One woman who decided to turn the tradition on its head with her portraits, however, is actress and mother-of-two Susan Copich.
Susan, from New York, has released a collection of family photos, entitled ‘Domestic Bliss’, which gives a darkly humorous perspective on family life.
After realising that she was absent from the hundreds of family photos she had snapped down through the years, Susan decided to make up for lost time with some new shots which accurately reflect her true feelings.
Each shot from Susan’s collection includes what she describes as a ‘twist of darkness’, portraying even her most negative thoughts.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the photos, Susan wrote:
“If you’ve met me, I have a very seemingly sunny disposition, but I have a whole interior world where at different times I’ve felt depression and angst. For many years, I put it in a little ball, and I decided to just explore it this time. It’s been so fun to bring those feelings out and give them light.”
What do you think of Susan’s photos?
