October is here, and with it comes a fresh new month of our Photo A Day challenge! ✨ This month I’ve kept things open and fun with an “anything goes” vibe — perfect for sparking creativity as the seasons shift around the world. Whether you’re soaking up spring sunshine here in Australia or feeling the cosy pull of autumn elsewhere, there’s something in this list for everyone.
Each day you’ll find a simple prompt to inspire your photo — nothing too tricky, just little nudges to notice the beauty, joy, and quirks in your everyday life. Think shadows in nature, golden hour moments, reflections, and even what made you smile today. It’s all about slowing down, noticing the little things, and sharing them with our beautiful community.
If you’re new here, welcome! All you need to do is check the daily prompt, snap a photo inspired by it, and share it with the hashtag #FMSPAD. Don’t forget to also use the day’s specific hashtag (you’ll find them listed below) so we can all see each other’s photos and cheer each other on. 💕
Are you ready to play along? Let’s dive into the October prompts!
How to play Photo A Day
Playing Photo A Day is super simple, and an easy way to get creative.
📷 Look at the list for the daily prompt.
📷 Take a photo using the prompt as inspiration. For example, if the prompt is ‘A SHADOW IN NATURE’ so start the month and share a photo of a shadow you see in nature, like a tree or a bird.
📷 Once you’ve taken your photo, it’s time to share it! You can share to Instagram, or Facebook (more details below).
📷 Enjoy the community. On both Instagram and Facebook (especially in our private Facebook group), we have a beautiful community. Each day we pick our favourite four photos to put a spotlight on. You can spend time liking and commenting on other people’s photos, and maybe your photos will get picked for the Fab Four!
How to play on Instagram
Simply check out the list for the daily prompt, and then snap a photo using that as inspiration. Share your photo, and be sure to include the hashtag #FMSPAD in your caption so the community can see your photos. We also have a daily hashtag list (see below) so that we can find your daily photos easier.
Follow our @fms.photoaday Instagram account. We love showing off photos from our community. You can look at the #FMSPAD hashtag to see all the great photos from the challenge.
How to play on Facebook
We have a fun, private FMS Photo A Day Facebook Group that you’re welcome to join. It’s a dedicated place to share your daily photos. We also have a beautiful team who selects four photos every day (the Fab Four) from each daily prompt.
You’re also welcome to share to your own personal feed, whatever suits you best.
How to remember the Photo A Day prompts
Remembering the daily prompts can sometimes be a challenge. You can bookmark this blog post to refer to, save the Photo A Day list to your camera roll (or even make it your screensaver), or you’ll find the list at the top of our Facebook Group. We have also added the prompts to our calendar, so you can download for an easy reminder.
For the calendar prompts: You can download the prompts automatically into your phone or PC calendar. For Smartphones & Mac Calendar, click here. For HTML for web viewing, click here.
A little more about the prompts
- A SHADOW IN NATURE – Look for shapes created by the sun or light in the natural world — trees, leaves, rocks, or even your own shadow on the ground.
- YOUR HANDS – Hands tell so many stories. Capture your own, a loved one’s, or hands at work doing something meaningful.
- SOMETHING STRIPE – Stripes are everywhere — in clothes, patterns, nature (think zebras or shells), or even food.
- WHAT MADE YOU SMILE TODAY – Share something that lifted your mood or brought you joy today, no matter how small.
- GOLDEN HOUR – That magical time just after sunrise or before sunset when the light glows golden.
- IN MOTION – Try capturing movement — someone walking, water flowing, hair blowing in the wind, or a moving vehicle.
- SOMETHING PAINTED – This could be a wall mural, a piece of art, a painted object, or even your nails.
- A COLLECTION – Show off a little group of things — books, shoes, shells, mugs, or whatever you (or someone else) collects.
- A DOORWAY – Doors are full of charm and mystery. Photograph a doorway that catches your attention.
- FROM THE GROUND UP – Lie down, crouch low, or tilt your camera upwards to capture the world from below.
- SOMETHING MATCHING – Think of pairs or sets that look the same — shoes, outfits, patterns, colours.
- PEACEFUL – Capture a moment of calm. It could be nature, a quiet space, or something that makes you feel at ease.
- A SNACK – Sweet, salty, healthy, or indulgent — show us what you’re snacking on today.
- A PILE OF SOMETHING – Stacks and piles can be fun to photograph — books, laundry, fruit, or toys.
- BALANCE – Balance can be literal (a person balancing, stacked objects) or something symbolic that feels balanced to you.
- YOUR OUTFIT TODAY – Share what you’re wearing, whether it’s a cosy at-home fit, your work outfit, or your going-out look.
- SOMETHING COLOURFUL – Find the brightest, happiest burst of colour around you today.
- A GOOD HABIT – Show something you do regularly that makes life better — journalling, drinking water, exercise, kindness.
- A CIRCLE – Circles are everywhere — wheels, plates, signs, jewellery, buttons.
- A TRADITION – Capture a family, cultural, or personal tradition you love.
- WILD OR WILDLIFE – Think of something untamed — an animal, a wild plant, or even a messy, natural moment.
- WHAT I SEE – Take a photo of the exact view in front of you, right now.
- LETTERS OR WORDS – Look for text around you — in books, street signs, packaging, or handwriting.
- SHAPES – Geometric or natural, look for interesting shapes around you.
- FAVOURITE DRINK – Tea, coffee, wine, juice, a smoothie — whatever your go-to drink is, share it.
- SOMETHING JOYFUL – Show something that sparks happiness, laughter, or delight.
- STILLNESS IN NATURE – Capture a quiet natural moment — a calm lake, a still sky, or a pause in the day.
- A REFLECTION – Mirrors, windows, water, or shiny surfaces — look for reflections.
- A SUNSET – That magical end-of-day light — whether it’s bold and fiery or soft and pastel.
- LOVE – Show love in any form — a person, a pet, a hobby, or a place that makes your heart full.
- GOODBYE, OCTOBER – Wave farewell to the month with a photo that sums up your October.
