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#21 I Asked My Parents To Do A Family Photo With Me And This Was The End Result. I’m A Very Festive Person
"I thought that was such a peculiar idea—to memorialize this awkward moment. But I also thought it was intriguing. So I met with my writing partner and friend, Doug Chernack, who I grew up with in New Jersey, and he told me that his childhood home was full of awkward family photos. And so we decided to start a website and our only hope was that if we posted our awkward pics, others would do the same."
#22 This Beaut Of My Uncle, Aunt And Cousins Was Proudly Displayed In Their Home For Years
#23 Here’s My Mom And Dad In September 1970. This Was Always My Favorite Photo From Their Wedding Because It’s Just So Cornball. You Have To Give Credit To The Photographer For The Picture Of My Dad In The TV. This Was Years Before Photoshop, So I’m Not Sure How The Heck He Pulled This Trick Off
The duo’s gambit paid off. Within just a week of launching the website, it took off. Mike and Doug were both surprised by the massive positive reaction. “We started receiving awkward photos from all over the world! It felt like something big was happening,” Mike said.
In September 2020, Mike noted that they receive hundreds of awkward photos each week. The co-creators try to focus on the most surprising pics, choosing to feature them front and center on their social media platforms.
#25 My Dad (Sitting In Bench, Right) With His Rock Star Wedding Party In 1987
#26 I Won A Cutest Baby Award At A Local Health Foods Store And This Was The Photoshoot That I Won. Thank You, Mom And Dad
#27 We Were Trying To Get A Family Photo Including Our Two Friendly Chocolate Labs
According to Mike, the success of ‘Awkward Family Photos’ lies in its relatability: peculiar, silly, sometimes even uncomfortable photos are something many of us can deeply empathize with. “Even if it's not their family, they see their family in others and there's something comforting about knowing that you're not alone.”
#28 This Is Of My Older Sister, Perfect In All Pictures, And Older Brother’s Gigantically Chubby Head. The Photographer Thought This Was The Best Picture Of The Whole Shoot. My Mom Thought It Was Hilarious And Horrifying, So Of Course She Bought It
#30 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
Which of these photos did you like the most, dear Readers? Do you enjoy having your picture taken? How do you feel about showing people your family albums? Let us know in the comment section at the bottom. Oh, and if you’ve got any uncomfortable or silly pics of your own to share, you can post the photos in the comments as well.
#32 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
#33 This Was Taken In 1990, Alberta Canada. Can You Tell My Mom Used To Do My Dad’s Hair?
#34 Here’s My Old Breakdancing Crew, The Suburban Street Rockers, In 1985
#35 Our Daughter Wanted To Throw Rocks Not Flowers At My Cousin’s Wedding
#37 My Sister Dumping Me Out Of My Stroller In 1994. This Perfectly Sums Up Our Relationship As Children
#38 When I Was In 6th Grade, My Two Older Sisters Were Popular And Had Big Hair, And I Was An Awkward Kid So I Thought I’d Be Cool For A Day. I Went To Town On The Aquanet Hairspray. I Used Almost Half A Can To Get This Big Bang As Tall As I Could. The Photographer Literally Had To Take A Step Back To Fit My Hair In The School Photo And I Really Don’t Know How He Kept A Straight Face
#39 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
#40 This Is My Husband And Four Children. We Asked The Kids To Sit Down With Dad To Get Their Pictures Together, But My Daughter Didn’t Want To Be In The Picture, So We Said, “Okay, Just Stay Over There.” I Started To Take The Picture And She Got Even More Upset For Being Left Out Of The Picture. As You Can See My Husband Was Also Annoyed!
