24 School Picture Day Photos That Didn't Turn Out the Way the Kids' Parents Hoped

School picture day always brings with it a unique set of challenges for parents. Once you've gotten your kids out the door in their photo-ready outfits, the control is out of your hands, and you can only hope that by the time they take their snaps, their shirt will still be clean, their hair won't be a mess, and that they smile that beautiful smile you get to see at home on the daily.

However, having zero influence over how your child ultimately looks in their photo could end up in less-than-ideal results, as it did for Silas, whose mom shared his hilarious 2019 picture day photo and inspired tons of other parents to share their own children's photo blunders from years past.

Keep reading to see some of the most hilarious school picture day photos that parents have shared in which their kids are either not smiling, think they're smiling but really they're grimacing, or just look completely terrified of the camera (or the worst outcome of all: they sent their kid to school in green and got floating-head photos).

01
"You Told Me to Smile, So I Did"
Stacy Schoppenhorst Bauer

"You Told Me to Smile, So I Did"

03
"I Don't Even Like Eggs"
Instagram | chadgreenfield

"I Don't Even Like Eggs"

04
Smiling Is Overrated
Instagram | mrssteff

Smiling Is Overrated

05
She Tried
Rebecca Ann

She Tried

06
Pre-K Is . . . Fun?
Britanee Ogden

Pre-K Is . . . Fun?

08
Maybe He's Not Feeling the Backdrop?
Susie Savage

Maybe He's Not Feeling the Backdrop?

09
Trying Something New With Her Headband
Tabby Curry

Trying Something New With Her Headband

10
"Do I Smile on 1 or 3?"
Instagram | elizcatherine

"Do I Smile on 1 or 3?"

11
12
Giving New Meaning to "Focus" When It Comes to Cameras
Rebecca Ann

Giving New Meaning to "Focus" When It Comes to Cameras

13
*Grits Teeth* "Cheeeeeeeeeese"
Erica Ireland

*Grits Teeth* "Cheeeeeeeeeese"

15
Saw the Ghost of School Picture Days Past, Maybe
Melissa Boone

Saw the Ghost of School Picture Days Past, Maybe

16
Picture Day? Yikes!
Samantha | Maggie O'Mara

Picture Day? Yikes!

17
Hold on, There Might Be Something in My Teeth . . .
Instagram | trainerm4

Hold on, There Might Be Something in My Teeth . . .

18
"Smile!" "I Am!"
Instagram | klfullerxo

"Smile!" "I Am!"

19
Couldn't Decide on Teeth or No Teeth, Went With Both!
Heather Millerleile-Solt

Couldn't Decide on Teeth or No Teeth, Went With Both!

20
Saw Something Gross Right Before the Snap?
Instagram | bawalke

Saw Something Gross Right Before the Snap?

22
Apprehensive For the Camera in 3, 2, 1!
Instagram | sarastubbert

Apprehensive For the Camera in 3, 2, 1!

24
"Am I Doing It?"
Instagram | klfullerxo

"Am I Doing It?"