As always, there are no affiliate links here, and nothing to sign up for. Just a photographer and mom who wants you to have a beautifully documented end of summer. Everything I share is simply what I use and love.
Well, it’s August, I haven’t finished the June list, and I didn’t even make a list for July.
I had this perfect plan. A photo scavenger hunt for June, one for July, one for August. Fresh prompts every month, all nice and tidy. And here we are, closing in on the end of July, and June’s list is sitting on my counter with not even half the squares checked off.
That’s summer with a little ones for you though. It’s a little crazy, a little magical, and somehow both endless and gone before you’ve caught your breath.
So if you’re behind too, you’re in good company. We’re skipping straight to August and we’re not apologizing for it.
Here’s the thing about August though: it earns its own list. The light is different this month. You feel the end of summer before you can see it, and that golden, nostalgic feeling makes you want to slow down and actually look at things. Some of these prompts are about squeezing the last drops out of the season. Some are about the new beginning that arrives right alongside the ending, because that’s what August is, both at once. And some are just about pointing your camera at the light, because August light is genuinely something special.
The rules for the photo scavenger hunt this month are the same as last time: no rules. Do one a day, do six on a Saturday, hand the camera to your kids and see what they bring back. Your phone is more than enough. Whatever you have, use it.
The August Prompts
I’ve included a free printable PDF of the photo scavenger hunt prompts at the bottom of this list (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!
Last beach or pool day – You might not know it’s the last one until it’s over, so photograph every pool day like it might be. Floaties, goggles, pruny fingers, the works.
Golden hour in your backyard – Go outside at 7pm and just look around. The light will do most of the work for you.
Something melting – Ice cream, a popsicle, a snow cone on a hot afternoon. Catch it before it’s gone.
Bare feet, one last time – In the grass, in the sand, on a warm sidewalk.
The school supply haul – Laid out on the table, stuffed in a new backpack, stacked in a shopping cart. There’s something so exciting about a brand new box of crayons!
Evening walk – After dinner, when it’s finally cool enough to be outside again. Long shadows, slow pace, everyone a little tired in the best way.
Something you grew – Tomatoes, zinnias, herbs on the windowsill, even the weeds your kids are convinced are flowers. Document what made it.
Reading in natural light – Summer reading lists, a stack of library books before they’re due, a chapter book they didn’t want to put down all summer. Get the light coming in from a window or take it outside.
A sweaty, tired kid – Post-playground, post-bike ride, post-whatever adventure wore them out completely. This is the face of a good summer day.
Farmers market – Colorful, abundant, and fleeting. Photograph the produce, the flowers, the hands picking things up and putting them back down.
Late summer flowers – Zinnias, sunflowers, black-eyed Susans. August is peak wildflower season in a lot of places and it is absolutely worth stopping the car.
A goodbye – End of summer camp, last day with a friend before school starts, saying see-you-next-year to a vacation spot. These are the moments that sting a little, and they’re worth having.
Morning light through the window – The back-to-school alarm clock is coming. Catch one more slow morning before it does.
Someone concentrating – A puzzle, a drawing, a Lego build, a book. When kids are absorbed in something they love, their whole face changes.
The summer book stack – Everything you read, everything you meant to read, everything the kids got through. Stack it up and photograph it before it goes back to the library.
Backyard dinner – The paper plates, the citronella candle, the ketchup everywhere.
New shoes – Back to school shoes before they get scuffed. Side by side on the floor, or on feet that are already running somewhere.
A sunset you almost missed – You’ll know it by the way the sky looks when you glance up from whatever you’re doing. Put the phone down and take one photo before you go back inside.
Siblings or friends together Not posed, just together. Playing, arguing, laughing, sharing something.
Something you’ll miss about this summer – You know what it is. Photograph it before it’s over.
The neighborhood in August – Gardens at their fullest, the particular quality of afternoon light on a familiar street. Walk somewhere you walk all the time and look at it like you’re seeing it for the last time this season.
Back to school night or orientation – The hallway, the new classroom, the teacher’s door. The beginning of something.
Back to school outfit – The classic, and for good reason. Front steps, morning light, new shoes that won’t stay clean for long. Take it even if they’re rolling their eyes. And if your school starts in August, this one doubles as your first day photo. Two prompts, one morning!
First day of school (if yours starts in August!) – Backpack on, maybe a little nervous, maybe completely unbothered. Both are worth having on record. September starters, save this one and come back to it.
One portrait, just because – Set up good window light and take a real portrait of someone you love. No prompts needed. Just look at them and take the picture.
A Few Notes on August Light
If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this month’s photo scavenger hunt list, it’s this: go outside between 6:30 and 8pm and take pictures. August golden hour is just magical. It’s warm and long and flattering in a way that makes almost any subject look beautiful. You don’t need a plan. You don’t need a prompt. You just need to be outside with your camera (whichever one that is).
Backlit shots (where your subject is between you and the light source) are especially magical this time of year. If the sun is in front of you, try turning around so it’s behind your subject and see what happens. You might get some lens flare, you might get a beautiful glow. Either way, it’s worth trying!
What to Do With the Photos
Everything I said for the June photo scavenger hunt still applies: print them, put them in a frame, tape them into a journal. But I’ll add one thing for August specifically. Think about making a simple end-of-summer album. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Even printing 10 or 15 photos and tucking them into a small album with a few handwritten notes is something your kids will look at for years.
I use the Liene photo printer at home for quick prints, and Walmart and CVS are both great for larger batches. The quality is perfectly good for an album you’re actually going to use and look at.
If you share your photos, use #OurSummer2026 on Instagram, I’ll be *trying to* play along all month and I’d love to see what you capture!
Download the free August Photo Scavenger Hunt PDF below — no email required, just download and go.
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!
