20 Awkward School Portrait Trends Everyone Followed
Over the years, school portraits have captured a variety of awkward trends that were once widely accepted and even popular among students and parents.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 6 min read
School photos are meant to be a lasting memory, but some past trends now seem awkward when viewed today. From specific hairstyles to clothing choices, many of these styles were followed by entire generations of students. This list looks back at 20 school portrait trends that were once popular but now feel outdated.
1. Feathered Hair
ABC Television on Wikimedia Commons
Feathered hair was a common hairstyle in the 1970s and 1980s, especially among teenagers. It involved parting the hair in the middle and brushing it outwards to create a soft, winged effect. This style often looked uneven or flat in photos if not done carefully. Many students ended up with portraits where their hair took up more space than their face.
2. Laser Backgrounds
NOIRLab on Wikimedia Commons
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, many portrait studios offered a bright laser-style background. These lines of neon pink and blue light were meant to look modern and high-tech. However, they often clashed with the student’s clothing or made the photo look too busy. Over time, this background became known for being distracting and dated.
3. Matching Outfits for Siblings
Galihusni on Wikimedia Commons
Parents often dressed siblings in identical outfits for picture day. This trend was meant to show unity but could look overly staged in formal portraits. Matching sweaters or coordinated colors were common across all age groups. While it worked for family albums, it often felt awkward in individual school photos.
4. Turtlenecks and Sweaters
Safedom on Wikimedia Commons
In the 1980s and 1990s, many students wore thick turtlenecks or chunky sweaters for school portraits. These clothes sometimes looked stiff or made the student appear older than they were. High collars often covered part of the neck and jawline, affecting how the photo turned out. The style looked formal but didn’t always feel natural.
5. Braces Without Smiling
Monica Nguyen on Wikimedia Commons
Children with braces often avoided smiling in portraits out of self-consciousness. This led to many portraits with tight-lipped or serious expressions. The goal was to hide the braces, but the result often looked uncomfortable or forced. Later, many people regretted not smiling naturally.
6. Overstyled Bangs
Olaf Kosinsky on Wikimedia Commons
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, bangs were teased, curled, or sprayed into tall shapes. These high-volume styles were created using hairspray and heat tools. While trendy at the time, they often looked exaggerated in portraits. The hairstyle sometimes blocked the eyes or cast shadows on the face.
7. Denim on Denim
Alina Matveycheva on Pexels
Wearing denim jackets with jeans or denim shirts was a common fashion trend in the 1990s. Some students wore full denim outfits for picture day, thinking it looked stylish. In portraits, however, the fabric textures often blended together awkwardly. The look became a strong example of period-specific fashion.
8. Floating Head Double Exposure
Kevin Payravi on Wikimedia Commons
Some studios offered a double-exposure effect where a faded version of the student’s head appeared in the corner. The second face was often angled differently or looking away. This was meant to give the photo an artistic feel but often ended up looking confusing. The trend faded quickly after it became overused.
9. Oversized Glasses
Harry Pot / Anefo on Wikimedia Commons
Large, thick-framed glasses were common in the 1970s and 1980s. These frames covered a big part of the face and often reflected light during the photo shoot. The glare on the lenses made it hard to see the student’s eyes clearly. Though popular, the look now feels outdated in most photos.
10. Too Much Hair Gel
BGN-WMCO on Wikimedia Commons
Boys especially used a lot of gel or mousse to style their hair sharply for school portraits. Hair was often spiked, slicked, or flattened with a wet look. Overuse of the product made the hair appear greasy or stiff in the photos. It was an effort to look polished, but the result was often unnatural.
11. Collars Over Sweaters
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Many students wore collared shirts under sweaters, pulling the collars out for style. This layering was especially popular in the 1980s and early 1990s. If done unevenly, the collar could look crooked or bulky in the photo. The extra layers sometimes made younger children look too dressed up.
12. Serious Poses
Kevin Payravi on Wikimedia Commons
School photographers sometimes instructed students not to smile or to keep a straight face. These serious expressions were seen as formal or mature at the time. However, many of these portraits ended up looking tense or sad. Today, people often prefer more relaxed and genuine expressions.
13. Overdone Makeup
Anna Logvinova on Wikimedia Commons
Older students, especially in middle and high school, often wore more makeup than usual for picture day. Bright eyeshadow, dark lipstick, or heavy blush were common choices in the 1980s and 1990s. These looks reflected popular styles but didn’t always translate well in photographs. The strong makeup could appear too bold or uneven under camera lighting.
14. Tightly Pulled Ponytails
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Some students wore very tight ponytails or buns to keep their hair neat for portraits. While the goal was a clean look, it sometimes created tension lines or changed the shape of the face. In portraits, this often looked severe rather than neat. It also caused discomfort that showed in the expression.
15. Uniform Photo Props
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In some schools, props like a small desk, chair, or plant were placed next to the student. These props were meant to give a classroom feel but often looked out of place or awkward. The setup took attention away from the student and made the portrait feel staged. Many schools eventually removed props from photo day.
16. Thick Headbands
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Wide, fabric headbands were trendy in different decades, especially the 1980s and early 2000s. Some covered most of the forehead or pushed the hair into odd shapes. In portraits, they stood out more than expected. Many students later felt the headbands distracted from their faces.
17. Poor Lighting Angles
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In some cases, the studio lighting created shadows under the eyes or chin. This was often due to fast setups or crowded schedules on picture day. The result made the student look tired or unevenly lit. This technical problem affected the quality of many otherwise normal portraits.
18. Patterned Vests
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Vests with bold patterns or bright colors were popular for kids in the 1990s. While cute in person, they could look too loud in a school photo. The patterns drew focus away from the face and often didn’t age well. Many students remember these outfits as their most awkward school fashion.
19. Fake Book Backgrounds
93tl11 on Wikimedia Commons
Some portraits used backgrounds designed to look like a library or bookshelf. These fake scenes were meant to give a scholarly appearance. However, they often looked unrealistic and didn’t match the rest of the photo. They became a short-lived trend in some regions.
20. Hair Combs in Pockets
Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels
Some students, especially boys, placed a comb visibly in their shirt or jacket pocket for style. This was a trend in the 1970s and early 1980s. It was meant to show they cared about appearance but looked odd in a formal portrait. In many cases, the comb became the most noticeable thing in the photo.