The photo scavenger hunt is not only a fun game for your guests at your wedding reception or birthday party, it’s a great way to save money on photography! Purchase at least one camera per table at your event. Include an instruction card with a list of photos you’d like to have. Before guests leave, collect the cameras to be developed. You can even offer a small prize, like two free movie tickets or a gas card (especially appreciated by out-of-town guests!) for whoever gets the most shots you’re looking for. You get the photos you want, and guests have a project that will help contribute to the memories you create at you event. Below is a short list of candid pictures you might want to collect at different kinds of events.

• Bride & Groom looking at their spouse from afar
• Children dancing
• Old/young couple kissing
• Everyone sitting at the table
• A child playing Pin the Tail on the Donkey
• The mad dash for the candy from the piñata
• Blowing out the candles
• Cutting the cake
• Bride & Groom laughing together
• A child dancing with their parent
• Cake-covered faces (adorable on kids, funny on adults)
• Wedding party making goofy faces
• Parents watching their child from afar (especially poignant at weddings)

For more ideas, try doing some Google Image searches of events like yours. Find pictures you love and ask guests to watch closely for those moments. You can even offer “bonus points” for those shots.

The main goal of the game is for your guests to have fun doing something meaningful for you. Let them have fun with it. Be prepared for at least a few pictures of people’s shoes. It’s inevitable. If you are adamant about getting a certain shot, and are unable to get the shot yourself, ask a close friend to make it a priority in their photo-taking. Many are happy to oblige if they know how much it means to you. Have fun, and be sure to put the photos together in a scrapbook or album so guests can see their handiwork. You can also get your favorites digitized to post on Facebook or in a YouTube slide show.

Have fun, and be sure to thank your guests for the memories they help you create and record!

Posted by Jillian, a Dot-arilla Blogger