It could be Uncle Joe rocking a gravity-defying mullet, or the Smith clan wearing matching swimsuits on a family vacation. Maybe it’s a baby displaying a grimace of terror instead of a smile, or a family portrait in which one member stands out for the wrong reason.
When it comes to photography, “family” is the awkward gift that keeps on giving. And recognizing that, boyhood pals Mike Bender and Doug Chernack have turned embarrassing, often cringe-worthy snapshots into a booming industry. First they took photos that used to gather dust in the back of family albums into an online showcase, and now they’re giving the world a chance to chuckle at them on the printed page.
Bender told Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb on TODAY Wednesday that the popularity of the pair’s website made putting out a book a no-brainer. “People send pictures to our website, and that’s where we got the photos we put in the book.”
