Wildly Funny Photobombs People Posted Online (They Forgot To Check The Background)
Here's a surprising tidbit: in just two minutes today, more photos are taken worldwide than were captured during the entire 19th century. Our archive of visual memories is growing faster than ever before.
With so many snapshots being snapped, the likelihood of unexpected photobombs or quirky background moments only increases. Consider these images a friendly reminder to double-check your pictures before sharing them with everyone.
She didn't check the background.
Many photos capture unexpected background moments that the photographer only notices after seeing the final image. But in this case, the photographer realized something was off the very instant the picture was taken.
It's a handy reminder to glance around before snapping a selfie. Sure, it’s unlikely you’ll have a giraffe sneaking up behind you aiming for your head—but hey, you never know!
Voldemort just wanted to get some sun.
I almost feel guilty poking fun at this one, since the Voldemort-lookalike in the background doesn't seem to be joking around. He’s just lounging on the lawn, soaking up some sun on his incredibly pale skin.
But once you notice it, you can’t unsee it. The main photo captures two friends enjoying a sunny day, yet despite the warm vibes, that Voldemort figure always sends a little chill down my spine.
Foreground photobomb.
Here's a rare example where the photobomber isn’t lurking in the background but right in the foreground. Stealing the spotlight—and the camera’s full focus—is this little sea turtle.
I doubt the turtle’s doing it for laughs, though. He genuinely looks like he’s had enough of the tourists and just wants to get back to doing whatever it is sea turtles do.
An all-time great.
This is one of those flawless photobombs where timing and chance came together perfectly. The guy in the water seized the moment, unsure if he'd even make it into the shot.
By sheer luck, the widest space between the girls' arms formed the ideal frame to highlight this bold photobomber. It’s a legendary snapshot that definitely earns a spot in the photobomb hall of fame!
Watching, waiting.
This picture raises a crucial question: who's creepier here—the guy in the blue shirt or the person snapping a photo of this private moment?
While it’s definitely a bit odd to capture something so personal, the obvious culprit is the guy in blue. Just look at his expression—what’s running through his mind? What’s he scheming? Should we be worried?
When you need a drink.
I don't know if this guy is going to prom, or serving as a groomsman, or what. In any case, he's dressed to the nines, so it makes perfect sense to immortalize his outfit with a selfie.
It's hard not to use a mirror for these selfies, since the mirror makes the pic. But maybe it's a good idea to close the toilet lid beforehand, just to prevent the possibility of a cat going for a drink right as you snap the photo.
An honored guest.
There's something undeniably funny about a curious beluga whale watching a wedding unfold with such interest. Judging by the couple’s expressions, they seem to be enjoying the unexpected guest just as much.
This moment isn’t just amusing—it’s the kind of unforgettable photo you hope to capture if you're tying the knot at an aquarium. After all, what’s the point of such a unique venue if you don’t end up with a few once-in-a-lifetime shots like this?
They're here.
Depending on your opinion of trash pandas, this moment is either delightfully unexpected or straight out of a horror flick. Sure, raccoons can be cute—but that's a lot of raccoons.
Thankfully, they're usually pretty laid-back and likely just on the hunt for a snack. The bride might have to part with her bouquet to appease the furry crowd, but all in all, the newlyweds should make it out unscathed. Probably.
Next level.
At first, this photo might leave you doing a double take—because the photobomber isn't actually in the frame. Instead, he appears thanks to the reflective magic of the glass behind the group.
The way the colors and the window’s transparency play together creates a ghostly effect, making it seem like he’s both present and absent at once. To the women in the shot, he may as well be completely invisible.
Spotting a legend.
This trio of beach photos captures a charming story in motion: a couple is taking pictures when none other than basketball icon Dwyane Wade strolls by in the background with a friend.
Moments later, Wade walks over, jumps into a photo with them, and just like that, a random photobomb turns into an unforgettable moment. It's always nice when things come together like that—major kudos to Wade for making their day!
Fitting in nicely.
It took me a moment to even understand how this guy was in the reflection at all, considering he's invisible in the normal angle. He's just positioned himself in such a way that he's fully hidden behind the couple, but visible in the mirror.
I'm not sure if the couple is going to appreciate having this happen to their photos, but this is just another example of why selfies in front of mirrors can yield unintended consequences.
A group effort.
Photobombs, whether carefully planned or spontaneous, usually involve just one person sneaking into the shot. It's tricky to get a group to pull off a photobomb at the same time.
The folks in the foreground clearly put a lot of effort into setting up their shot—enough time for the group in the background to come together and deliver a fantastic photobomb. It almost looks like a scene from The Last Supper.
Overdressed versus underdressed.
Here's example number one thousand for why you should always make sure there are no mirrors in frame before you take a pic. At least the dapper dude in the suit can (mostly) crop out that mirror.
Credit to the photographer, too. While he might be a little (or a lot) underdressed, he stepped up to take a pretty good pic when he was called on. Whether he should have put on shirts or pants is up to your interpretation.
Soon, it will be his.
Anyone with a dog knows the look—they'll stare you down with every ounce of longing when you're eating something they’re dying to try. Their expressions range from pitiful to downright dramatic.
So it’s no surprise this pup has his eyes on that vanilla soft serve. What’s a little unsettling, though, is just how intense his focus is. If she doesn’t share that cone willingly, you almost get the sense he’s already plotting his next move... and it might be criminal.
When you see your future.
Wearing bright colors always comes with a bit of a gamble—you might accidentally end up matching with someone else. And if luck really isn't on your side, that someone could look like your doppelgänger… just three decades older.
If there’s a takeaway here, it’s this: while neutrals like black and white might seem dull or not the most flattering, at least you won’t stand out for showing up as someone else’s fashion twin.
Caught.
We all use a bit of sleight of hand in photos, whether it's striking a pose to highlight our best angles or editing to enhance the final result. But this particular type of trickery just feels the most staged.
It’s hard to understand why anyone would want a picture of themselves passed out, covered in potato chips. But if you’re set on that selfie, just avoid snapping it right in front of a mirror.
Out of nowhere.
Typically, it's the unexpected happenings in the background that steal the show in photos. But sometimes, the surprise photobomb happens right up front. I'm not sure if that bird is an ostrich or something else, but it’s certainly a skilled interrupter.
This couple clearly intended to capture a peaceful moment with farm animals. I love how the bird’s expression brings a touch of chaos to what would have been a calm, serene shot.
"Mom, can you help me out?"
We're all used to snapping selfies, but sometimes you need a helping hand to get the perfect shot. That’s clearly the situation here, though it’s a bit unfortunate that his mom ended up in the picture.
Unless you’re intentionally using a mirror for a particular effect, it’s usually best to avoid them in photos. You never know what unexpected things might pop up in the reflection!
Ghosts are real.
We've seen some excellent examples of shenanigans in both the foreground and background (and probably the middle ground) of various photos. But this is the first example we've seen that seems to incorporate the spirit realm as well.
I think this is a guy who ran in front of the camera as the pic was being taken, and something with the shutter speed and lighting caused things to look like this. Either that, or he's legitimately a ghost. Hard to say.
It isn't what you think.
Maybe you have a dirty mind (the lady in the background definitely does), but that guy is holding nothing more risqué than an unusually large gummy worm. I mean, if I ever saw gummy candy that big, I'd want a pic.
To be fair to the background lady, she might not have been shocked. Maybe she's just covering her mouth after a yawn and isn't even looking at the guy. Still, I like to think that this sight scandalized her.
The poor waiter.
If you've ever worked a service job, this scene might be familiar. Or, more likely, it isn't familiar at all. This server was just trying to carry food to some hungry folks when some random disembodied hand came out of nowhere to grab his junk.
The expression on his face really says it all. It's truly jarring to have someone suddenly grab your junk, and it's understandable if having this happen takes you aback a little bit.
When autofocus makes its choice.
Modern cameras take a lot of the guesswork out of photography, and their impressive software does a good job of automatically detecting which areas of the image to focus on, and which areas to blur.
They're not perfect, though. Sometimes the AI wizardry going on behind the scenes decides, for whatever reason, that a horse's butt deserves the focus rather than the person who's taking the selfie. This is one of the great photobombs of all time, and the photobombing horse doesn't even know it's happening.
Found him!
Perhaps you spent a good part of your childhood poring over Where's Waldo (or Where's Wally) books. If so, you have years of training to carefully analyze this photo and figure out where to focus your eyes.
That's right, it's Waldo himself in the background. Honestly, he makes it pretty easy to find him when he's wearing that classic Waldo outfit in an area where nobody else is wearing red and white. I've solved harder puzzles.
There are layers to this.
Plenty of photos in this genre feature dogs inappropriately photobombing a couple (keep reading, you'll see what I'm talking about). But this photo has some role reversal, as the guy's girlfriend is getting in on a pic of him with his dog.
I'm also a little bit confused by the image on her phone. Is it intentional? Is she committing photobombception? You can see her actual face (obviously), but you can also see her on the phone's screen.
Living in the moment.
One of the joys of parenting is that when your kids are old enough to start taking selfies and participating in whatever the current trends are, there are ample opportunities to clown on them.
Her pose isn't even particularly noteworthy, let alone cringeworthy - but something about the juxtaposition of her dad in the frame makes things hilarious. Bravo, dad. This is the kind of image that should be framed and shown on her wedding day.
This photo just works.
Blur your eyes a little bit, and it looks like the baby has some kind of Dr. Seuss curlicue hairstyle. Unblur them and it looks like a tiny dog is taking a squat right on the baby's head.
The dog didn't line things up this way, and I'm guessing the proud papa didn't either. It's just an example of the universe aligning perfectly - and a reminder that dogs are going to do what they need to do.
Two of a kind.
When you get all dolled up for a night out, it's a good idea to take a pic of your wardrobe and overall vibe. These pics are posed, but they also have a certain candid or impromptu aspect to them.
That's definitely the case here. While she looks totally fine in the pic, there's no way she wanted to juxtapose the demonic hellhound in the background as part of her selfie. The two looks clash, to say the least.
It took me a minute.
Before taking a closer look at this pic, I just have to say that while it's nice to see young love and all, this is a particularly unflattering pic of this couple.
But when you get over their facial expressions and gaze into the abyss (or the area between them), you'll see a lurker. Let's hope that it was one of their friends and not a random person who decided to get uncomfortably close.
Time for a little cat content.
When it comes to photobombing pets, dogs usually lead the way. But let's not forget the fact that our feline friends can also get in the way of photos in hilariously unexpected ways.
In this case, I'm not even sure what the cat is reacting to. The young woman in the foreground has a neutral facial expression and doesn't seem to be doing anything out of the ordinary. Maybe the cat was just surprised to be part of a candid photo.
It couldn't have worked out any better.
It's hard to believe that the Jesus-looking guy in the background didn't intend to juxtapose himself against a statue of the actual Jesus behind him. Still, I'm pretty sure that this is just a happy accident and he didn't intend for the angle to work out this way.
The angles in this are kind of weird in general because the couple is sitting on steps below the main area. At least they have Jesus dude watching over them.
He knows what he's doing.
This is a nice pic of two friends. Wait, scratch that - this is a nice pic of two friends and also a really unflattering pic of their third friend, who just happens to be a dog.
Oftentimes, dogs are totally unaware that they're being captured on camera. But judging by this mutt's facial expression, and the fact that he's looking directly at the camera, I think he has at least some idea of what's going on.
A standard issue photobomb.
This is the kind of wholesome content that keeps me logging in to social media every day. What would otherwise be a nice enough, but unremarkable, photo of a couple is elevated by this brilliant photobomb.
What's more, the guy isn't ruining the pic. They can easily crop him out if they so desire. But if I was either of them, I think I'd just want to keep the guy in frame. It's much more memorable that way.
Outfit on point...or not.
At first, I'd have to say that this dad really nailed his Ke$ha costume. At the very least, he put a lot of effort into the hair and makeup, and for that, he should be commended.
Children can be the harshest critics of all, though, and the expression on the face of his daughter says it all. Even if he thinks he nailed it, I really don't think his daughter wants anything to do with the whole situation.
When photobombs are wholesome.
Lots of photobombs have a wholesome element - just someone in the background seeing the opportunity to humorously interject themselves into someone else's snapshot. There's something about this, though, that feels even more wholesome than most.
I think the best part is that the kid looking over the divider probably isn't even trying to photobomb this couple. He's just doing what kids do in restaurants, which is spy on everyone else and get overstimulated by all of the activity in the area.
Don't I recognize you from some game?
The top hat, the bushy white mustache, the monocle - why, it can only be the Monopoly Man himself, who's appropriately sitting in the gallery at the Equifax senate hearing.
If you're a stickler for accuracy, here's a tip: he isn't actually called Monopoly Man or Monopoly Guy. His proper name is Milburn Pennybags, and he's sometimes known as Rich Uncle Pennybags. For the sake of brevity, he's often referred to as Mr. Monopoly.
Somebody's watching me.
We've all been there: you're in a store with a friend, you see something cute (but probably not worth actually buying), and you want a pic to commemorate the occasion. Then, you go through your camera reel later to see how things turned out.
In the end, you might find that it's a nice picture of you, but the composition is ruined somewhat by the fact that there was a guy behind you, staring intently at your butt the whole time.
Nice suit for the most part.
This guy wanted a selfie showing his new blazer or suit jacket. Mission accomplished, I suppose - but I'm not sure if that white shirt really goes with the outfit or not.
One thing that definitely doesn't go with the outfit, by anyone's estimation, is the fact that this guy isn't wearing pants. He either needs to find a pair to wear, get better at cropping, or just ditch the unfortunately placed mirror in his closet.
The face of evil.
Sitting on the Easter Bunny's lap isn't as cherished a tradition as sitting on Santa's lap. Like, what are you going to ask for, cheap chocolate candy and plastic eggs? I digress, because that isn't really the point here.
What we're really focusing on here isn't the Easter Bunny itself, it's the guy who's playing the Easter Bunny. I've never seen a costumed mascot who so plainly has such evil on their mind.
When you see it.
Here's another example of a quick snapshot of someone who wants to capture her cute outfit. Again, everything looks good. There's nobody else in the frame. So what's the problem with this otherwise normal pic?
Just look in the lower left of the frame. Those convex shaving mirrors are designed to magnify the face. They have their uses, but they certainly don't present the most flattering angles - and that's never been more true than in this pic.
What Is Going On Here?
You never really know what someone is going for in a selfie like this. Is it brooding contemplation, or was this truly an impromptu photo in which she wasn't going for any sort of facial expression?
In any event, we absolutely know what the guy in the background was going for: a pose, any pose really, that would completely ruin her selfie. In his efforts, he was able to succeed - and for that we commend him.
The boss of photobombs.
It's hard not to be jealous of her seats for this Bruce Springsteen concert - they're literally right next to the Boss himself. To add on to her luck, just look at this photo. It should be framed in the Louvre.
Bruce is teaching us a powerful lesson here: if you see the chance to photobomb someone's pic, you should always take it - even if you'll never wind up seeing the photo in question.
Just had to be the center of attention.
If you've ever lived in or visited somewhere with lizards, you know that these reptiles are slow-moving...until they start moving really, really fast. She just wanted a nice selfie at this historic fort, but she got more than she bargained for.
Odds are good that this iguana was just going from point A to point B and didn't care about anyone's photo. But I'd like to think that a part of him knew what he was doing.
Taking a chomp.
Sharks seem like generally humorless and terrifying creatures, but this shark might just have a few jokes, judging by this photobomb. Either that or it's sizing up whether or not it could eat this entire boat.
I'm sure this fisherman knows what he's doing out there, but if I was him and I saw this photo, I'd turn around and head back to shore, never to venture out to sea ever again.
The center of attention.
A well-loved family dog already knows that it's the star of the show anytime it walks into a room. This dog is really pushing things by interrupting this family photo, but it doesn't look like anyone's too perturbed.
Considering they likely got the right photo, sans dog, right after this pic was taken, this whole scene is a big win. They'll probably treasure this random doggo photobomb for years to come.
Photobombing your own wife.
If you've ever been a part of a wedding photography photoshoot, you know that things have a tendency to drag on - which can be extremely boring when you're just waiting for when you're needed again.
This groom has the right idea: if you're waiting for the photographer and your bride to get the perfect photo, burn off some energy by jumping into frame for a quick cameo. Everyone will love it, maybe.
Quizzical deer.
It looks like they got the self timer all set to go, got everyone into frame, got everyone to smile, and then...had a deer come out of absolutely nowhere and ruin the whole photo.
It's a great pic of a deer, I'll give them that - especially considering the fact that in no way did anyone intend to actually photograph a deer. Hopefully they got a proper pic after this.
