Your Summer Photo Scavenger Hunt (And Why You Already Have Everything You Need)
June 5, 2026
A quick note before we get started: there are no affiliate links here, and nothing to sign up for. Just a photographer and mom who wants you to have a fun, well-documented summer. Everything I share is simply what I use and love. Enjoy!
We’re knocking on the door of summer vacation. School is letting out, and fun adventures are just around the corner. Summer has always felt like magic to me. It’s both endless and fleeting at the same time, like something you want to catch and hold onto for as long as you can. Last year I put together a summer bucket list for my email community and we had so much fun with it. My son and I tried different activities all season and it gave us something to reach for on the days when we ran out of ideas. This year I’m doing something a little different and I’d love to have you join me: a summer photo scavenger hunt.
I have 25 prompts for each month (June, July, and August) and most of them are tied to a real activity or adventure. Getting ice cream isn’t just a photo prompt, it’s a reason to go enjoy a treat and support a local business. Bubbles means a fun an afternoon in the backyard. The last day of school is a moment you’ll want to have on record. The idea is that the photos and the living happen together all summer long.
This summer photo scavenger hunt isn’t about getting the perfect, instagram-worthy photo, it’s simply about actually taking the photos. There are no rules, and no contest to win. Do one prompt a day, or head to the beach and knock out six in an afternoon. You can take all of the photos, or you can hand the camera off to your children so they can take charge. Do what works for you and your family, and enjoy the fun along the way.
The Camera Question
Lately in the photography community there’s been a lot of conversation about the “everyday carry camera” or the EDC. The idea is that it’s the perfect camera to always have with you: small enough for the beach bag and ready the second a moment happens. People have very strong opinions about which camera deserves that role. Film or digital? Point-and-shoot or fully manual? Pocket-sized or worn around the neck? It’s a genuinely fun conversation, and it’s introduced a lot of people to cameras they’d never considered before.
But here’s the thing: you already have an EDC camera, and I guarantee you take it with you every single day. You guessed it, your phone. It’s good enough as-is, and if you want to level up, a quick Google search for iPhone photography tips will give you more than enough to work with.
If you’d like something you can hand off to your kids for the summer photo scavenger hunt (anyone else have a five-year-old who will FaceTime everyone in their contacts the second they get hold of the phone?), there are so many fun and inexpensive options:
- Disposable film cameras — I get my film developed locally at New Jersey Camera & 1 Hour Photo in Lawrenceville. CVS and Walmart also develop film, though they ship to a central location so turnaround takes a bit longer. Other options in NJ (I haven’t tried either yet!) are Black Lab Imaging and Gelatin Labs.
- A CampSnap — I have a CampSnap and it’s genuinely delightful. It’s a digital camera but there’s no screen on the back, so it feels like shooting film. Very 90s summer energy and kids will love it for the summer photo scavenger hunt and beyond!
- An old digital camera from college — dig through a drawer or old boxes and see what you find! We did this for my son and it’s been one of the best decisions we’ve made. We had to order a new battery from Amazon but otherwise it works perfectly.
- Facebook Marketplace — people are always selling old point-and-shoots for next to nothing.
- A kids’ camera from Amazon — inexpensive, durable, and they feel ownership over it in a way that’s really sweet to watch. My son has this one.
The best camera for this summer photo scavenger hunt is the one you’ll actually bring with you and use!
Let’s Kick Off The Summer Photo Scavenger Hunt!
I’ve included a free printable PDF at the bottom of this post (click here to jump to it). Print it out, stick it on the fridge, and let your kids put a sticker on each square as you go. Here’s what’s on the June list — with a few ideas for each prompt to get your creativity going:
Last day of school — Front steps at home, walking into school on the last day, waving from the bus, jumping off at the end of the afternoon. All of it.
Getting ice cream — All your cones held together, giggles over ice cream, the details of your favorite spot: the menu board, the chairs, the sign out front.
Reading a book outside — A reading fort, a hammock, a blanket in the grass. Follow where they go.
Trip to the library — Down the aisles of books, a hand on a spine, a stack of summer reads held up proudly, a completed reading list.
Rainy day / puddle jumping — Rain coats and umbrellas come in the best colors. Stand in the garage doorway while the kids splash and play. You’ll keep your phone dry and still get the shot.
Chalk in the backyard — Shoot from above so you see the top of their head and what they’re drawing, then get down to their level for the concentration on their face. Have them trace each other’s outlines and color in the self-portraits.
Bubbles — Get close, try photographing through a bubble, catch them trying to pop one.
Swinging on the swing set — Mid-arc, eyes closed, pure joy.
At the playground — Coming down the slide, hanging from the jungle gym, that moment of decision at the top of the ladder.
Someone in sunglasses — The Target dollar spot always has fun summer styles. Try different pairs, or look for a reflection in the lenses.
Sunscreen on the nose — A little sun safety never hurt anyone! Catch it before they wipe it off.
Bare feet in the grass — Have them look down at their own feet, or lie in the grass on your stomach while they run by the camera.
Sprinkler or water table — Shoot through the water. Catch them running, splashing, pouring, completely absorbed. Some of my favorite summer images of my son have come from twenty minutes at the water table.
Someone mid-jump — Jump rope, trampoline, hopscotch. Have fun with it.
Backyard picnic — The food, the setup, the giggles. All of it counts.
Something on the grill — And don’t forget to photograph the person doing the grilling!
First beach or pool day — Floaties, goggles, bright swimsuits, splashing, sandcastles. There are a million photos in a single afternoon here.
Sidewalk shadows — Shadow animals, the long stretched-out shapes of everyone on an evening walk. Point your phone at the ground and see what you find.
Riding a bike or scooter — Motion, speed, helmet hair.
Family walk — Everyone together, flowers in your neighborhood, anything around your home that catches your eye.
Planting something — Vegetables, flowers, herbs. Photograph the digging, the planting, and then come back to document what grows.
Morning in pajamas — Bed head and sleepy smiles before the day starts. Summer is for slow mornings.
A sunset — From your backyard, at the beach, on a walk. Wherever it finds you.
Books you’re reading — Kids’ or adults’. Stack them up, line them side by side, whatever feels right.
Cold drink through a straw — Lemonade, a juice box, a milkshake. Cheers to summer!
What to Do With the Photos
Please don’t let you summer photo scavenger hunt photos live on your phone forever! Here’s what I actually do with mine:
Print them. Walmart and CVS both print photos inexpensively and the quality is perfectly good. If you want something at home instantly, I use the Liene photo printer — I love it so much I have two, one at home and one at my studio. Not an affiliate link, just genuinely the best!
Put them in a digital frame. We have a Skylight Calendar and I upload photos regularly so they rotate through the day. It’s one of those small things that makes a house feel like a home.
Make an album. This is my plan for this summer. I’m using this album from Amazon so I can add photos alongside a little note about what we were doing or where we were.
Stick them on your mirror. Nothing fancy, just a sweet way to see your family’s faces in the morning.
Add them to your journal or planner. I tape photos into my paper daily planner and write a line or two about the moment. It takes five minutes and I’ve never once regretted it.
The goal of this summer photo scavenger hunt isn’t a perfectly curated grid. It’s a real record of your summer. Your kids, your family, your life exactly as it is right now. Those are the photos that matter in five, ten, fifteen years, and long beyond.
If you choose to share yours, use #OurSummer2026 on Instagram— I’ll be playing along too, and I’d love to see what you capture. The July list will be out at the end of June so you can get a head start.
Hi there! I’m Kate – a Hightstown NJ photographer celebrating and photographing all stages of your unique motherhood journey. From the exciting days during your pregnancy, to the whirlwind newborn moments, to the beautiful chaos of life with littles, my goal is to beautifully photograph each stage so you and your children can have and hold those sweet memories in your hands forever.
For 12 years, I’ve been photographing families in their homes, capturing the authentic, intimate moments that make your story uniquely yours. And now, I’m thrilled to be opening a natural light studio on Mercer Street in Hightstown where we can create beautiful family portraits in a warm, welcoming space designed just for you.
Whether you prefer the comfort of your home or the convenience of the studio, I’m here to document your journey with care and creativity.
You can see more of my work on Instagram, learn more about me, and inquire about a session – I would love to get to know you and your family and create beautiful memories together!
