Okay, let's have a serious one this time...

You know what's awkward?
Obviously posed family photos.
You know what's more awkward?
When no one is coordinated enough to pose for a photo where everyone is smiling, not blinking, and looking at the camera.

But you know what is almost guaranteed to make a photo really awkward and/or distractingly stupid looking?

When the photographer (or any one in the picture really) shouts out, seconds before the picture is about to be taken, "Alright let's have a serious one this time!"

Why is this bad? Because in any group over four or five people, you will end up, without fail, with something like this:

 

Do you see the problem? No? Look closer. No, not at the face hiding in the bottom left corner, but at the facial expressions. See, the term "serious," in regards to a photo, can be taken two different ways.

1) Serious, as in "seriously, let's make this a good one this time, you baboons." OR

2) Serious, as in "okay, everyone look serious/stern in this one. Then at least everyone will have matching expressions, and it might come off as funny."

(I'm not quite sure why people like to look serious (stern) in pictures, but then again, I don't know why people take bathroom mirror pictures either.)

As you can see in the above picture, "let's have a serious one this time!" will more often than not lead to a mixed set of facial expressions, with some people ending up looking like the grouch-pants of the group (even if they are not). (Yes, I just used the phrase grouchy-pants)

Anyways, for everyone's sake, if you are that (well-meaning) jerk yelling out instructions for the photos, take the extra few seconds to CLARIFY. Trust me, you'll be glad you did (That is, if you are looking for a perfectly synchronized, smiling photo where everyone looks genuinely happy to be there. If not, good on you, and ignore everything I've said. Seriously).

And now for some music!


The Gardener, by The Tallest Man on Earth


PS. Yes, that's a family photo. Isn't my family great?