It should come as no surprise that as an editor of an online magazine, I spend a ton of time looking at stock images. There is literally a photo readily available for any scenario imaginable. “Girl sad because jealous of younger sister to parents,” we got you covered. “Mean boss yelling at worker with megaphone?” You won’t have to look long.
But in areas where you’d expect to find relatively “normal” photos, you actually tend to come up with the most WTF-worthy content. Yeah, we’re talking relationship photos. It’s not just romantic couples walking hand-in-hand on the beach or unpacking boxes in their first home looking adorable. In fact, more often than not, these quote-un-quote “couple” photos are just straight-up rediculous. You’ll see what I mean.
1. “Happy Couple Checking Bank Account Online”
I feel fairly certain that a) these two people met 10 minutes before this photo was taken and b) neither of them have ever experienced such joy while looking at the state of their finances IRL.
Photo: iStock
2. “Sad wife or girlfriend after a breakup”
Look, I get what they’re going for here but it’s just. so. dramatic.
Photo: iStock
3. “Asian couple looking at bright cross sign”
‘Cuz nothing says “love” like an enormous looming cross. Also the title of this is borderline offensive considering you can’t see their faces and it’s a f*cking illustration.
Photo: iStock
4. “Woman rejecting a geek boy in a blind date”
OMG this poor “geek boy” and this rude woman. Whoever said stock image modeling didn’t take talent was lying.
Photo: iStock
5. “Man kissing a woman in the hayloft.”
The hayloft? The costumes? Honestly, I need to know more.
Photo: iStock
6. “Woman lies on the man and dreams.”
Thank god there were more images in the series to satisfy my curiosity. But now I’m stuck wondering: how exactly does she “lie on dreams”?
Photo: iStock
7. “Successful young team”
Nothing says “power couple” like a good ol’ fist bump.
Photo: iStock
8. “Happy couple eating burgers”
Look, if I knew that getting myself coupled-up would’ve made eating burgers that fun, I would’ve found myself a man a loooong time ago.
Photo: iStock
9. “Woman undress young lover indoor”
Again, with the wanting — no, needing — to know more. How did they meet? And WHAT is up with those gloves? Someone please find this photographer and tell them to DM me.
Photo: iStock
10. “Nice young couple having an argument”
I. DON’T. BELIEVE. THEM.
Photo: iStock
11. “Happy young couple laying down on the grass and kissing”
I don’t know if you’ve ever tried the upside-down kiss but I have and it’s just about as sexy as this photo looks (and by that, I mean not very sexy at all).
Photo: iStock
12. “Couple lying in bed”
Honestly, I feel straight-up uncomf with the way that man is looking at the camera.
Photo: iStock
13. “Couple”
The title says it all. But seriously, this looks like the cover of a crappy romance novel. In fact, it might actually be.
Photo: iStock
14. “Heart and love”
If my future bae ever tries to take a photo like this, mark my words, I will dump them.
Photo: iStock
15. “Loser drops the wedding cake”
Way too relatable.
Photo: iStock
16. “Pregnant Couple Having Problems”
Well — duh — after that loser dropped the wedding cake, the relationship was doomed.
Photo: iStock
17. “Young at heart grandparents series: Listening music and rock sign”
“I’m not a regular grandma, I’m a cool grandma”
Photo: iStock
18. “Couple at supermarket doing groceries”
Now beginning the series on weird AF couples in the supermarket. WHAT ARE YOU POINTING AT?!
Photo: iStock
19. “Couple grocery shopping at the food market”
“I knew he was the one when we realized we both liked the same butter”
Photo: iStock
20. “Perhaps the lady prefers this blend?”
……… I’m dead.
Photo: iStock
21. “Couple walking hand on a forest road”
This is terrifying.
Photo: iStock
22. “Betrayal concept”
Also me.
Photo: iStock
23.”Beautiful athletic couple over black”
This photo makes me feel like I accidentally chose a movie with a super raunchy sex scene to watch with both my parents and my conservative aunt. I’m done.
Photo: iStock