When Nature Laughs: 50 Of The Funniest Animal Expressions Caught On Camera

There are probably millions of perfectly adorable animal photos online. However, not every furry creature was born with the ability to pose like an Instagram model. Similar to humans, they also have their unphotogenic moments: blinking, yawning, or losing control of the tongue the second a finger touches the shutter button.

But that doesn’t make us love them any less. It may have the opposite effect, adding to their charm and quirky personalities. For your amusement, Pictolic has curated a whole list of the cutest creatures caught in not-so-flattering moments. Scroll down to find them, and don’t forget to upvote the funny expressions that made you uncontrollably ‘aww’ from sweetness.

While you're at it, make sure to check out a conversation with animal photographers Karen Hoglund and Christina Lathrop, who capture funny pics of our furry friends daily.

15 PHOTOS

#1 Annie Loves Her Leaves

#2 The Only Girl Who Can Pull Off Duck Lips

#3 "Seriously, Human?"

For a comment on funny animal expressions, we reached out to a pet photographer, Karen Hoglund, and a licensed vet tech and equine photographer, Christina Lathrop, who capture them daily. 

Firstly, we were interested to know what inspired them to choose such a career path. Hoglund told us, “In my first year of business, I won a photography contest with a funny photo of a dog drinking from a water fountain. It made me realize that my pet photos were more creative than my traditional portrait photography. I felt I could capture animals' personalities better than humans, and their spontaneity intrigued me.”

#4 Ridiculously Photogenic Goat

#5 And It Was Going So Well

#6 A Dog Next To Me At Dollar General

Meanwhile, Lathrop shared, “I worked as a licensed vet tech for eight years, and photography has always been a passion of mine. When I took a break from the field to welcome my fourth child, I got a camera set as a Christmas gift. I started experimenting with pet photography while also running my retail store in Seattle. 

Unfortunately, the pandemic hit my business hard, and we had to close last year. A friend suggested I turn my photography hobby into a professional pursuit, so I took her advice, enrolled in some photography classes, and dove right in. My background as a vet tech and animal behaviorist helps me connect with animals and capture great shots.”

#7 Just Going To The Park

#8 Perfect Disguise

#9 My Pitbull Always Thought He Was The Biggest Dog At The Dog Park

Having done so many adorable animal photoshoots, both photographers had their fair share of funny expressions they were able to capture. One of Hoglund’s favorite moments is the award-winning photo of Vizsla drinking water (click here to see it).

“I knew that dog had been trained to drink out of fountains because his owner didn't want to carry water on their walks,” she explained. “So, I started with the dog's normal behavior and made it funnier by making it look like he was doing it all by himself. Behind the scenes, I had my husband hold the water button; he was lying on the ground so that you couldn't see him. We also had the dog walk around the park first, so he'd be thirsty. His enthusiasm for getting a drink is what makes it funny!”

#10 I Think That Nutmeg Has The Cutest Face

#11 The Best Of Friends

#12 The Way Our Cat, Millie, Lets Us Know Someone Is Here

For Lathrop, it was a recent photo she took of a very young gypsy colt who was an adorable ball of energy. “I am a hobby horse trainer and enthusiast, so I of course LOVE my equine shoots. So I just snapped away and got this super cute photo of him; his owner ended up loving it too,” she fondly shared.

#13 Cat Posed Before Her "Miserable Death"

#14 They've Reset The Dog To Factory Settings

#15 I Met This Happy Guy At Work This Morning

During her career, Lathrop has noticed that certain types of animals have distinct expressions she can expect from them during the photoshoot. “For instance, shepherds tend to give that classical head tilt when any sort of unknown noise arises, goldens are just a ball of love and will typically hold anything we ask in their mouths, and Bostons will give me an enthusiastic eye-popping expression. Horses are all unique, and the personalities vary within individuals, but geldings (neutered males) tend to give more playful expressions.”