Awkward Family Photos
May 8, 2009 10:30 AM Subscribe
Everyone has been in bad family photos, but sometimes a photo goes beyond bad and becomes awkward.
This is one of the most bizarre things I have seen (NSFW?)
posted by TedW at 10:37 AM on May 8, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by TedW at 10:37 AM on May 8, 2009 [4 favorites]
I live for the Saturday paper wedding announcements in my town! The Sears Portrait Studio gone avant garde look is really popular these days.
posted by futureisunwritten at 10:38 AM on May 8, 2009
posted by futureisunwritten at 10:38 AM on May 8, 2009
Some of these just come off as mean.
But then there's shit like this, which deserved to be mocked more derisively than the most Klingon-fluent nerd.
posted by hifiparasol at 10:38 AM on May 8, 2009
But then there's shit like this, which deserved to be mocked more derisively than the most Klingon-fluent nerd.
posted by hifiparasol at 10:38 AM on May 8, 2009
"Even the tree felt this one was awkward."
posted by anthropoid at 10:39 AM on May 8, 2009 [5 favorites]
posted by anthropoid at 10:39 AM on May 8, 2009 [5 favorites]
I am never posting a photo on the internet again.
posted by GuyZero at 12:34 PM on May 8 [+] [!]
Why? Which one are you in?
posted by WinnipegDragon at 10:41 AM on May 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by GuyZero at 12:34 PM on May 8 [+] [!]
Why? Which one are you in?
posted by WinnipegDragon at 10:41 AM on May 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
*clears cache, reboots*
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:41 AM on May 8, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:41 AM on May 8, 2009 [4 favorites]
Not so much awkward as some conflation of amateurish, damn peculiar and unsettling.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:43 AM on May 8, 2009
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:43 AM on May 8, 2009
Why? Which one are you in?
None of them. But I have appeared in all of them. We took a family matching-sweater family photo in the woods (on leaves!) many, many years ago. It would fit onto this site far, far too easily.
posted by GuyZero at 10:44 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
None of them. But I have appeared in all of them. We took a family matching-sweater family photo in the woods (on leaves!) many, many years ago. It would fit onto this site far, far too easily.
posted by GuyZero at 10:44 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
Who would've ever guessed that people wearing goddamn duct-tape evening gowns would look uncomfortable?
posted by box at 10:45 AM on May 8, 2009
posted by box at 10:45 AM on May 8, 2009
Nah. This is poster and posted being , I believe the British word is "prat".
I'll feed you a cuttlefish, squawkers.
posted by Mblue at 10:45 AM on May 8, 2009
I'll feed you a cuttlefish, squawkers.
posted by Mblue at 10:45 AM on May 8, 2009
I'm not married and I've got no kids. Here's an awkward one of me with my son.
posted by gman at 10:46 AM on May 8, 2009 [19 favorites]
posted by gman at 10:46 AM on May 8, 2009 [19 favorites]
Oh goody! A place on the internet to make fun of people! I've been looking all over for one!
posted by The Whelk at 10:47 AM on May 8, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:47 AM on May 8, 2009 [4 favorites]
Wow, these are great. Added to daily does of photo hilarity; now I have 5.
1 - I can has? (and related, including Goggies, Failblog, etc.)
2 - Cakewrecks
3 - WTF Pictures
4 - This is Photobomb
5 - OP link. BEAUTY.
(Thank you, and you're welcome.)
posted by ZakDaddy at 10:52 AM on May 8, 2009 [45 favorites]
1 - I can has? (and related, including Goggies, Failblog, etc.)
2 - Cakewrecks
3 - WTF Pictures
4 - This is Photobomb
5 - OP link. BEAUTY.
(Thank you, and you're welcome.)
posted by ZakDaddy at 10:52 AM on May 8, 2009 [45 favorites]
the commentary made me feel about as awkward as the photos did.
posted by fuzzypantalones at 10:52 AM on May 8, 2009
posted by fuzzypantalones at 10:52 AM on May 8, 2009
All the powers of the internet need to be focused on finding the backstory to the pink furry one. Its just too weird to go without explanation.
posted by no_moniker at 10:54 AM on May 8, 2009 [5 favorites]
posted by no_moniker at 10:54 AM on May 8, 2009 [5 favorites]
Some of these just come off as mean.
They do. In some cases the problem isn't that the subjects are awkwardly posed, but that the subjects are unattractive.
That's not to say I didn't get more than a few laughs out of it. The mullet photo is hysterical.
posted by orange swan at 10:55 AM on May 8, 2009
They do. In some cases the problem isn't that the subjects are awkwardly posed, but that the subjects are unattractive.
That's not to say I didn't get more than a few laughs out of it. The mullet photo is hysterical.
posted by orange swan at 10:55 AM on May 8, 2009
You know, I find these as mildly amusing as the next geek but I can't help thinking we're all laughing at the wrong thing. Many (though not all) of these were taken by "professional" photographers and studios who either didn't realize what they looked like or simply didn't care.
posted by tommasz at 11:00 AM on May 8, 2009
posted by tommasz at 11:00 AM on May 8, 2009
Comment on "the wonder years" post:
"I’m not sure which is more awkward; the daughter playing with her dad’s penis, or the fact that the wife has no interest in it at all."
posted by rageagainsttherobots at 11:06 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
"I’m not sure which is more awkward; the daughter playing with her dad’s penis, or the fact that the wife has no interest in it at all."
posted by rageagainsttherobots at 11:06 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
Golly, I hope I'm not the only one who thinks that the family in the furry nude suits seem totally cool. I bet they would be a hell of a lot of fun to hang out with.
posted by barrett caulk at 11:07 AM on May 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by barrett caulk at 11:07 AM on May 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
Wow, these are great. Added to daily does of photo hilarity; now I have 5.
Here is your #6
posted by sswiller at 11:08 AM on May 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
Here is your #6
posted by sswiller at 11:08 AM on May 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
backstory to the pink furry one.
I seem to remember that it was part of an art project by a german woman artist (?) ... I don't remember the whole story, but the photo has been around awhile.
posted by R. Mutt at 11:08 AM on May 8, 2009
I seem to remember that it was part of an art project by a german woman artist (?) ... I don't remember the whole story, but the photo has been around awhile.
posted by R. Mutt at 11:08 AM on May 8, 2009
WHAT THE FUCK?
I need to go have my soul washed now.
posted by Ratio at 11:15 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
I need to go have my soul washed now.
posted by Ratio at 11:15 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
You owe me 45 seconds of my life back, WinnipegDragon
posted by briank at 11:15 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by briank at 11:15 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
Immediately after taking this photo, this man had to be rushed to the nearest titty bar.
What? I don't even understand that one. It was a perfectly good and nice photograph, and I wouldn't be seriously ashamed to be in it. If anything it had a sense and structure of patriarchal power, but so? Half the family portraits do the 'dad is boss' thing, it's old-fashioned, but not a serious crime.
Lots of posed photographs look awkward, and you sometimes the sitters are not the prettiest, but a lot of these fotos are just really normal and fine.
posted by Sova at 11:15 AM on May 8, 2009
What? I don't even understand that one. It was a perfectly good and nice photograph, and I wouldn't be seriously ashamed to be in it. If anything it had a sense and structure of patriarchal power, but so? Half the family portraits do the 'dad is boss' thing, it's old-fashioned, but not a serious crime.
Lots of posed photographs look awkward, and you sometimes the sitters are not the prettiest, but a lot of these fotos are just really normal and fine.
posted by Sova at 11:15 AM on May 8, 2009
Oh, hey! My last AskMe question was about the furry nude suit family. Backstory within.
posted by ewagoner at 11:15 AM on May 8, 2009
posted by ewagoner at 11:15 AM on May 8, 2009
Family photos have always been awkward, and this site isn't helping! Funny though.
posted by The Devil Tesla at 11:15 AM on May 8, 2009
posted by The Devil Tesla at 11:15 AM on May 8, 2009
Hate to be a wet blanket, but haven't we seen a bunch of these before, elsewhere? Isn't this just another content-stealing blog?
posted by jbickers at 11:17 AM on May 8, 2009
posted by jbickers at 11:17 AM on May 8, 2009
Anna Maltz: One Size Fits All -- the backstory on the pink furry.
"In Anna Maltz's new series One Size Fits All, families of various configurations don the same suits and pose for conventional portraits, to riotous effect. Julia, Sandra, Katie & Jazz, San Francisco make the case for the two-mommy family (though one gamely dons the daddy suit). Sarah, Peter, Ariel, Calypso, Lola & Arthur, London, are a glowing clan straight out of Rubens - or perhaps Darger, given that the little girls sport tiny penises. Maltz has also created a superman outfit and a mermaid suit, worn to great effect by her bemused subjects.
Whether Maltz is challenging traditional definitions of family and gender, exploring societal taboos or simply having a ball dressing up her friends, these images aptly convey both the tension and liberation of slipping into a costume to become someone new."
posted by katemonster at 11:17 AM on May 8, 2009 [4 favorites]
"In Anna Maltz's new series One Size Fits All, families of various configurations don the same suits and pose for conventional portraits, to riotous effect. Julia, Sandra, Katie & Jazz, San Francisco make the case for the two-mommy family (though one gamely dons the daddy suit). Sarah, Peter, Ariel, Calypso, Lola & Arthur, London, are a glowing clan straight out of Rubens - or perhaps Darger, given that the little girls sport tiny penises. Maltz has also created a superman outfit and a mermaid suit, worn to great effect by her bemused subjects.
Whether Maltz is challenging traditional definitions of family and gender, exploring societal taboos or simply having a ball dressing up her friends, these images aptly convey both the tension and liberation of slipping into a costume to become someone new."
posted by katemonster at 11:17 AM on May 8, 2009 [4 favorites]
Am I the only one who feels that holding a puppy directly next to your shirt that features a picture of the same puppy is just . . . somehow . . . inexplicably . . . not right?
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:18 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:18 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'm not married and I've got no kids. Here's an awkward one of me with my son.
posted by gman at 12:46 PM on May
Holy crap we have the same comforter. Bed in a bag FTW!
posted by WinnipegDragon at 11:23 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by gman at 12:46 PM on May
Holy crap we have the same comforter. Bed in a bag FTW!
posted by WinnipegDragon at 11:23 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
The picture of Bush's family is distressing for a reason I can't quite put my finger on.
posted by Caduceus at 11:23 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Caduceus at 11:23 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
I don't know who you are or what you are, Winnipeg Dragon but I'd like to make sweet, sweet internet love to you.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:24 AM on May 8, 2009
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:24 AM on May 8, 2009
The Whelk: "Oh goody! A place on the internet to make fun of people! I've been looking all over for one!"
The place on the internet that stops war, cures cancer, world hunger is four clicks down. Only the cool people know that.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:28 AM on May 8, 2009
The place on the internet that stops war, cures cancer, world hunger is four clicks down. Only the cool people know that.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:28 AM on May 8, 2009
""In fact, they're clad head to toe in hand-knitted mohair bodysuits, from which sprout gender-appropriate appendages and thick strands of body hair. Naked suits, if you will. Mom stares blankly ahead, her pillowy pink breasts askew, as her little girl reaches over to poke at dad's fuzzy knitted member. Father and brother look on, grinning. Somehow, perhaps because the suits are so goofy and the subjects so clearly delighted, this scenario manages not to be creepy."I beg to differ.
posted by zarq at 11:31 AM on May 8, 2009 [8 favorites]
I don't know who you are or what you are, Winnipeg Dragon but I'd like to make sweet, sweet internet love to you.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 1:24 PM on May 8
Well, I'm not gay, but I could learn.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 11:31 AM on May 8, 2009
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 1:24 PM on May 8
Well, I'm not gay, but I could learn.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 11:31 AM on May 8, 2009
Since cakewrecks came up, I thought I'd share this travesty that appeared without explanation in my old workplace's break room.
No, I didn't have any.
posted by workerant at 11:35 AM on May 8, 2009 [4 favorites]
No, I didn't have any.
posted by workerant at 11:35 AM on May 8, 2009 [4 favorites]
You know, whenever I hear about those KKK types talk about defending white culture, I look at pictures like these (And to be fair, I am in a bunch myself) and I wonder why.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 11:39 AM on May 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 11:39 AM on May 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
Best part about this post: this is my family! I'm the "creeper on the [right] with his hand in the pocket of his overalls," as described by one of the commenters.
Awesome. Seriously. I think this is hilarious, for a few other reasons beyond the obvious: that very photo was used in an ad campaign a couple years back; and that's not even us at our most awkward!
posted by djwudi at 11:42 AM on May 8, 2009 [73 favorites]
Awesome. Seriously. I think this is hilarious, for a few other reasons beyond the obvious: that very photo was used in an ad campaign a couple years back; and that's not even us at our most awkward!
posted by djwudi at 11:42 AM on May 8, 2009 [73 favorites]
Yeah, photoblogs are pretty cool. I also enjoy:
Sorry I Missed Your Party
English Russia
Masamania
What I'm Seeing
Metafilter has enough of these that it might make sense to assemble a list of good photoblogs, if this hasn't already been done.
posted by christhelongtimelurker at 11:43 AM on May 8, 2009 [7 favorites]
Sorry I Missed Your Party
English Russia
Masamania
What I'm Seeing
Metafilter has enough of these that it might make sense to assemble a list of good photoblogs, if this hasn't already been done.
posted by christhelongtimelurker at 11:43 AM on May 8, 2009 [7 favorites]
That genuinely is the best part about this post!
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:44 AM on May 8, 2009
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:44 AM on May 8, 2009
djwudi: "I'm the "creeper on the [right] with his hand in the pocket of his overalls," as described by one of the commenters."
We could be twins. Seriously.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:47 AM on May 8, 2009
We could be twins. Seriously.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:47 AM on May 8, 2009
This photoblog post courtesy of AstroZombie is my all-time MeFi fave.
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:50 AM on May 8, 2009 [6 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:50 AM on May 8, 2009 [6 favorites]
biiiiiiitch, pleeze!
posted by hermitosis at 11:54 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by hermitosis at 11:54 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
I like looking at the pictures and imagining the subject's religion, occupation and location but I keep kicking myself for being really prejudiced against truckers, accountants, piano teachers and people from Ohio.
posted by christhelongtimelurker at 11:57 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by christhelongtimelurker at 11:57 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
Rock and Roll Confidential was pretty good too although the Hall of Douchebags isn't updated anymore.
posted by christhelongtimelurker at 12:01 PM on May 8, 2009
posted by christhelongtimelurker at 12:01 PM on May 8, 2009
Sorry I Missed Your Party is still my favorite, and I also like The Chosen, because these people are actually trying to get jobs as models.
posted by oneirodynia at 12:07 PM on May 8, 2009
posted by oneirodynia at 12:07 PM on May 8, 2009
I hate best of the web. Apart from this, which is great.
posted by MuffinMan at 12:23 PM on May 8, 2009
posted by MuffinMan at 12:23 PM on May 8, 2009
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
posted by bpm140 at 12:25 PM on May 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by bpm140 at 12:25 PM on May 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
Caduceus: "The picture of Bush's family is distressing for a reason I can't quite put my finger on."
This reminded me of this.
posted by Joe Beese at 12:32 PM on May 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
This reminded me of this.
posted by Joe Beese at 12:32 PM on May 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
I'm honestly jealous of the people in these pictures. My family never took many photos, I don't know why. My mom was famous for having Christmas, our birthdays, Thanksgiving, and then the following Christmas all on the same roll of film.
posted by JoanArkham at 12:32 PM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by JoanArkham at 12:32 PM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
From Sorry I Missed your Party:
Posted by party pooper at 9:28 AM 6 comments
Labels: sluts
Uh, no.
posted by arcticwoman at 12:35 PM on May 8, 2009
Posted by party pooper at 9:28 AM 6 comments
Labels: sluts
Uh, no.
posted by arcticwoman at 12:35 PM on May 8, 2009
The naked furry suit picture would be better if the genders were reversed, so that the little boy (in girl-suit) was playing with his mom's furry peaner.
posted by LordSludge at 12:35 PM on May 8, 2009
posted by LordSludge at 12:35 PM on May 8, 2009
This scratches the same itch the legendary Fat Chicks in Party Hats used to back in the web's Golden Era.
posted by squalor at 12:44 PM on May 8, 2009
posted by squalor at 12:44 PM on May 8, 2009
I prefer to read snarky comments made about bad real estate listing photos.
posted by punkfloyd at 12:45 PM on May 8, 2009
posted by punkfloyd at 12:45 PM on May 8, 2009
djwudi: I can't favorite that hard enough. Thanks for the Friday afternoon guffaw.
posted by ZakDaddy at 12:46 PM on May 8, 2009
posted by ZakDaddy at 12:46 PM on May 8, 2009
"This one is awesome. For serious."
I like that one, too. Whether it's true or not, the photo makes it look they're having fun.
posted by Kevin Street at 1:09 PM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
I like that one, too. Whether it's true or not, the photo makes it look they're having fun.
posted by Kevin Street at 1:09 PM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
...look like they're having fun.
posted by Kevin Street at 1:11 PM on May 8, 2009
posted by Kevin Street at 1:11 PM on May 8, 2009
Excuse me, um, God?
I know I don't ask for you very often, but if you in your Divine Wisdom could help me determine whether or not this family has an album out I would surely buy, preserve and protect that album and one day give it to my memoirist.
Sincerely yours,
L. Thespian
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 1:37 PM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
I know I don't ask for you very often, but if you in your Divine Wisdom could help me determine whether or not this family has an album out I would surely buy, preserve and protect that album and one day give it to my memoirist.
Sincerely yours,
L. Thespian
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 1:37 PM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
L.Thespian --
More likely to have some bad yet curiously interesting porn.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:01 PM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
More likely to have some bad yet curiously interesting porn.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:01 PM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
Somehow I see them doing SCA reënactments
posted by sonic meat machine at 3:24 PM on May 8, 2009
posted by sonic meat machine at 3:24 PM on May 8, 2009
Reminds me of the picture my sister and I took for my mom's birthday in January of this year. We wanted to reminder of a time when she still loved us.
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 4:25 PM on May 8, 2009 [9 favorites]
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 4:25 PM on May 8, 2009 [9 favorites]
I think it's worth mentioning that the bulk majority of these awkward photographs are the fault of the photographer, not the family. In a bloody good amount of the awkward photos, it would have been much better had the photographer either posed them in a slightly different way, or have cropped the photograph accordingly.
This being said, I still think that 80's hair family would have been much better served with someone to perhaps, I don't know, shave their heads.
posted by CountSpatula at 8:32 PM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
This being said, I still think that 80's hair family would have been much better served with someone to perhaps, I don't know, shave their heads.
posted by CountSpatula at 8:32 PM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
Jesus Christ it's a tiger GET IN THE CAR
posted by Zack_Replica at 10:08 PM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Zack_Replica at 10:08 PM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
This reminded me of this. ~ Joe Beese
After viewing the first link, I knew exactly where you were going with that, sir. Awesome-town.
(Ah, the many benefits of an art education...)
posted by Kikkoman at 10:34 PM on May 8, 2009
After viewing the first link, I knew exactly where you were going with that, sir. Awesome-town.
(Ah, the many benefits of an art education...)
posted by Kikkoman at 10:34 PM on May 8, 2009
djwudi: Best part about this post: this is my family! I'm the "creeper on the [right] with his hand in the pocket of his overalls," as described by one of the commenters.
Ha, it would seem as though your family picture is making friends with the Internet.
posted by dgaicun at 11:17 PM on May 10, 2009 [2 favorites]
Ha, it would seem as though your family picture is making friends with the Internet.
posted by dgaicun at 11:17 PM on May 10, 2009 [2 favorites]
That's truly disturbing (and funny), dgaicun. Where'd you find it?
posted by djwudi at 2:43 PM on May 11, 2009
posted by djwudi at 2:43 PM on May 11, 2009
Since cakewrecks came up, I thought I'd share this travesty that appeared without explanation in my old workplace's break room.
I love how everyone ate carefully around the photo, workerant. Especially given that office workers will eat anything that's been left in the lunch room.
posted by orange swan at 7:07 PM on May 11, 2009
I love how everyone ate carefully around the photo, workerant. Especially given that office workers will eat anything that's been left in the lunch room.
posted by orange swan at 7:07 PM on May 11, 2009
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posted by GuyZero at 10:34 AM on May 8, 2009 [1 favorite]