This article was originally published on ParentMood
The baby/toddler years fly by, so it's no wonder parents go the extra mile to take sweet pictures for baby books, holiday cards, and more. Some set up their own makeshift photo studio, while others hire a professional photographer to do the job. But no matter which route they choose, things don't always turn out as planned. While mom and dad imagine picture-perfect snapshots like those shown off by influencers, their bundles of joy often have other plans. And lucky for us, that leads to some hilarious moments in time captured forever.
The Epitome of Expectations Vs. Reality
These new parents saw someone else's newborn baby shoot and thought they should recreate the same image. There was just one problem when they went to do it: apparently, their kid liked them less than the model liked his parents. As soon as Mom and Dad went to try this out, the poor little guy started screaming and sobbing. Still, maybe this version is even better than what they were going for.
Say what you will about this photo compared to the original, but at least it shows a little personality. This family has a little monster on their hands, and they're very proud (as they should be).
That's the Face of Relief if We Ever Did See It
We're not sure why this father went for the black top, black background, and uber-serious aesthetic, but his baby seemed to understand the assignment - look at that serious pout in the photo on the left. But it turns out the baby's pout might've just been from a tummy ache - because a smile popped on his face as soon as he went potty. The photo only gets better once you notice how dad's calmly contemplating the contents on his arm.
Just look at that little smile on the little fella's face in the second image. Have you ever seen a person more content than he is at that moment?
It's Called Fake It Till You Make It, Baby
If you're planning on taking your children to a photo studio, we're sure you will wind up having a good time. However, don't get your hopes up that your pictures will wind up just like the models. 99 times out of 100, someone will end up having an accident or a breakdown before the photoshoot is over. Case in point: check out these three joyful models in the bottom photo.
Nothing says joy like three siblings sitting next to each other, all bawling their eyes out, right? At least these parents will be able to tease their kids with this picture in a few years.
The Dog's Jealously Thinking, "You Never Picked up My Poo Like That"
In order to take this beautiful family portrait, everyone had a specific role they needed to follow. The baby needed to stay calm, and Dad was supposed to help with that. Meanwhile, Mom was supposed to get the dog focused for the shot. But, before the family had a chance to snap their perfect photo, their daughter had a little accident– all over Dad. At least he's laughing about it!
What's even funnier than the father laughing about being pooped on here is the fact that Mom is trying to catch the poop with her hands and save the carpet.
Maybe They Just Needed a Bigger Truck
Whoever took the photo on the top must either be a master photographer or have the least fussy baby of all time. We cannot imagine getting a newborn to sit in the back of a toy truck for this long, let alone having them look so peaceful while they do it. If we had tried this with any of our baby siblings, cousins, sons, or daughters, we'd probably wind up with a photo much more like the one on the bottom.
The baby in that bottom picture looks so done with everything. It looks like he's screaming at his parents to get him a bottle and let him out of the dump truck.
Baby Thought Dad's Tattoos Were Missing a Lil Something
One of the reasons yoga is so good for us is that it helps move food through our digestive systems and align our bodies in a way that makes it easier for air to escape. Unfortunately, this means that if you position your baby in yoga's "child's pose," they'll probably let loose with everything they haven't been able to get out until now. And, in this case, that letting loose happened all over Dad's back.
At first glance, this is pretty gross. But it becomes cuter when you look at Dad's face in the second one; you can tell he's laughing hysterically at the whole situation.
Us After Morning Coffee Versus Before
After seeing the adorable image below of the little boy in his blue blanket, this family knew they had to try something similar with their newborn. Unfortunately, their cute baby really doesn't like anything touching his head. Not only that, but he was also in need of a nap. The results? Part two of the photo below. There are some pretty funny images of "expectations versus reality" on this list, but this one probably looks the least like its inspiration.
And while the comparison is definitely funny, we hope whatever was going on in that photo studio stopped right after this was taken, and the family took their kid home to rest. Baby looks like he needs it!
When You're Trying to Sleep but Your Roommate's Snoring
The picture of that newborn baby in her pink dress and pink bow, sitting on a white rug, is actually a pretty famous newborn shot. So it's no surprise many parents have tried replicating it. But they don't realize how much time and effort went into getting that one perfect picture. The truth is that if you try to recreate this at home, your child will probably look more like the bottom image than the top.
This kid just looks completely and utterly done with life at this point. She reminds us of all of us at the end of the day Friday after a long week.
Always Stay Hydrated, Friends
Some kids are born so cute that they look like dolls made in a factory, not actual babies. This kid down below is one of them. Unfortunately, it seems like the poor little guy is dealing with a bit of a factory malfunction, and no one is stepping in to help. There seems to be a leak going from his bottom half straight onto his face. Does anyone have a baby wipe handy?
This must have been confusing and probably a little scary for the little guy. But at least the family got a baby photo that they'll be able to laugh about for years and years to come.
We Could've Predicted How This One Turned Out
These parents saw an adorable image of two twins getting ready for Christmas and thought they could recreate the photo at home. Just one problem – actually, scratch that, there were multiple problems. First and foremost, the children were too young to understand not to eat the props, which is not good considering that it's glass and a live electrical wire. Second of all, these kids want nothing to do with the photographer. They're not even paying attention!
Pro tip: if you want the best results from the professional photoshoot you've booked for your newborn, practice some attention-grabbing techniques and commands beforehand.
Shh... Dad Hasn't Noticed yet
This adorable family photo was supposed to feature the three boys in the family bonding. It was supposed to be Dad holding the newborn baby boy and the other son smiling and looking lovingly at his new sibling. Unfortunately, his sibling went number two all over their dad right as they were setting everything up. So, instead of wearing a loving face, this older brother looks disgusted and ready to go home.
On the other hand, Dad doesn't seem to mind. What do you think the odds are that this has happened to him before? Either that, or he just hasn't noticed yet.
When the Ads and the Customer Review Photos Don't Match up
If you take a look at the baby on the left, it looks like he's got ample room, his head is cradled, and he's sleeping soundly. But the baby on the right has none of this! His head is unsupported and coming out of the top of the sack, his arms and legs are all jammed into the webbing, and his little body is too big for that little sack!
We understand that these parents probably thought they were doing something cute, but that baby does not look very comfy. Maybe they just bought the wrong sack?
These Poor Photographers Must Be Constantly Mopping the Floor
This photographer was going for a more natural look with this photoshoot. She had Mom and Dad undress the baby, and then she asked the two of them to do the same. And after seeing how the pictures turned out, we have a theory about this "natural" aesthetic: the photographer has seen babies pee and poo on so many parents and wasted so much time with parents changing outfits, she decided to make life easier for everyone.
We have a feeling the parents didn't know the secret reason behind the photographer's instructions. Their faces in the second image show their genuine surprise.
This Baby's Seen Too Many Amazon Deliveries to Be Excited About This
We guess the original inspiration for the image on the left was a family that felt their child was so perfect it was like they bought him from the store. So, they set him on top of a load of packing peanuts and snapped a few photos while he slept soundly. The family on the right tried the same thing, but their baby seemed to know something weird was up.
The baby almost looks scared, like they don't want to go back to the toy store their parents got them from. We just want to give them a hug.
At Least the Wallpaper Turned Out as Planned
When you hire a professional photographer, they can do things you and your home photography skills cannot. For example, they'll set a proper backdrop and a flat surface for a photo. Then, they might get down on the ground with the kids to take a picture, like the one on the top. These parents decided to take inspiration from this professional photograph, but their conditions were a bit different. Instead of a flower wallpaper, they used a flower bed comforter.
And instead of a flat surface, they photographed their children on the mattress. Plus, it seems like these little ones couldn't sit still - and that big sister isn't super happy her two younger siblings are climbing all over her.
Babies Should Come With a "caution: Splash Zone" Sign
We understand parents wanting to take photos of their newborns without a diaper. Those things aren't aesthetically pleasing and can certainly be an eyesore in a photograph. But choosing to capture your baby without one means putting yourself at risk. When you're holding a diaperless baby, there is no escaping the splash zone. If the baby goes number one or two, there's a high chance they'll be going on you. The dad below just got lucky with his baby's aim.
We love the three-part reaction you can see in this father's face as this picture develops. At first, he's blissfully preparing for the photo. Then, all he can do is laugh.
Morning After Partying When You're 20 Versus 30
One of the issues with taking pictures like this is that newborns don't have the neck strength to hold themselves in such a position for an extended period. So when we see images like the one below, we can probably thank photoshop or hours of putting this baby to work for one or two magic shots. But some parents don't realize that until they try it out at home, only to find that their baby spends most of the time with their face buried in the bed.
That's right - the odds of capturing a baby sitting up on his arms like that and smiling are low, especially the longer the photoshoot lasts.
Holding Your Head Is Hard When Your Brain Is 10% of Your Birthweight
Do you want to hear a little industry secret? If you see an image like the one on the left, chances are it's a photoshop. Babies don't have the flexibility, mobility, and muscle development in their bodies at this tender age to pull off a pose like that. They can't get their elbows far forward enough or support their heads like that. So, professionals will photoshop one image of a baby's hands under an image of another baby's face.
The image on the right is a more realistic version of what you'd actually see if you tried to force your child into this pose.
Nowhere To Run, Nowhere To Hide
We have to commend this father. If you had someone spraying pee in your face, don't you think you'd drop what was in your hands and cover your eyes? Obviously, he can't do that without dropping his baby. So, this courageous soul is just braving the downpour (or up-pour) their child is giving them and waiting for a break in the rain. We have a feeling it was Mom's turn to take some pictures after this shot was taken.
A tip for anyone that finds themself in this situation: don't try to talk like this guy did. Under no circumstances do you want your mouth open even the slightest bit here.
Yep, She's Definitely an Older Sister
The image on the left shows a young mom with her toddler daughter and another on the way. It's clear the expectant mom is about to pop, and this was probably a pregnancy photoshoot. Someone involved had the idea to have both mom and daughter pose with their hands on their bellies, looking down at them as if they were both expecting. But when the girl on the right was told to do the same thing, she said, "No, thank you."
Instead, she made a funny face and stared straight into the camera. It might've been far from what the parents wanted, but the result is authentic and adorable.
Being on Dad's Shoulders Is Like a Squatty Potty
It wasn't the father or mother of the child that posted this picture in this situation; it was actually his grandfather. Apparently, the whole family went out to the beach for a fun weekend, but Grandson's bathing suit was bothering him, so his dad allowed him to take it off. But then, when they were taking a stroll up the beach, something else started happening for Grandson that nobody could have ever expected.
If we were in this poor father's shoes, we're not sure what we'd do. You definitely don't want to get in the ocean and spread all that around where people are swimming.
How to Have a Choking Hazard and Photoshoot All in One
We have so many questions about the photo on the left: is this baby really such a sound sleeper that they slipped her into a jar of gumballs without her realizing it? Or did she fall asleep once already in the bowl? Or is this photoshopped? After seeing the attempted recreation on the right, we're leaning towards option three: photoshop. Or maybe the baby on the right just really, really doesn't like being squished inside a bowl of gumballs.
They should hang onto this one for when she becomes a teenager. Then, they can remind her that if she acts out, she's going back into the gumballs.
At Least It's Not Chewing Gum
By now, we've learned that babies peeing and pooing on their parents is a widespread occurrence during family photoshoots. The good news is that a quick change of clothes or a simple wipe-down is enough to get things cleaned up and back in production. But this baby made a mess that'll be a bit more difficult to clean up: he puked on his dad's hair. Well, at least it's not chewing gum, right?
We cannot stop laughing at everyone's faces in the second image here. Baby looks so, so proud. Mom is laughing so, so hard. And Dad just looks demoralized.
Yeah, He's Not Done
Look, when you're backed up, you're backed up. There are not many feelings in the world worse than constipation. So since a baby's three main activities are eating, sleeping, and pooping, the child won't be happy if one stops happening. But as you can see by the photo down below, as soon as your little one gets a chance to empty their drawers, they'll be smiling and feeling right as rain.
We understand that this just seems like a normal thing, but we still can't understand all these people walking around their homes without putting diapers on their babies.
The Problem With Balloons Is They Pop
It's always weird seeing what your kids will wind up being scared of. Sometimes, it's people in those big mascot costumes. Other kids are completely afraid of the dark or of clowns. For this kid, his biggest fear is balloons. Unfortunately, his family didn't know that when they decided to try to create a balloon photoshoot in the kid's crib. So, the poor guy was just stuck standing there, his bed covered in his worst nightmare.
That poor, tortured face. It looks like all he wants is to be lifted out of there, which we hope is exactly what happened right after this photo was snapped.
Instagram Vs. Real Life
Once you're married and have kids, it gets harder to find nights where you can stretch out and relax. It will also be much harder to take naps during the day. And even if you can convince your kids to quiet down and go to sleep at the same time as you, you still risk what's happening in the bottom image happening to you. Let's face it: not every baby is easy to co-sleep with.
We're not sure if any of you have ever woken up with a toddler literally stepping on your ear, but we can say from experience that it's not pleasant.
Nothing Like a Good Game of Hot Potato
We cannot for the life of us understand what inspired a photographer to think of this pose for parents and their newborns. Maybe it's supposed to show both Mom and Dad's hands supporting the child, as they'll continue to support the child through life. However, all that seems to happen in this position is that the child must pee or poo. So maybe Mom and Dad should support the child while wearing a diaper.
This poor kid is just stuck dealing with this too. His mom won't drop his head, and his dad isn't moving his pelvis, so he's just stuck getting soaked.
When Mom's Into the Basic Fall Aesthetic but You're Cooler Than That
We used to get so grossed out come Halloween time when we were kids. We never wanted to stick our hands inside those freezing cold, slimy pumpkins. So we can't imagine why a baby would ever enjoy sitting inside one. While the baby in the left photo looks perfectly content inside her pumpkin baby chair, the baby on the right feels more relatable to us. That'd be our reaction if we were ever put inside a pumpkin.
At some point, if your kids hate your ideas, you're going to have to let them go. Would you rather miss out on the pumpkin picture or have a child that is scarred by Halloween for their entire lives?
His Pride and Joy No Matter What
If you're wondering why Dad doesn't look surprised at all that his child is peeing on him, you should've seen the rest of this photo shoot. Apparently, the parents were incredibly sweet, as was the baby. But he had some stomach issues and wound up defecating on set multiple times during the shoot. In the end, when he started peeing on his dad, all dad could do was laugh and pray that it would be over soon.
If you go to take pictures like this, and your newborn winds up having an accident, do not worry in the slightest. If you have an experienced photographer, they'll know what to do.
When Your Social Battery Runs Out and You Need to Go Home
When babies are first born, you're not going to be able to see much emotion on their faces. You can see when they're constipated, frustrated, or comfortable. But it takes time for them to learn to process and understand how they're feeling and show it with varied facial expressions. Fortunately for this family, the little guy on the right knows exactly how he feels. Unfortunately for the family on the right, he is having absolutely none of their nonsense with this basket.
He is ready to get out of there and back on the playmat where he can reach all of his toys. The parents should've waited until nap time, like the photographer who took the picture on the left did.
It's True What They Say: A Mother Feels What Her Baby Feels, but Stronger
There are a few things that all parents can commiserate about. For example, the first few months of sleeping are rough, the time goes by quicker than you'd believe, and oh yea, expect to get throw up in your mouth at some point. It sounds disgusting, but it's just a fact of life! Babies can't control their bodily functions; even in a professional photo shoot setting like this, no parent is safe.
The look in Mom's eyes says it all here. She's almost pleading with the photographer to bring her a towel. But she doesn't want to move her mouth and risk swallowing any.
Mom's Gonna Have to Get Used to This
Maybe we're wrong, but these two definitely look like first-time parents. Maybe it's their youth, or maybe it's the fact that they look totally grossed out by being pooped on by the baby. They're going to have to get used to a few things if they want this parenting thing to start going a little smoother. First and foremost, prepare for accidents. Second of all, learn to enjoy those accidents!
Even though raising a child is incredibly difficult, especially during these formative years when they're just learning to express themselves, this is a time that you as a parent will never get back. Learn to enjoy it.
Easter-Themed Photos Can Only Go One of Two Ways
You can pretty clearly tell that the top photo was the inspiration here. It's a very professional image, with a very young baby in an adorable knitted cap, and almost everything about it is perfect. Meanwhile, in the bottom image, we have a much older, much bigger baby. He's wearing grocery store bunny ears, and he looks like he's somehow about to fall over, even though he's already lying down. But you better believe that's the Easter Bunny we want.
If the Easter Bunny is supposed to bring chocolate and snacks, why wouldn't we choose the chunkier of the Easter Bunnies? He looks like he has the good stuff.
He Looked Into the Cameraman's Soul and Then Went for It
Alright, alright, you've seen plenty of images of babies peeing on their parents at this point. We get it. But, in this image, the baby is peeing off-screen, so that's a whole other thing. Also, you have to look at the three faces being made here. The mother is understandably mortified and seems just to be watching the puddle forming on the floor. The Dad thinks the whole thing is hilarious. And the baby?
That baby is like: "Woah! Can you believe I did that?" He somehow looks so confused but so proud at the same time.
Tummy Time Is Always a Risk
This was such an exciting day for this family! It was their first Christmas with two children, and they wanted to get a cute picture of their little ones together for the card. Unfortunately, their son ate a bit too much before they got to his close-up. So, he wound up throwing up all over his sister's back. But she's still smiling in that second image, so maybe she didn't notice!
We can't imagine the rest of this photoshoot went well. Getting thrown up on by a sibling sounds like a reason for a toddler tantrum, no?
At Least Dad Has a Sense of Humor
We're not sure what kind of look Dad was going for in the left image - he looks quite serious and even unhappy. Anyway, the winning shot is quite obviously the one on the right. Dad is smiling and holding the baby closer; why would you go with anything else? Sure, maybe he has some poop on the front of his shirt, but what parent hasn't had that happen at some point?
We bet Mom is just standing there in the wings, feeling lucky that she already got her solo shots done. Also, she's probably hoping she remembered to pack her husband that extra shirt.
He Definitely Just Let Out a Stinky One
We wish we had the backstory for what's going on with this image because it looks absolutely hilarious. The Mom is clearly reeling from something, but we can't tell if that's because her baby just backhanded her or if it's something else entirely. Baby's face indicates that he's likely squeezing something out into his diaper. Whatever's happening here, we're sure this viral moment gave the photographer a good laugh and some great advertising for future clients.
You actually can tell how much these two look alike with the faces they're making in this image. That pursed-lip cringe seems to run in the family.
Good Catch, Mom
We can't tell if the husband in this image knows what is going on. His hand is down at the baby's bottom, but his face looks surprisingly calm. On the other hand, the wife knows exactly what is going on and has no idea what to do about it. At least she's catching most of the splash with her hand and shirt. We just hope the photographer had some wipes ready.
You can tell by the look on the baby's face that this needed to happen, ASAP. So, hats off to her for taking care of herself (even if it wasn't at exactly the best time).
It's Her Birthday, She Can Cry if She Wants to
We're not 100% sure what upset the little girl on the right here, but we have an idea. See her mouth and hands, where she has icing on her already? We have a feeling that she decided to start eating her cake before she got permission and then got scared when Mommy and Daddy yelled and told her to stop. Still, if they'd just let her keep eating, they could've got a happy picture like the one on the left.
We're not even sure if that's what happened in this situation. This little girl might have just had to fart!
At Least This Baby Didn't Get It on His Face
This picture looks like the exact opposite of a tug-of-war game. It's actually more like a game of hot potato than anything else. Both parents are trying to pass the baby to the other one. Meanwhile, the baby is just enjoying being the ball and letting off a little steam. He doesn't even seem bothered by the fact that he's peeing all over himself. His parents, on the other hand, seem very bothered.
If that kid can keep that smile as he gets older, then he's going to be just fine. No matter what life throws at him, if he can continue smiling in these situations, then we know he'll come out as a winner.