17 Photo Scavenger Hunt Ideas, Challenges & Tips

Whether you're at work, in a college setting, or hanging out with your buddies, a photo scavenger hunt is a super easy and enjoyable way to unite people with a shared mission - discover all the items faster than everyone else. These kinds of activities involve participants taking photos on their phones and sending in their answers to pre-made questions using pictures.

1. Remote Work Safari

photo scavenger hunt idea with animals

This cool game lets you check out your coworkers' cute pets and build some solid connections with your team. It is necessary to compile a list of photo challenges, all about animals. The majority of these tasks should be related to lovable house pets. But, to spice things up a bit and maybe even get folks out and about, add a few challenges featuring non-domestic animals too.

2. Team Photo Scavenger Hunt

Gather your team and have each person lock arms with two others until everyone's connected in a human chain. Once you've created such a lively chain, snap a group photo trying to squeeze in as many team members as you can into the frame. The team that manages to capture the most people in their shot wins!

3. Funny Before & After Photos

photo scavenger hunt idea before-after

This is one of the best photo scavenger hunt ideas for adults. Start by getting your teammates to dig up some old photos, either baby pictures or ones from at least a decade ago. Once you've collected the images, share them with the whole team and try to recreate those scenes! You have options - you can either recreate your own pics or have a go at reenacting your teammates' memories.

Once done, gather before-and-after snapshots, do a bit of editing to turn them into a slideshow, and then share the results. Ask the audience to vote for the most believable, imaginative, or touching recreations.

4. Photo Effects Scavenger Hunt

photo effects photo scavenger hunt ideas

This photography challenge is perfect for capturing creative pictures with a variety of effects. Create a list of the effects that should be applied and set the time frame to help the participants cope with the challenge more quickly. It’s better to leave some tasks open to interpretation. Then, ask the teams to share their improving photos online by uploading them to the album.

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How to Make Scavenger Hunt Photos Memorable?

If you want to give your photos a professional feel but don’t have time to retouch them, you can outsource this task to our experienced team. It will use the most advanced editing methods and remove unwanted details from your photos.

5. Comparing Houses Challenge

This is a fun picture scavenger hunt that gets your colleagues to explore and share the differences between their present cities and their hometowns from when they were kids. Everyone gets a set of tasks and has to snap photos that match each category. We suggest giving out one task per week, making it an ongoing team-building adventure.

This scavenger hunt is a great fit for any team, but it works particularly great for remote teams and groups with diverse backgrounds.

6. Twelve Days of Christmas

christmas photo scavenger hunt idea

There are several ways to dive into this game.

Song Style: Teams act out the "Twelve Days of Christmas" using photos. You can try such Christmas photo ideas: as capturing two turtle doves, five golden rings, and twelve drummers drumming.

Seasonal Style: In this variation, everyone gets into the holiday spirit by acting out different festive clues over twelve days. Each day, you'll receive a new challenge. For example, you may be tasked with giving someone a kiss under the mistletoe, sporting an outrageously ugly sweater, spotting a Santa Claus out in the real world, or capturing a photo of someone who's definitely landed on the naughty list this year.

7. Travel Scavenger Hunt

travel photo scavenger hunt idea

Many people are fond of traveling, and a travel photo scavenger hunt can be a fantastic way to connect with each other. Everyone needs to use travel photos from their previous adventures to play the game.

You can give some bonus points to teams depending on how many categories their members have in common or for some truly extraordinary coincidences they stumble upon. When the activity wraps up, everyone can pick their favorite photo and share a story or an anecdote about that picture with colleagues.

8. Bucket List

bucket photo scavenger hunt idea

The challenges can range from simple tasks like "baking a fancy cake from the ground up" to more ambitious goals like "winning a marathon." Participants need to send in photos of themselves completing these challenges. You can decide whether pictures should be taken during the hunt or let players use old photos, allowing the team to celebrate past accomplishments too.

This picture scavenger hunt idea brings the best results when you spread it out over a more extended period, like a few months or a whole year. To encourage more employees to join in and chase their dreams, you can even consider offering a little financial support to help with expenses. Plus, since this is all about experiencing things, players can swap photos for videos if they want.

9. Iconic Places Photo Scavenger Hunt

In this challenge, participants need to have fun snapping photos at well-known spots like parks, monuments, and in front of famous buildings. To really enjoy it, we suggest spreading the game out over a more extended period, like a few months or even a whole year. If anyone has some awesome older photos, they can use those too.

If you want to add a dash of humor to the game, you can ask players to create their own silly versions of well-known landmarks. For instance, they can snap a picture of three people looking amazed at a running shower and jokingly label it "Niagara Falls," or capture a housecat striking a Sphinx-like pose.

10. Beach Scavenger Hunt

beach photo scavenger hunt ideas

Make sure to add this concept you your photo scavenger hunt list if you need something for hanging out with friends, team outings, retreats, or company trips. You can reward the participants who capture the most photos, come up with the most interesting beach photo ideas, or snap the most captivating pictures with a prize. Once you're back home, share the most fascinating snapshots in an email or a shared photo album to relive the highlights.

11. Ugly Location Beautiful Photo

You can ask the participants of your game to capture boring or downright ugly locations. The result might surprise you as such places often look great in photos.

12. Selfie Scavenger Hunt

selfie photo scavenger hunt ideas

You need to come up with several requirements and ask other people participating in the game to take selfies following several simple steps. Since this game has basic rules, you can award participants who took the most attention-grabbing pictures.

13. Recreating Movie Scenes

recreating movie scenes ideas

These days, you can find plenty of interesting locations where popular movies or TV series were filmed. You can organize a game and ask your guests to recreate the scenes from these movies. Alternatively, you can borrow Thomas Duke’s idea and use the screenshots of popular movies to show where a particular scene was filmed.

14. Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt

neighbourhood photo scavenger hunt ideas

You can suggest your children explore the locations nearby to learn more about the area you live in. They can even invite their friends from the same neighborhood to make the photo scavenger hunt even more thrilling.

15. Puzzle Pieces

Snap close-up pictures of interesting textures or patterns, and then challenge your friends to guess what they are. Make it even more fun with creative hints to spice up the challenge. You can photograph a piece of your smartphone wallpaper, a section of your dining tablecloth, or the design of a fresh set of dishes.

16. Unusual Signs

funny signs photo scavenger hunt idea

Explore your neighborhood for funny or quirky signs and snap some creative photos that bring out their hilarious or clever messages.

17. Nature Beauty

If your friends or colleagues like being outdoors, this is a terrific photo scavenger hunt idea to try. Search for samples of art or sculptures in natural surroundings, and take photos that showcase the contrast between human-made artworks and the beauty of the great outdoors.

Photo Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Photographers

Reflections. Seek out shiny surfaces that can add an artistic flair to your photos. Capture captivating distortions or create mirror-like reflection photography.

silhouette photo scavenger hunt ideas

Silhouette magic. Make the most of those magical moments during sunrise or sunset, and snap some mesmerizing silhouette photos against the backdrop of the dramatic sky.

Symmetry. Discover things or scenes that are perfectly symmetrical, and take pictures of them from the very center to get eye-pleasing and well-balanced photos.

In the shadows. Devote some time to playing with light and shadows, and their mixes. Take photos that bring out the contrast and the mood that different lighting conditions yield.

abstract photo scavenger hunt ideas

Abstract Exploration. Let your creativity flow and capture photos of abstract patterns, textures, or shapes that grab your attention outdoors. Invite viewers to interpret and admire the artistry found in everyday objects.

Urban exploration. Why not dive into a city adventure? You can participate in an urban scavenger hunt, taking photos of the hidden gems, busy streets, and unusual buildings that make this place so special.

double exposure photo scavenger hunt ideas

Double Exposure. Delve into double exposure photography, overlaying two different photos to get offbeat and beautiful compositions.

Candid moments. Focus on real, unplanned moments by watching people in public areas, and photographing their feelings, interactions, and expressions.

Dynamic motion. Have some fun trying to catch motion in your photos, like flowing water, moving cars, or people on the go. You can either freeze the action or let it blur, and that way, you can show off the lively energy in your shots.

nighttime photo scavenger hunt ideas

Nighttime magic. Explore the enchanting allure of the night by capturing the magic of city lights, the shimmering starry sky above, or even experiment with light painting photography ideas.

Urban reflections. Capture the captivating sights of cityscapes or architectural wonders as they mirror in glass windows, puddles, or glossy surfaces. You can spot some stunning compositions that'll grab viewers’ attention.

Minimalism. Appreciate the elegance of simplicity through minimalistic photo ideas that put the spotlight on neat lines, empty spaces, and a feeling of peacefulness.

Photo Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Different Locations

Whether you're in the office, out in nature, or exploring a new city, there are plenty of intriguing photo scavenger hunt ideas to discover. For example, when you're preparing for a trip, you often have to spend much time in the airport while waiting for your flight. To amuse your family members, you can go on a scavenger hunt after crossing the security line. However, make sure to ask other people for consent before taking photos of them.

airoport photo scavenger hunt ideas

At Work

Strike a pose like Madonna's Vogue with three of your team members.

Channel your inner Robert de Niro and get a shot of the whole team doing their best impression.

Create a human pyramid with your team for a group photo.

Find natural materials around the office and make creative hats, then take a group photo wearing them.

Discover a staircase and capture a synchronized shot of your team climbing it.

Challenge your team to build the tallest tower using only office items, then snap a photo.

Locate an interesting sculpture or artwork and have your team imitate the poses or shapes in it.

Show team spirit by taking a group photo, with each member holding a sign or banner displaying a positive team motto or message.

In Your College

Hunt down and photograph people sporting our school's colors.

Discover the lone spot on campus where you can buy a Spanish 101 textbook and snap a pic with the book right there in the store.

Find a hidden place on campus and take a shot of your buddies teaming up to crack a puzzle or riddle.

Spot a particular tree on campus, gather your pals around it, and have them join hands to form a circle for a photo.

Grab a quick shot with a stranger outside the main dining area near the freshman residence hall.

Make sure to take a pic with our school mascot!

Showcase your frisbee skills with a fantastic mid-air grab on the quad, and have one or two friends join in for the action shot.

Seek out a unique campus landmark and snap a selfie with it as a backdrop.

Find that hidden mural on campus and take a photo with one of your team members mimicking a pose from the artwork.

Capture your team members striking a pose in front of the library's famous staircase.

Locate a professor's office and take a group photo with one of your team members pretending to be the professor.

Track down a vending machine that dispenses the quirkiest snacks and snap a photo of your team enjoying the unusual treat.

Events and Expos in the Business World

Find someone you've never met who shares your first name and snap a pic together.

Take a photo of a fellow resident of your dream city.

Get a shot with the main keynote speaker in the background.

Showcase the most groundbreaking product or impressive booth display and snap a photo.

Gather your whole team and take a photo while proudly sporting conference-branded merchandise.

Foster collaboration by taking a group photo with a team from another organization.

Seek out a company with a four-letter name and capture their booth in a snapshot.

Pose at a booth with four different laptops in front of you, channeling your inner mission control for a fun photo opportunity.

Zoo

zoo photo scavenger hunt ideas

Capture a penguin enjoying a swim, and have a teammate imitate the delighted expression on the penguin's face in the same photo.

Discover a stuffed animal that resembles one of the zoo animals, and snap a picture where both the real animal and the stuffed one are visible (don't forget to include yourself!).

Spot a winged bird that can't fly and photograph it, preferably with a fellow group member.

Treat yourself to a funnel cake by the aquarium and take a photo or two.

In the Educational Setting

Go to a supply cabinet and take a photo of you and a friend, both looking like you're in dire need of a pencil.

Show off your top-notch air guitar skills up at the front of the room, and ask a classmate you don’t know to snap a picture of your rock & roll performance.

Team up with three friends, each grab a book and take a photo of yourselves pretending to read and engage in animated discussion.

In the City

Spot someone wearing a sports jersey from a different city or state, and invite them to join you and your team for a photo.

Snap a selfie of you and your team with the city's founder's statue in the background.

Playfully pretend to be a parking meter attendant and demonstrate what you'd do if you were worried about someone's time running out.

Hike

hike photo scavenger hunt ideas

To ensure the success of your picture scavenger hunt, plan a hiking tour carefully and create a list of clues that your friends will encounter along the way.

Find and photograph:

Intricate details, like frozen flower buds or picturesque landscapes

Your reflection mirrored in the water

Hollow or gap in a tree

Leaf with three distinct points

Rock that's as big as your hand

Grocery Store

grocery store photo scavenger hunt ideas

It might be challenging to entertain your children at the grocery store and ensure that they won’t get bored. The photo scavenger hunt will allow you to buy everything in peace and keep your kids busy.

Find and take a picture of an exotic fruit that you've never tasted before

Count how many different types of non-alcoholic carbonated beverages are lined up on the shelves and take photos of the ones you'd like to try

Seek out and photograph the largest fruit you can find

Tips & Rules

Think about equipment. Participants don't need fancy, expensive cameras to realize photo scavenger hunt ideas. But to make it fair for everyone, ensure all players have devices to take pictures. Begin the game with some photography tips for beginners. It's also a good plan to give your team some time to download and try out the scavenger hunt apps you'll be using, like Scavify and TurfHunt, before the game starts.

photo scavenger hunt idea for adults and kids

Set specific goals. Make sure to clearly explain the aims and what you expect from all the participants in the scavenger hunt. It's important to ascertain they fully understand the kinds of photos they should be taking.

Define a time frame. Decide how much time participants have to finish a picture scavenger hunt. This will make things feel more urgent and ensure the event stays exciting and fast-paced.

Encourage teamwork. Think about arranging the scavenger hunt in teams to create a feeling of togetherness and make the whole experience even more enjoyable.

Give out prizes or recognition. Reward participants who successfully tackle specific challenges or display outstanding creativity.

Share some photo editing tips. If participants can improve their photos, give them some pointers and easy-to-follow photo editing tips for beginners. This may involve recommendations on tweaking brightness, contrast, cropping, or trying out filters.

Show some inspiring samples. They can really ignite the creative spark in participants and get them thinking in innovative ways.

photo gallery for photo scavenger hunt

Make sure everyone gets to see the pictures. Instead of collecting photos separately and choosing a winner privately, it's way more enjoyable to look at them together as a group. We suggest either creating a photo slideshow or uploading pictures to a shared album or social media page. You can even take it a step further by designing T-shirts, Zoom backgrounds, Slack icons, physical photo books, or online photo albums.

Before taking photos of strangers, always ask for their permission. Explain that you're involved in a photo scavenger hunt and request their consent before taking any shots. This not only shows good manners but also helps participants improve their social and communication skills.

Prioritize safety. If you're holding the event outdoors or in public places, it's important to share some guidelines covering local rules and safety precautions.

Bonus Tools

professional lightroom presets by fixthephoto for photo scavanger hunt ideas

Once you've completed a photo scavenger hunt, you'll likely have a bunch of pictures that may require editing. You can use software such as Lightroom and some free tools to make the colors in your photos really stand out. These tools allow you to edit multiple images at once and give them a consistent look.

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