Article created by: Viktorija Ošikaitė

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.

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#1

The Last (And Arguably The Greatest) Professional Portrait Studio Photo Of My Husband And His Family

Awkward family photo featuring five people with retro hairstyles and clothing, smiling in a classic studio portrait.

awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #2

    My Aunt’s Wedding Pictures With Her Bridesmaids And Flower Girl

    Family posing in awkward vintage outfits, featuring purple dresses and a bridal gown, highlighting an unusual family moment.

    awkwardfamilyphotos , boujieangelina Report

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    #3

    I Was The Punk Rock / Artist Of The Family

    Awkward family photo with a punk hairstyle, a smiling child, and a laughing baby in vintage attire.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #4

    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

    Family posing awkwardly for a photo; dad holds a crying toddler, mom and daughter smile, inside a festive setting.

    awkwardfamilyphotos , rcaro24 Report

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    #5

    My Brother, Chris’s 1998 Senior Picture. He Really Loved Batman

    Man in Batman costume posing for a humorous family photo.

    awkwardfamilyphotos , casmith417 Report

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    #6

    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

    Awkward family photo with seven people in formal attire, showcasing 80s hairstyles, against a blue backdrop.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    jenm_1 avatar
    Jen M
    Jen M
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can't get over how mobster this photo looks, yet somehow the young son is clearly the godfather here (godson?) Whatever. That kid's in charge and it looks like he'd send his kinder-goons after you if you failed to pay your protection racket dues...

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    #7

    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!

    Awkward family photo at a wedding with a bride, groom, and six people, including children causing a playful scene on the floor.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #8

    I Think The Stuffed Animal Possessed My Older Brother When He Was 7 Months Old In 1973

    Awkward family photo of a baby with a stuffed reindeer on a bed, looking sleepy.

    awkwardfamilyphotos , guidob__ Report

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    #9

    The Church Directory Photographer Created This Of Me And My Mom And My Parents Bought A 5×7. I Always Hated It

    Awkward family photo with a smiling face overlay against a profile silhouette on a dark background.

    awkwardfamilyphotos , kriscrouse13 Report

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    #10

    Australia, 1979 Mother’s Day. We Fought And We Needed To Take Photos To Remember

    Awkward family photo with seven people in vintage suits posing formally in a living room.

    awkwardfamilyphotos , unclejasonmyers Report

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    jenm_1 avatar
    Jen M
    Jen M
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is this a doublemint gum commercial? Double your displeasure, Double your hate...something, something, something...with doublemint gum!

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    #11

    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

    Young girl in a lilac dress holding a flower, captured in an awkward family photo moment.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #12

    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

    Family posing in black outfits and sunglasses, embodying an awkward photo moment.

    awkwardfamilyphotos , erintarver Report

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    #13

    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)

    Family posing on the beach, one child falling awkwardly into water.

    My infant son was not harmed, just wet and scared but mommy is forever traumatized.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #14

    This Was Supposed To Be A Cute Photo Of Me And My Newborn Son

    Awkward family photo of a baby squinting while held by a person with glasses, both smiling at the camera.

    awkwardfamilyphotos , natashagrimaldi Report

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    #15

    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!

    Family posing awkwardly in a 70s-style home bar with beer mugs and vintage decor.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #16

    Yes, This Is My Family Photo

    Awkward family photo with parents and three children against a mountain backdrop.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #17

    My Dad Liked To Balance Me On One Hand And Sometimes He Used Props

    A dad holds a child in a cereal box, capturing an awkward family photo moment.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #18

    In Hindsight, My Freddy Krueger Shirt Probably Wasn’t Appropriate Attire For My Cousin's Holy Communion

    Family posing for an awkward photo; young boy in white suit and girl in white dress flanked by family outdoors.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #19

    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

    Vintage family photo with one person's face awkwardly obscured, creating an amusing and memorable moment.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #20

    I Played Keyboard In Elementary School Band And School Photos Were Sometimes Full Of The Rock And Roll That Comes With The Territory

    Awkward family photo of a young boy with glasses and suspenders, posing with a keyboard.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #21

    My Sister Wanted To Make Sure Her Eyes Stayed Open For The Picture

    Awkward family photo with four children, two boys and two girls, showcasing different expressions and hairstyles.

    awkwardfamilyphotos , slebak Report

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    #22

    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

    Awkward family photo featuring three people and a dog in front of a brick fireplace.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #23

    This Is A Family Photo From The 90s. We Had Coordinated Halloween Costumes And Yes, We Watched A Lot Of Star Trek

    Family dressed in Star Trek uniforms, smiling awkwardly for a portrait photo.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #24

    This Is A Photo Of Me Faceplanting Into The Ground After What Looks Like My Sister Pushed Me Off The Top

    Children playing on a slide in a family photo, with one child humorously landing face-first on the floor.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #25

    This Was Taken In 1976 On Our Country’s Bicentennial. I’m The Little Guy That Resembles A Puppet

    Awkward family photo with parents in vintage attire and three children, two wearing playful outfits and hats.

    awkwardfamilyphotos , randyfield Report

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    #26

    My Swiss-American Great-Grandparents On Their 40th Wedding Anniversary Sometime In The 40’s. So Happy Together

    Elderly couple sitting on a couch with a cake beside them, showcasing an awkward family photo moment.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #27

    This Is My Parents On Their Wedding Day In 1975. She Was Always On His Mind Then And She Still Is Today

    Bride poses in front of silhouette, creating an awkward family photo moment.

    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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    #28

    We Just Wanted One Picture With All The Cousins

    Five children in holiday outfits sitting on a red couch, capturing an awkward family photo moment.

    awkwardfamilyphotos , cdf228 Report

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    #29

    My Daughter Was Super Sad Because She Couldn’t Eat Any Cookies Yet. Oy Indeed.

    Children posing awkwardly with holiday letters, creating a humorous family photo moment.

    awkwardfamilyphotos , boonesfarmblonde Report

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    #30

    This Was The Only Bench Around To Rest After A Long Hike, So We Sat And Took Five

    Three people seated on a bench facing a wall, depicting awkward family photo moment.



    awkwardfamilyphotos Report

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