There's a certain charm to awkward family photos – the crying baby, the couple who are forcing smiles after a tiff mere seconds before the snap, the grandpa who just can't seem to stop blinking – they're candid moments immortalised forever. Now, you can recreate this magic with festive flair at a photography studio in Melbourne's south, which has a niche for awkward Christmas portraits.
If you're not mad keen on queuing up for yonks at your local shopping centre to see Santa for all of three minutes, Studio Hampton has an alternative offering. It's running awkward Christmas portrait sessions right up until the big day, complete with kooky '80s-style hairdos and the ugliest of festive jumpers.
You can pose for a holiday portrait with a twist with the whole fam (even your fur babies!) at Studio on Hampton, where photographer Charlotte Thompson will capture the awkward snaps, embracing the chaos and imperfection while having fun along the way.
Thompson's aim is to take the stress out of capturing a perfect shot by encouraging families to be a bit silly and create unique memories, rather than forcing their kids to sit on a stranger's lap and hoping for the best. After each 30-minute session, there are three instant photo prints to take home, ready to go straight on the fridge.
The Awkward Christmas Portraits pop-up runs at Studio on Hampton from November 16 to December 24, located at 564 Hampton Street, Hampton. Bookings are available online, so rally the troops and lock in a spot. Find out more info here.
