$parent = get_cat_ID( 'photos' );
if ( is_category( $parent ) ) {
$cats = get_categories( 'child_of=' . $parent );
foreach ( $cats as $cat ) {
query_posts( array (
'showposts' => 1,
'orderby' => 'rand',
'cat' => $cat->term_id
) );
if ( have_posts() ) :
while ( have_posts() ) :
the_post();
$image = '';
if ( has_post_thumbnail() )
$image = get_the_post_thumbnail( get_the_ID() );
echo '<ul>';
printf( '<li>%s<a href="%s">%s</a></li>',
$image,
get_category_link( $cat->term_id ),
apply_filters( 'get_term', $cat->name ) );
echo '</ul>';
endwhile;
else:
// CATEGORY HAS NO POSTS
endif;
}
} else {
// CATEGORY DOESN'T EXIST
}