In our ongoing series showcasing everyday life through the decades, we’ve already looked back at the vibrant, rich color photos of the 1950s and 1960s — often remembered through the eye-popping glow of Kodachrome film.

The 1970s, however, tell a slightly different visual story.

The Shift to Real Life in 1970s Family Photos

ALSO: 14 Classic ’70s Cars That Defined a Generation

Life in the ’70s was no less rich, but the photos feel more based in reality. Let’s just say it: Things got real in the 1970s. As hand-held cameras became more common and easy-to-use options like Kodak’s Instamatic took over family photography, family photos were less staged and definitely more honest. Not unlike movies at the time, family photos became a slice of real life that wasn’t always peachy.

The photos from this decade show a time when a single salary could support a household with three kids, a dog named Tiger, a station wagon in the driveway, and a fenced-in backyard. They capture middle-class family road trips to familiar, well-loved destinations like Niagara Falls and theme parks. They also show everyday rituals: church services where neighbors gathered, holidays spent close to home, and families who often lived just a few towns — or streets — apart.