Easter is one of our favourite holidays. It's not only a perfect time for a quick rest and reset — perhaps even a long weekend getaway — but it's also filled with unique and fun traditions that are worth capturing properly.
Whether you're photographing an egg hunt in the backyard, a big family gathering, or a local Easter event, these ideas will help you come away with images you'll treasure for years.
1. Make Use of Easter-Themed Props
Visual elements like Easter eggs and bunny ears are instantly recognisable and add a fun, festive touch to your images. Incorporating props makes it easy to build a cohesive Easter photography set — whether you're shooting family portraits, group photos, or creative still-life flat lays.
Some great Easter prop ideas:
- Colourful painted Easter eggs
- Baskets filled with Easter treats
- Fluffy bunny ears
- Plush bunny or chick toys
- Cardboard bunny footprints
- Pastel ribbons, flowers, and fabric backdrops
For flat-lay shots, natural window light works beautifully — lay your props on a white sheet or timber surface and shoot from directly above for a clean, editorial look.
Easter Egg Photography: Lighting, Macro & Composition Tips
Whether you're shooting decorated eggs for social media or setting up a creative still life, a few simple techniques make a significant difference.
- Use a macro lens or close-up mode — getting in close reveals texture, painted detail, and pattern that reads beautifully at full resolution. A 50mm or 85mm lens at f/2.8–f/4 gives pleasing subject separation without going so shallow that the egg falls out of focus.
- Side-light for texture — position your light source (a window or a reflector card) to one side of the egg rather than directly above. This rakes across the surface and brings out detail in painted or dyed shells.
- Group odd numbers — clusters of three or five eggs look more natural in frame than pairs, and varying height with a small prop or folded cloth adds dimension to a flat lay.
2. Focus on the Important Moments
If you have young children, the Easter egg hunt is a cherished moment — and one of the best spontaneous photography opportunities of the year. Capturing their joy and wonder will give you treasured memories to display on your photo wall for years to come.
A few tips for photographing kids at Easter:
- Prepare your settings in advance — kids move fast, so have your camera ready before the hunt begins. Use continuous autofocus and burst mode.
- Get down to their eye level — crouching or lying on the ground gives you a more intimate, engaging perspective.
- Let them forget you're there — the best candid shots come when kids are fully absorbed in what they're doing.
- Don't just photograph the kids — capture the adults watching on, the reactions, the laughter. Easter is about family, not just chocolate.
3. Use Instant Photography for Immediate Joy
While digital photography is excellent for online sharing and high-quality prints, an instant camera adds a uniquely hands-on Easter photography experience that the whole family can enjoy.
Instant prints are wonderful keepsakes to gift to family and friends on the day — tuck one into an Easter basket, stick one on the fridge, or start a holiday photo wall. Kids especially love watching the image develop right before their eyes.
You can also use a smartphone photo printer to print images captured on your phone — the whole family can connect and print their favourite shots from the day. Browse our range of instant cameras to find the perfect option for your Easter celebrations.
4. Attend Special Easter Events
Easter events offer a fantastic opportunity to photograph the holiday on a larger scale. In Sydney, the Royal Easter Show — first held in 1823 — attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and is packed with photogenic moments: show animals, carnival rides, showbags, and the energy of a crowd in full celebration mode.
Other popular Easter events around Australia worth photographing:
- Bendigo Easter Festival
- Local community Easter egg hunts
- Theme park Easter events
- Easter markets and food festivals
When shooting at events, a mirrorless camera with a versatile standard zoom lens is ideal — compact enough to carry comfortably all day, and flexible enough to handle everything from wide crowd shots to tight portraits. Always check the event's photography policy, and ask individuals for permission before photographing them up close.
Shooting in Australia's Autumn Easter Light
Easter in Australia falls in autumn — and that's genuinely good news for photographers. The harsh midday sun of summer is gone, and you're left with softer, warmer light that's far more flattering for portraits and outdoor scenes.
A few things to keep in mind for Australian Easter shooting conditions:
- Golden hour arrives earlier — in April, the sun sets around 5:30–6pm in most capital cities, so the golden hour window is earlier in the afternoon than you might expect. Plan your outdoor family shots accordingly.
- Overcast days are your friend — a light cloud cover acts as a giant diffuser. Skin tones look even, shadows are soft, and Easter egg colours stay saturated without harsh highlights.
- Backyard shoots work well — autumn foliage (particularly in cooler-climate areas like the ACT, Victoria highlands, or Tasmania) adds warm tones that complement Easter's pastel palette naturally.
Recommended Camera Settings for Easter Photography
Whether you're shooting an egg hunt, a family lunch, or a flat-lay still life, having a starting-point setting for each situation saves you fumbling when the moment happens.
- Egg hunt (kids in motion outdoors): Shutter speed 1/500s, aperture f/2.8–f/4, Auto ISO (cap at 3200), AF-C with burst mode enabled.
- Family portraits outdoors: Shutter speed 1/200s, aperture f/4–f/5.6 (keeps groups in focus), Auto ISO. Shoot in the shade or during golden hour for even light.
- Easter egg flat lays indoors: Shutter speed 1/100s or slower (camera on a surface or tripod), aperture f/5.6–f/8 for front-to-back sharpness, ISO 100–400, natural window light from the side.
- Overcast outdoor scenes: Aperture f/4, shutter speed 1/250s, ISO 400 — overcast light is soft and forgiving, so you have room to slow down.
Shoot in RAW if your camera supports it — autumn colour casts and mixed indoor/outdoor light are much easier to correct in post when you have the full data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camera settings should I use for Easter egg hunt photos?
Kids move quickly, so use a fast shutter speed (at least 1/250s, ideally 1/500s) to freeze movement. Set your aperture to f/2.8–f/4 for a pleasing background blur that keeps the focus on your subject, and use Auto ISO so the camera adjusts for changing light as you move between indoors and outdoors. Enable continuous autofocus (AF-C) and burst mode to capture peak expressions.
What is the best camera for family Easter photos?
Any camera you're comfortable using quickly will do the job — the best camera is the one you have with you. That said, a mirrorless camera with a fast lens gives you the most flexibility for indoor and outdoor shooting in variable Easter light. For something more casual and fun, an instant camera is a brilliant choice that the whole family can enjoy.
How do I photograph Easter eggs for flat-lay shots?
Place your eggs and props on a clean, neutral surface — white card, a linen cloth, or a timber board all work well. Position yourself directly above and shoot looking straight down. Use soft natural window light from the side to add gentle shadows and depth. Avoid harsh direct sunlight, which creates unflattering highlights on shiny egg surfaces.
Are instant cameras good for Easter?
Absolutely — instant cameras are one of the best Easter photography tools. The physical print is an instant keepsake that kids and adults alike love, and the process of watching the image develop adds to the fun of the day. They're also simple enough for older kids to use themselves.
How do I get natural, candid Easter photos?
The key is to stay ready and stay quiet. Have your camera set up before the action starts, and resist the urge to direct or pose people — the best Easter photos happen when everyone forgets the camera is there. Shoot from a distance with a slightly longer focal length so you can capture genuine reactions without interrupting the moment.
Gear Up for Easter Photography
- Mirrorless Cameras — Versatile, fast, and perfect for capturing candid family moments indoors and out.
- Instant Cameras — Print memories on the spot for a fun, hands-on Easter photography experience the whole family will love.
