dress. 1968 vs. 2013
My parents got married in 1970 and their outfits were nearly identical! :)
It's Unexplainable How Much Effort And Commitment Went Into This Photo Remake Of Me And Brother
can't decide if you refer to the left or the right image .... just can't
Load More Replies...Beards make it look so much more hilarious in this case. 😂
Load More Replies...I Wore My Grandmother's Wedding Dress From 1956 For My Own Wedding In 2019. Fit Like A Dream
Grandmother looks like a dream in hers! Grandpa is kinda dapper too
As you browse through family vacations, birthday parties, and holiday gatherings, you instantly have a smile on your face. These nostalgic memories offer comfort and solace during difficult times. They transport you back to happier days, reminding you that brighter moments are just around the corner. But wait, there's more!
Around 72% of the respondents felt inspired by those old memories. And get this—nearly 60% of them admitted they rely on their nostalgic moments for some life guidance when they're feeling a bit lost. Well, old photos certainly possess the ability to serve as mirrors to our past selves.
My Cousin And I Recreated My Pre-School Graduation Picture On My Uni Graduation Day. November 2004 And April 2024
You…. graduate from pre-school? Pre-school as in … like… 5 years and younger?
Yep. They do the march to seats, sing a song, and then come on stage to get their “diplomas.” The cheesiest, proud grins you’ve seen in your life. Those paper turkeys are graded.
Load More Replies...This Childhood Recreation Picture Of Me, My Brother And Two Cousins
Here’s My Grandma’s Handmade Rainbow Sweater In Action 35 Years Apart (1984 vs. 2019)
I love this! I also let my kids wear some of my baby clothes when they were babies and I just loved taking photos of them in it and sending it to my parents with the text: "do you remember this?" and then they'd talk about where they got the clothes from back in the day and if there were some anecdotes related to the outfit. It was so great and I strongly recommend that everybody does the same. 😁
Aww! I didn't recreate old photos but when my son was 3 I had him wear a sweater that belonged to me as a toddler for a series of photos I used for our Christmas card 😊
Social psychologist Clay Routledge, PhD, who has been studying the topic of nostalgia for almost 20 years, said “It makes people more optimistic about the future, it boosts well-being, it reduces anxiety, it increases positive mood and self-esteem and meaning in life. But more than that, it makes people thankful, and it energizes them.”
Indulging in nostalgia while looking at old photographs has its perks. But bringing those memories to life through recreation? That takes happiness to a whole new level. Did you recently replicate an old family photo? How did it turn out? Let us know in the comments below.
My Grandfather With His Mini, And Me With Mine
my first car in 1966 was a red one. "Cute" was it's only positive feature.
My Parents' 40th Wedding Anniversary, Wearing The Same Dress, Suit And Flowers As They Did 40 Years Ago
Dang, they weren't kidding about it being the same exact flowers! Lol
I love that the dress looks even better on her in the later picture.
Load More Replies...okay- im sorry- but those sideburns. Im sorry. Not trying to be rude- but those things are something else
My Wife, My Daughter, And My Grandson, Sitting On Santa’s Lap… Sixty Years Apart
The Santa on the right seems like the jolliest of them all and most Santa-y. The others look ready for death to take them. Lol
Mall Santa is a rough job, I've heard. Lots of kids widdling on laps.
Load More Replies...Why do people do that with small kids? Most of them are afraid of weird-looking strangers. This is not funny and not fun for them. Wait till they are older.
Especially when parents should be teaching their small children to be wary of strangers.
Load More Replies...I was scared of Santa too... IMD, a stranger whom I had only seen in legend, was suddenly alive, and he looks like a creepy old man. 🫥
My nephew punched Santa when he was 3. :) Poor Santa must deal with a LOT of terrified and unruly kids!
The Santa on the left LOLOLOLOL I am CRYING i am laughing so hard at his face.
Family tradition?! 😁 Poor Santa. Should've known from the first time
My Girlfriend Dressed Up As Me From An Old High School Football Photo And She Looks Infinitely Tougher Than I Did
Recreated My Grandparents' Wedding Photo From 1954 At Our Own Wedding On Friday
“Honey, I want to be driven in a red convertible on our wedding day!” -Check (jk, great photo!)
We Met In Second Grade In 1997. Here We Are 21 Years Later
I think the girl is pretty in both photos but the bowl haircut and child teeth were not doing the young boy any favors.
Load More Replies...10 Years Apart
From OP on Reddit: "Sorry, forgot context. Left is me graduating holding my little cousin 10 years ago. On the right we swapped positions and recreated the photo for her graduation yesterday."
I think that is his sister. They just switched places since she is the graduated in the second picture.
Load More Replies...Recreating A Favorite Photo From When Both Sons Were Little. Mom Used To Be The Tallest. Now The Youngest Is The Tallest, Mom Is The Smallest, And The Oldest Is Still In The Middle
My Dad And I Recreated A Photo Of Us From 1995
My Dad And I Had The Chance To Take A Trip We Had Taken Once, 15 Years Ago. I Decided To Recreate A Photo As A Tribute
Pretty cool picture. The two top plates on the rail are the same in both and the bush/tree in the river hasn't changed much at all.
Thanks Mom For Dressing Us In The Most Oddly Colored Turtlenecks You Could Find. Recreating This For Your And Dad's Anniversary Wasn't Hard At All
Me And My Kids, 2017 To 2022
That looks as though more than five years have passed…sure it’s not meant to be 2007 to 2022?
I agree, the little girl the Dad is holding in his arms looks around 4/5 in the first picture and in the recreation she looks at least 15 years old. Definitely not a 10 year old. Lol
Load More Replies...Grandkids In 1994 vs. 2022
My Parents On My Mom's 21st Birthday (1988) And In The Same Spot 28 Years Later (2016). They're Going On 31 Years Together This May
My dad is dressed as his young self in the 2016 recreation. He's bald now.
might be bald, but he still looks at her like she's the sun to his entire universe
My Mom And I Recreated A Pose From 1989. It's Not Perfect, But We Had A Blast
The mom still looks exactly the same, some good genetics.
2 Of My Uncles Recreating A Decade-Old Picture (1980 vs. 2018)
If you look closely at the baby, you cam see his blonde wings he has growing out to the sides. Almost like a Bozo the clown 🤡 hairstyle. 🤣
My Awkward Family Photo Recreation Complete With Handmade Adult Onesie
with the second pic, i understand now why the kid screams, vicious little red one :D
For Father’s Day This Year I Recreated My Favorite Picture Of My Dad. Him After Graduating High School In 1980 And Me After Graduating Today
My Sisters And I Recreated A Photo At The Same Beach In Hawaii (1991 To 2022)
My Family's Christmas Card Recreation From 13 Years Prior
Was I the only one who thought the halo on the angel in the second pic were actually horns?
Jesus in the manger got me and I couldn't get past it!!
Load More Replies...Throwback Of My Father-In-Law And Sister-In-Law In 1990, And Then Father-In-Law And Niece Today
My Family’s Favorite Picture. Twenty Years In Between, And We Still Bully The Little One
Our Parents Are Moving From Our Childhood Home. We Had To Recreate This To Say Goodbye
The one photo of us from our childhood home that I can recall would have seen us running naked over the ash heap with a very 70s filter on our pale little bums. (We were born in the late 70s/early 80s but Yorkshire is a bit behind the times.) I'm pretty glad we didn't recreate that one!
My Daughter And Stepdaughter 2011 To 2022
Was there a reason to swap hands? Genuine question! Holding those knives in the same hands seems like the easiest thing to recreate, yet they both swapped it.
Im guessing they eighter practiced in the mirror, or their initial impromtu playing with the props resulted in the best picture, or both.
Load More Replies...My Dad And Me In Glenwood Springs, CO (1999 vs. 2023)
That's where I lived many many years ago. Actually lived above Glenwood Springs in Silt. Took my kids for Christmas about 20 years ago. Going back next summer!
Four Brothers, 1983 And 2013
Armatron 1982 And 2022
I don’t think there’s any “looking in”… It’s a mechanical arm.
Load More Replies...My Sister And I Did The "Recreate A Photo From Your Childhood" Thing
My Siblings And I Recreated This Photo From Our Youth. Circa 91
The adult on the right looks like he's kept his carefree nature! A very pure smile!
My Grandparents Recreated This Picture For Their 60 Years Together
Why the downvotes? And yes, neither background nor clothes match exactly. But I am intrigued at have the feet's positions match :D
Isn't that most of this thread? The same people recreating a photo years later?
Load More Replies...My Parents Went Camping Over The Weekend. Then (1979) And Now
I don't normally make personal comments but your mum is a stunner! Your dad's cute
My Dad 26 Years Ago, And Me Reading The Same Book (The Silmarillion)
I tried reading it after I read the other books and couldn't even get more than about ten or so pages in. I knew going into it that it would be a considerably different tone than the other books but I didn't expect it to be so dull.
Load More Replies...My Daughter And I Swinging Through Time. 2015 vs. 2023
We Recreated A Photo As A Present For Our Dad's 60th Birthday, 18 Years Apart
What do they feed the last born to always be the tallest? : D
My younger sister is taller than me and my mum said it's because she always used to steal my food and smear it in her hair, just so I couldn't eat it! I have always been the runt of the litter.
Load More Replies...22 Years Difference. We Were Visiting Our Old Hometown And Noticed These Poles Were Still In Front Of Our Childhood Home. The Tree Grew Up Good Too
My Mom And Dad Recently Celebrated Their 25th Wedding Anniversary And Decided To Recreate One Of Their Wedding Photos
That new mustang looks like a Shelby GT350 or GT500. Beautiful 😍
My Wife And I Recreating Our Picture Atop The Seattle Space Needle 25 Years Apart (1994 - 2019)
Me In 1996 On My Motorcycle And My Kid Recreating It In 2018
I know a couple of the original pictures on this list are modern, digital images, but I always find those old photos so endearing. You never really knew what you were going to get and while the results were usually a bit awkward, they really captured a candid moment instead of the filtered, manicured version of photos we get today.
Every now and again BP brings something worth looking through. You know each photo has a back story, a family on holiday or a special birthday, maybe a group of friends who’ve spread across a country and when these people all cross paths they’ve said ‘let’s recreate that photo’, you can bet there’s been some laughter and the retaking of the photo has brought back some great memories. Love it.
My parents were never much for photos. Too bad. Might've been fun.
Meanwhile all I can think is how confusing our part of history will be
Every now and again BP brings something worth looking through. You know each photo has a back story, a family on holiday or a special birthday, maybe a group of friends who’ve spread across a country and when these people all cross paths they’ve said ‘let’s recreate that photo’, you can bet there’s been some laughter and the retaking of the photo has brought back some great memories. Love it.
My parents were never much for photos. Too bad. Might've been fun.
Meanwhile all I can think is how confusing our part of history will be
