July Photo Prompts: Play
July’s theme is Play
If you’ve been following along with this month’s theme, you already know we’re focusing on travel and adventure. One of the easiest ways to explore a theme is with your camera. You don’t need to go far. A road trip, a day trip, a favorite local spot, or even a walk through your neighborhood can become part of the story.
These prompts are designed to help you notice the places, experiences, and details that make life interesting. If you want a few ideas to guide you, here are some simple photo prompts to try this month.
Photo Ideas for Capturing Play
Someone laughing
A favorite game or puzzle
A creative hobby in progress
A playground or park
A favorite toy or collection
A pet being playful
Something colorful that caught your eye
A family game night
A summer treat or picnic
A book or activity you enjoyed just for fun
Someone using their imagination
Start with a Favorite Toy or Collection
One of the easiest places to begin is with something you already love. It could be a favorite LEGO set, a stuffed animal, a collection you've built over the years, or a toy that brings back happy memories. Take a photo of something that makes you smile, or pull out a favorite piece you haven't enjoyed in a while. You might be surprised at how meaningful this is!
I think you know by now that LEGO is my favorite type of toy! This Winnie the Pooh treehouse was one of our favorite builds.
Capture a Favorite Book or Activity
Some of the best memories are made during everyday activities. Reading a favorite book together, working on a puzzle, building with LEGO bricks, or playing a board game may seem ordinary today, but those are often the moments you'll treasure later.
Take a photo of a book or activity you enjoyed just for fun. It doesn't need to be anything elaborate. Years from now, that simple photo can remind you of who you shared it with, what you were learning, and the everyday moments that made life feel special.
My grandsons love Daniel Tiger, and I love that Mr. Rogers’ legacy is living on with this cute show. This flip and find book is one of their favorites. They also love the Meet the Neighbors book.
Photograph Someone Using Their Imagination
Play doesn't have to stay in the playroom. Imagination can show up anywhere, even while you're traveling. I love taking LEGO minifigures with me on trips and photographing them in unexpected places. A trail, a national park, a scenic overlook, or a favorite landmark instantly becomes part of a memorable story. It's a simple way to make photography more playful, and those photos often become some of my favorites.
I was so glad I brought this lumberjack minifig on a trip to the woods with us a few years ago. I think he had a great time!
Photograph a Favorite Game or Puzzle
Some of the best memories are made around a table. A favorite puzzle, a family board game, or a card game played over and over again can become just as memorable as a special outing.
Take a photo of a game or puzzle you've been enjoying. It could be something you've been working on for weeks, a favorite family tradition, or a new game everyone is excited to play. The photo doesn't have to capture the finished result. Sometimes a puzzle in progress or a game halfway through tells the better story.
As you document the memory, think about what made it special. Was it the challenge of solving it? The conversations around the table? The laughter, friendly competition, or quiet time spent together? Often the story is about much more than the game itself. It's about the experience.
We bought this puzzle when we visited Disneyland during the Diamond Celebration, but it was years before we finally put it together.
Photograph a Family Game Night
Some of my favorite memories aren't made on big adventures. They're made sitting across the table from someone I love. My son and I regularly play board games together, and those simple evenings have become a meaningful part of our story.
Take a photo during your next family game night. It could be a favorite board game, a deck of cards, a puzzle in progress, or the final moments of a close match. You don't need everyone to stop and pose. Sometimes a hand reaching for a game piece or a board halfway through the game tells the story even better.
Othello is probably the first board game we owned as a married couple. My husband and I used to take it to the laundromat with us and play while we waited for our loads to finish. Good memories!
Where and How to Use These Photos
You don't need to photograph every prompt. Choose the ones that fit your life, your family, and the moments you want to remember. Even one playful photo can become the starting point for a meaningful memory-keeping project.
Add your photos to a scrapbook page, journal spread, monthly album, or your July roundup. Pair each image with a few notes about who you were with, what you were doing, or why the moment made you smile. Those little details are often the ones you'll be happiest to have later.
Play is a wonderful theme for storytelling because it looks different for everyone. You might create a page about family game nights, favorite books, creative hobbies, beloved toys, or everyday moments spent laughing together. You could also make a layout about how your family plays in this season of life or how your own idea of play has changed over the years.
We were not prepared for how many bikes there are in Amsterdam! Everyone seems to have at least one bike, and the drivers are quite aggressive because of the busy, but narrow streets. I love this photo because it truly captures the vibe of the city.
Remember…
Don't overlook the little things. Photos of puzzles in progress, well-loved toys, LEGO creations, art supplies, books, stuffed animals, game boards, and collections all help tell a richer story. These everyday details may seem ordinary now, but they often become the memories you treasure most.
