A UK-wide survey by HP Photosmart demonstrates the fun Britons have in sharing amusing – often embarrassing – photos with friends and family over Christmas. Falling asleep and dodgy dance moves are the most embarrassing images caught on camera with men more likely to be caught snoozing and women more likely to have their uninhibited disco moves immortally captured in print, the company says. Based on their regional findings, HP have compiled a light-hearted list of the top five things you should do to avoid getting photographed in embarrassing situations. These include being wary in Nottingham - as Nottingham residents are said to be most likely to post incriminating photo evidence on social networks -, keeping an eye out in Belfast - where people are most likely to print off photos “purely to embarrass their friends” -, avoiding 25-34-year-old men - who are most likely to circulate embarrassing photo evidence to colleagues -, steering clear of Edinburgh -  where you’re most likely to be snapped having a drunken sob -, and heading instead to Brighton, whose inhabitants are least likely to be caught on camera doing something embarrassing.

HP Press Release

Strike a confident pose on the dance floor this Christmas

Bracknell, UK, 7 December, 2009 – A national survey by HP Photosmart demonstrates the fun we have in sharing amusing – often embarrassing – photos with friends and family over Christmas. More than 61 per cent of Brits share photos with friends and family over Christmas with 15.4 per cent of these being shared more widely on social networks. In general, women are more likely to share photos than men and the older we are, the more likely we are to share.

The top reasons for printing off photos are for capturing Christmas moments and precious memories with the family. Falling asleep and dodgy dance moves are the most embarrassing images caught on camera with men more likely to be caught snoozing and women more likely to have their uninhibited disco moves immortally captured in print. For 16 to 24 year olds, dance moves and wardrobe malfunctions form the majority of shame-inducing snaps whilst the ageing process takes its toll on the 35 to 44 year olds whom are most likely to be caught napping on camera. Those in the older 45 to 55 year old age bracket demonstrate the wisdom of maturity by being the least likely group to have their disco antics caught on camera.

Whilst this light-hearted fun puts a smile on the majority of faces over Christmas, the fear of sharing embarrassing snaps has lead one in five of us to destroy photos and a third of us are caught doing things on camera we don’t want to share!

Five top tips for avoiding photographic embarrassment

1.    Be wary in Nottingham – the people of Nottingham are most likely to magnify photo shame by circulating embarrassing photos of their friends around the office and posting incriminating evidence on social networks

2.    Keep an eye out in Belfast where the photo embarrassment factor is high. This is the town where most likely to print off photos purely to embarrass their friends. Almost 1 in 4 people in Belfast (23.8 per cent) admit to this sport. Perhaps this is the reason why a third of people from Belfast (33.3 per cent) have destroyed embarrassing prints of themselves!

3.    Avoid 25-34 year old men – the social group most likely to increase the shame factor by circulating embarrassing photographic evidence to work colleagues and posting it on social networks

4.    If you’re feeling tearful over Christmas, avoid Edinburgh where you’re most likely to be snapped having a drunken sob

5.    Head to Brighton where the super cool inhabitants are least likely to be caught on camera doing something embarrassing

Regional breakdown

·      Dancing lessons may be a useful Christmas present for the population of Belfast, the city most likely to be snapped getting ‘down and dirty’ on the dance floor

·      Norwich is the most nostalgic and family orientated place with 70 per cent of people printing off photos to capture Christmas moments and 53 per cent of people printing off photos to share with their friends and family. People in Cardiff are least photographically minded being the least likely to print photos and share nostalgic Christmas memories with their families and friends

·      Glaswegians are the vainest (or most photogenic?), with one in five people being most likely to print off photos that capture themselves at their best. People from Edinburgh are the least vain with only 8.5 per cent likely to print off photos that capture them in this light

Dexter Harriss, HP Imaging and Printing Group UK says, “The Christmas period always presents many great opportunities to take really memorable and amusing photos.  If you want to share and manage those photos, check out our new HP Photosmart printer range with TouchSmart technology. At the touch on a button, families can print, scan, manage and edit their photos easily and we’ve got some great deals on the range over Christmas.”

Up until January 3rd, HP’s recommended UK retailers around the country: PC World, John Lewis, Comet and Staples will be running a series of special promotions and demonstrations on the HP Photosmart range in store.

For more information on HP retailers in your local area, please call Gabriella Garb on 0203 047 2375.

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

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