$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
}