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40 Of The Most Hilarious Kid School Photo Fails That Surely Made Their Parents Cry-Laugh
School days bring many precious memories where hilarity ensues just like it happened yesterday. And having your school photo taken was one of them. Mom would pick the clothes the night prior, and dad would coach you on posing in what was really just another good ol’ dad joke.
Fast forward to today, and the evidence persists. That holy school photo of yours is a gift that keeps on giving. Call it a free ticket to time travel, a hilarious vindication of your innocent days, but kids are gonna be kids, and as long as we have them, school photos will stay forever.
So this time, Bored Panda has compiled some of the most entertaining and funny school photographs where kids are totally nailing them—just not the way their parents would want them to. But hey, we’ve all been there and just because your little sis is going nuts in an elementary class shot, it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. So please everyone, just calm down.
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#1
My Friend’s Boyfriend Was Not Happy About His Kindergarten Picture. His Parents Still Have It Framed In Their House 20 Years Later
Cornelia Smith 5 years ago
We finally found a school picture of Walter from Jeff Dunham's shows. Haha
AALIYAH UMOREN 5 years ago (edited)
cute pic i would want that in my house 20 years later (please get this to 60 upvotes)
BoredPanda is awesome 5 years ago
Someone didn't let him play with the legos. Love the photo though, no wonder it was framed for 20 years
RELATED:
#2
Reagan Brought Home Her School Pictures Today. Should I Ground Her Or High-Five Her?
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 5 years ago
I'm probably dating myself, but this reminds me of the comic "Calvin and Hobbes." Calvin was infamous for pulling really bizarre faces right before his father would take a photo of him. I remember trying to replicate all of Calvin's bizarre facial experience in the mirror as a kid and getting told by my nanny that my "face would stick like that..."
Tobias the Tiger 4 years ago
Those comics are awesome. I particularly remember the series of comic strips where Calvin had to dress nice to take pictures for Christmas cards, and his parents ended up describing the outcome as "They do look like Calvin, just with nicer hair."
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Raven 5 years ago (edited)
For a second I legitimately thought that was me. She looks exactly like me when I was younger and my names Reagan.
BoredPanda is awesome 5 years ago
High-five her. This is the best picture of all. Made the photographers and my day
#3
Apparently I Didn't Know How To Smile In First Grade
Purr·maid 5 years ago
Who knows..but it's still this poor guy's school picture. 🤔
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Jeremy Porter 5 years ago
When the priest tells you where he's going to put his ding-a-ling...
For millions of kids, picture day is that one special day in a year when they align to form a tiny conveyor belt. Smiling widely at a camera (or not, as we’ve seen in this amusing post), they will be forever memorialized in a small photograph that captures it all: innocent awkwardness, clumsiness, and carelessness which will haunt their moms and dads forever.
Kristin Boyer, a photographer in Atlanta, Georgia, told Mental Floss that school photographers get about 30 seconds per kid. “And it’s amazing how much impact you can have. You want to make them feel like a million bucks—beautiful, awesome, and smart.”
#4
I’m So Mad Right Now. I Checked My Son's Book Bag And Find These
Full of Giggles 5 years ago
I wouldn't be mad. I'd rather have pictures that capture my kid's personality than the same ol' pose year after year.
Kevin Watson 5 years ago
Besides - it makes for great blackmail material as he grows up....
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BoredPanda is awesome 5 years ago
HOW AND WHY IS THE DAD MAD??!! He poses like a star. This is amazing. Love it
#5
In Case You've Ever Wondered What Happens When Your Kid Wears Green On Picture Day
#6
10m, And Looking Like A Middle Age Mom Who’s Deciding To Grace You With A Smile, While Still Judging You Just A Little
Sandshifter 5 years ago
Looks like he's going to call the police on you for being on your own property.
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The school photographer also explained that photographers normally get paid when parents order photos, and the school takes a percentage from that price. Moreover, the school may well take bids in order to decide on the photographer that suits their need best. In order to get selected, Kristin makes a presentation where “I'll explain what I do. Sometimes schools are looking for certain things.”
Most importantly, as much as the little ones are excited by the big photo day at school, it’s parents who take the occasion the most seriously. Sometimes parents get so excited, they take their phones out to take some snaps on there. But Kristin is strict about that. “I usually say no cell phone photos. If they take theirs, they won’t buy mine.”
And when it comes to selfies, the little ones have grown much more comfortable standing in front of a camera. But that’s not necessarily a good thing. The photographer calls it “bad selfie behavior” when kids are “doing duck lips, thrusting their arms out.”
#7
Mason Got His Kindergarten Pictures And I Didn’t Want His Name On The Bottom So I Typed In “I Don’t Want This” And They Freaking Printed This... So Now I Have Like 30 Pictures Of Him With This On The Bottom
blu minx 5 years ago
I also had this thought. But perhaps the request was for aesthetic reasons rather than privacy ones.
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#8
His Face Says It All
Julius Martin 5 years ago
these are not there actual pictures, there just acting like it, that person posting is a girl, thats a boy in the picture
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Crochet lady 5 years ago
We get a cockapoo recently and my son says he does this weird thing with his mouth, it's so derpy and I went to Twitter and found this meme and we agreed this is the expression our new puppy makes. Lol.
BoredPanda is awesome 5 years ago
He is not amused. Compare his face to the SpongeBob face... lol
#9
I Still Think That This Is My Favorite Photo Of All Time
BoredPanda is awesome 5 years ago
He just found out that he can't lay eggs... lol. He is so adorable though
#10
My Brother's Pre-K Picture. He Didn't Know How To Smile
#11
I Told My 9-Year-Old I Didn’t Care What He Did In His Spring School Photos. This Is What He Gave Us
ACatNamedStromboli 3 years ago
I see that. My first thought was a "Flock of Seagulls" hairdo.
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Some Cool Guy 5 years ago
I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay. I sleep all night and I work all day.
Russell Ellwardt 5 years ago
Super cute picture that expresses his personality. I bet this young fellow is quite a handful.
#12
The School Offered To Re-Shoot The Photo But My Parents Declined
ML 5 years ago
I swear to god if you make me pose for one more picture, sleep with one eye open
BoredPanda is awesome 5 years ago
It's the 5th picture. This better be the final one... Or else...
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Joe Reaves 5 years ago
School - We could reshoot it. Parents - no, no, you captured her personality just perfectly.
Aleksandra Elias 5 years ago
Manager with 20 years of experiences in retail listening to yet another complaint
Catto De Smol 5 years ago
he looks like he already knew his parents wouldn't let him retake it.
#13
Oh My
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 5 years ago
I don't know why but his two wee little baby teeth make this photo even funnier.
#14
My Wife’s School Picture With Her Most Prized Possession At The Time. An Evanescence Cd
#15
I Too Was Instructed Not To Blink During My Elementary School Yearbook Photo
Kari Panda 5 years ago
Why would you tell that to anyone, a child at that? I take photos of people regularly at work (for library cards), and if they blink, I just take another one.
#16
How’s Your 2020 Going?
Mishte Tine 5 years ago
When you don’t know what a camera is and you’re supposed to do something with your face and it’s all a bit confusing... sweetie.
#17
My Daughter's First Ever School Photo. She Was So Excited For Days, Went In And Got A Mugshot Instead
Jeremy Porter 5 years ago
Photoshop it into a mugshot with the height sign in teh background and tablet with booking reference.
#18
Me In The 4th Grade Ready To Go On Some Sort Of Tropical Safari With My Best Friend
Colin Mochrie At Its Finest 5 years ago
I feel old when people don't get the pee wee references...A couple of days ago my kid pulled out an iPod ornament and asked if it was a remote...I died
Christian Laurendine 5 years ago
My man has a look of “I don’t have any and would never have regrets”
Mishte Tine 5 years ago (edited)
You rock. There are few things better in life than fishing vests.
#19
School Photos Sometimes In The Early 2000s. I Really Thought I Was "Da Bomb"
I remember going to "Limited Too" and thinking those velour pants were a must.
Surabhi Mahadevan 5 years ago
This photo actually looks good! I mean, c'mon, for early 2000s, your style was bang on.
Marvin HoG 5 years ago
That whole look was perfect for the time. You look fantastic & I love the hat!
#20
Jack's Picture This Year. Seriously, School Photographer? Seriously?!?!
Raine Soo 5 years ago
I actually like this photo. Jack has a cute smile that probably lights up the entire room. Even his eyes are smiling.
Dilly Millandry 5 years ago
I agree. He is adorable and makes such a change from the boring normal pose.
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StrawberryParfait 5 years ago
You're admonishing the photographer for your child's vibrant smile? Seriously, Karen? Seriously??
Yana Makarevitch 5 years ago
It's a good photo, very lively and genuine. Much better than the almost identical photos of with fake smiles plastered on the faces
#21
Sasshole
Rissie 5 years ago
Why would you put that on a child though. Hardly a surprise that this would happen.
Laura 5 years ago
I saw this somewhere else. The mom forgot it was picture day, was rushing in the morning snd grabbed the first (maybe only?) clean shirt in the kid’s room. It was given to her by a friend as a joke. Although why you’d actually keep it and put it on a little kid, picture day or not, is beyond me.
Load More Replies... Rick 5 years ago
Ohhhh SASShole... and there I was thinking it might be inappropriate for a child. Seriously, picture day or not, we would have either called the parents to bring appropriate clothes or picked something from lost property for them to wear for the day if a child this age showed up at the school I worked at wearing this.
Layla Corman 5 years ago
Who sells a children's shirt that says this?! Better yet...who buys it for anything other than house/play clothes?!?!
Roxy Eastland 5 years ago
WTF is a sasshole? Using 'hole' as a suffix is always going to make a word seem more suspect.
BoredPanda is awesome 5 years ago
oh, wow. Imagine what the photographer must have been feeling like
#22
My 2nd Grade School Pic. I'm A Girl
#23
This Was The Retake Of My Second Grade School Photo
Nerdlife 5 years ago
I bet it was the same and after retake they let him go
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#24
My Friend Was Saying “Yee” Before You Were Saying “Haw”
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 5 years ago
This is a huge "win" in my book. What more could a kid ask for? A cowgirl hat-check. A pony to sit on top of--double check. A little banjo to strum while you get your photo taken--triple check!
Kimberley Thomas 5 years ago
Why couldn't I ever pose with a Pony? Because I live in NYC? Where did this gem occur?
#25
My Mom Found My Old Elementary School Photo The Other Day
I just remember my mom was mad because they didn't let me do a retake.
Cindy Irvin 3 years ago
Were you on the way to the hospital after this? No offense, but I'm guessing cholera.
Aesthetic club 2 years ago (edited)
"Ugh, let's just get this over with. I'm here to learn, not take pictures...."
#26
"He Was Told To Wear Nice Clothes For His Graduation Pictures. I Expected To See Him In His Green Cap And Gown. This Was So Much Better! I Literally Laughed Until I Cried. I Hit The Picture Lottery. -- I Asked Connor How Pictures Went And If He Smiled Nice. In True 6 -Year Old-Fashion, He Told Me He ‘Smiled Handsome.' I Thought Nothing More Of It. Until Yesterday Morning
JessG 5 years ago
Why did they give him a green cap and gown if they’re going to do a green screen???
Bellatrix Lestrange 5 years ago
It looks more like he is wearing a gown with American flag colors, not a green gown.
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#27
School Photo Circa 1996. Allergies Were Hitting Me Hard That Day
Jaydin Soto 2 years ago
Bro why did they not just put a outside background behind you instead of putting you outside if they knew that you had allergies
#28
Why Yes!! My Vest Was Homemade!
Dilly Millandry 5 years ago
Thankfully not what we call a vest in the UK. That would be more worrying.
Just JoLynn 5 years ago
American here: If what we call a vest is called a waist coat in the UK, what do you call a cummerbund? Also, I thought a waist coat was the smaller coat, usually white, that stops at the waist when wearing tails, is this wrong?
Dilly Millandry 5 years ago
A cummerbund is still called a cummerbund in the UK. You are also correct that the item you describe is called a waistcoat when wearing tails (or morning coat). The waistcoat worn with tails is the same basic design as the item the young girl is wearing in the photo.
Load More Replies... chachkimooch 5 years ago
This brings back painful memories! I think I had the same vest! (hanging head in shame)
#29
School Pictures Today. I Hope I Don’t Get A Repeat Of This Gem From 2016
#30
What? You Don’t Always Have Your Arm Straight Out To The Side While Looking Terrified During Pictures?
Mishte Tine 5 years ago (edited)
He’s confused, poor baby - Mom or dad is probably right there and he’s reaching for them.
Henry Cheves 5 years ago
The thing above his hand is his eye. He's sad because his ghosty friend is running away.
Jaydin Soto 2 years ago
When I scroll down I thought that a grasshopper was on his arm and he was crying
#31
My Original 3rd Grade School Photo (Left). Mom Demanded A Retake (Right) With The Instructions "Smile! Show Some Teeth!" Note Which One Got Framed, And The Caption On The Envelope
Mishte Tine 5 years ago (edited)
Oh my gosh - my kids had that same school photo package/envelope. I still have it.
#32
When You're Super Excited To See Your Kids School Pictures... And Then You Find This In The Packet
Suzanne Clark 5 years ago
Um, yeah, the poor kid looks stoned. (I'm sure he's not, so don't hit me).
Petrified Pigeon 5 years ago
When I was younger in photos, I would not smile, never, I just glared angrily at that poor photographer......... I feel really bad now 😞
#33
Note To Self: Don’t Let Your Kid Wear Green On Picture Day
John Baker 5 years ago
We didn't have that problem when I was in school. Digital photography hadn't even been thought of yet in those days. ;-)
#34
Best Yearbook Picture Ever. Apparently The School Sees No Future For This One
BoredPanda is awesome 5 years ago
don't worry though, I don't think the teachers and parents followed that...
#35
Best School Picture Ever. Kai Kai Was Obviously Not Feeling Picture Day
Phunny Philosopher 5 years ago
I have a pic of my daughter similar to this one. A few days later, we found out she had rotavirus. Poor girl must have felt awful. :(
#36
1994, Age 7 First Grade. My Stepdad Says I Wanted My Hair Cut That Way
CD Mills 5 years ago
Thank you for the actual laugh out loud you gave me! The comment is spot on as well.
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Jaydin Soto 2 years ago
Bro look like Jim Carrey and Ernie mixed together download-2...9abb7.jpeg 
Sue Sanders 5 years ago
I busted out laughing when this scrolled up - didn't do that with any of the others.
#37
Beau And The Photographer Had Great Chemistry
#38
I Promise My Child Is Happy And Isn’t Living In Misery As He Appears In This Photo
Martha Meyer 5 years ago
He looks like he just saw someone drop something heavy on their toes.
Dee Denise 5 years ago
This is the face young Barack Obama made when a time traveler showed up on picture day and told him about 2020.
Jaydin Soto 2 years ago
He looks nice He looks very beautiful just get some just next time when you go to the beach or outside put some sunscreen
#39
School Pictures
Jaydin Soto 2 years ago
little bros given that look like no I do not want my apple slice who slices their apples anymore
#40
When Your Sweet Boy Wears His Favorite Green Underarmour Shirt To School For Picture Day! Green Screen Fail!..
Andrea Serrano Morales 5 years ago
im reading that book for an assignment in my english 1 class : )
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Dorothy Parker 5 years ago (edited)
Still a handsome boy. You could play dress up the photo with little shirts.
Jaydin Soto 2 years ago
And if you don't believe me then you can call the number but that's not an existing number
#41
This School Photo Is What Finally Convinced My Mom To Stop Cutting My Hair At Home
#42
I Was Too Impatient For My Mom To Cut My Hair, So I Did It My Self
#43
My Kids Are Awesome At School Pictures
#44
Cheese... I Think
#45
At Least She's Smiling
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 5 years ago
Doubt it. She'll kick you in the balls herself before calling the manager and kicking THEM, too.
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I Paid For This...
Dilly Millandry 5 years ago
Some children genuinely don't know how how to smile naturally when instructed. I learned this when doing a photoshoot with some blind children who, bless them, had no idea. They had clearly had the mechanics of a smile explained to them but it resulted in grimaces. They smiled when we joked around and got them to laugh though.
#47
"I Forgot To Smile"
#48
My Husband Was Clearly Not Feeling Picture Day In 3rd Grade
#49
I'm Just Going To Leave This Little Gem Here For Your Viewing Pleasure. It Is Too Bad Cameras Don't Show The Photographer What The Picture Will Look Like
Savannah Mcquillan 5 years ago
No that's Brandon he went to my elementary school. Trust me it is I saw that picture
Load More Replies... #50
The One Year I Didn't Buy His School Picture. What In The World Is That Look All About!?
#51
Can Anyone Offer An Explanation Of How I Sent Jack To School At 9am Looking Like The Picture On The Left, And When He Took His School Pictures At 9:30am They Look Like The Picture On The Right?!?!
Joey Marlin 5 years ago
Completely agree. I dislike seeing them forced into adult guises.
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Dilly Millandry 5 years ago
Looks better on the right. Though personally I am not a fan of kids hair looking so regimented or overly grown up.
Susan Egan 5 years ago
I think he looks more natural in the second picture. That's the one I'd want.
#52
7 Year Old Me On Picture Day After Throwing A Huge Tantrum For No Reason
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Wolfowl 5 years ago
The photo taker: Okay, move to the left. The other left. No, the right. Move up, chin down. My parents, getting the photos: Why do you look so angry?
Sergio Bicerra Descalzi 5 years ago
The photo taker? Weird name for a photographer XD
Load More Replies... Dilly Millandry 5 years ago (edited)
People need to chill and just let their kids be. These days most of us take photos all the time so surely school photos matter a little less than they used to.
DamnBecky 5 years ago
My favorite one I ever took, my dad let me dress myself. I wore all my favorites, little mermaid t-shirt, pink tutu, the green velvet belt from my Christmas dress, plastic sea shell necklace. My mom was PISSED. My dad loves it bc it shows "me"
Astrid Nineor 5 years ago
Is it common to use green screens? We never did that, then again, it's been a while since the days of school photos....
Damon Tripodi 5 years ago
School photographers have never known what they're doing they're the worst
Anna Repp 5 years ago
I'm a photographer and I see this forced smile on the little ones often. It is very, very common in small kids. They just have not mastered their facial expressions. You tell them "give me a smile!" and they pull the corners of their little mouths as far as they can and show their teeth as much as they can and open their eyes wide and are so very proud of the big smiles they are showing! :) Sometimes (not too often) the parents and I are able to get a more natural expression from them, but most of the times we just let them do that face for a photo :)
Dippin Dot 5 years ago
My son had a really bad one a couple of years ago... he popped his collar like it was the 80's. (but I refuse to share it bc I don't want to put his pic on the internet.)
Fixin'Ta 5 years ago
Picture day is stressful enough without your parents posting your awful photo on the interwebs for the entire world to see. I hope the kids gave their permission. Some kids could blow it off and laugh, but not all. (And they're not "snowflakes" if they can't. It's perfectly okay to be a sensitive person.)
Wolfowl 5 years ago
The photo taker: Okay, move to the left. The other left. No, the right. Move up, chin down. My parents, getting the photos: Why do you look so angry?
Sergio Bicerra Descalzi 5 years ago
The photo taker? Weird name for a photographer XD
Load More Replies... Dilly Millandry 5 years ago (edited)
People need to chill and just let their kids be. These days most of us take photos all the time so surely school photos matter a little less than they used to.
DamnBecky 5 years ago
My favorite one I ever took, my dad let me dress myself. I wore all my favorites, little mermaid t-shirt, pink tutu, the green velvet belt from my Christmas dress, plastic sea shell necklace. My mom was PISSED. My dad loves it bc it shows "me"
Astrid Nineor 5 years ago
Is it common to use green screens? We never did that, then again, it's been a while since the days of school photos....
Damon Tripodi 5 years ago
School photographers have never known what they're doing they're the worst
Anna Repp 5 years ago
I'm a photographer and I see this forced smile on the little ones often. It is very, very common in small kids. They just have not mastered their facial expressions. You tell them "give me a smile!" and they pull the corners of their little mouths as far as they can and show their teeth as much as they can and open their eyes wide and are so very proud of the big smiles they are showing! :) Sometimes (not too often) the parents and I are able to get a more natural expression from them, but most of the times we just let them do that face for a photo :)
Dippin Dot 5 years ago
My son had a really bad one a couple of years ago... he popped his collar like it was the 80's. (but I refuse to share it bc I don't want to put his pic on the internet.)
Fixin'Ta 5 years ago
Picture day is stressful enough without your parents posting your awful photo on the interwebs for the entire world to see. I hope the kids gave their permission. Some kids could blow it off and laugh, but not all. (And they're not "snowflakes" if they can't. It's perfectly okay to be a sensitive person.)
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