COVERT ANDROID PICS: Is there an app for this please??

Thought I read many months back there was an app for covert Android photography. Correct? Asking, as some of these fast casual shops require very difficult to get photos. As examples, Sbarro and the register and food counter pics, tricky to do with staff so close by. And that pretzel shop with a pic of the counter warmer. Worst of all was Confero's check cashing interior pics. Regardless of what cover story they tell you to use, did it once and never, ever, again as these places are prime armed robbery targets and in general any taking of pics inside will raise a major red flag, and rightfully so. Obviously, the genius behind such an onerous, silly requirement must be living in Mayberry USA, not Newark, NJ. Sorry to say this, but that is the reality !!

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Do a google search there are several FREE options available. Some don't even have ads.

A Dad shopping the Ark-LA-Tex and beyond.

I don't know if this helps but you can turn the "click" sound off. At least, you can on my phone. Additionally, I can set mine to take a picture by clicking the button on the side. The screen would still have to be on, but that should be easier than tapping the screen. You can just hold it in your hand with a finger on that button. I often do it that way.

I'm not sure what the issue that you're running into is (shopping the check cashing place aside)... is it the clicking, the phone screen being on, having to touch the phone?

The photo click is turned off, it is just difficult taking pictures close up as required with the staff staring at you.

You could try a "periscope" type lens as discussed in this thread:

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

I just turn my sound off and my camera flash off and take the picture. In today's day and age of social media and Yelp nobody even cares that you're taking pictures of anything. If asked, I'm taking a picture for my Yelp review or Pinterest or Facebook etc. Trying to hide it is more suspicious than just taking the picture.

I've gotten really good at taking pictures while being able to simply glance at the phone in my left hand where I have a finger on the side button. I'll often walk a few steps, click. Walk a few steps, click. Depends on what you have to get pics of, though. I will find a reason to stand there a minute. You could be "browsing" to see what section of the store you want to go to. Or set up a "text" message to yourself... type it out while you're outside. Then send it to yourself. Your phone will ding, and it gives you an excuse to look at your phone. I usually even toss in a grumpy "ugggggh, I'll get it. Stop texting me already." So then you respond to yourself and your phone dings again, you can turn around, look at the cashier and roll your eyes.. and say something like..."Kids!" That often makes them laugh and then they're done being suspicious. You can always throw in.. "Kids! I keep losing my train of thought."

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/09/2019 01:13AM by naivasna.

Your "click sound" and "flash" should have been turned off as soon as you decided to start using your smartphone for mystery shopping. Use the volume button to take covert pics. In extreme situations, hit that volume button several times without trying to frame or focus the shot. You can do it with practice. It's not taking pictures that it obvious; it's holding the phone up in front of your face and pointing it at your target while taking 2-3 seconds to focus. Don't worry about focusing; just still the camera and hit the vol button a few times. You can hit that vol button about 3-6 times in a second. Remember, only one shot needs to be good for each target.

My phone does "burst" photos if I hold the volume button down. It takes multiple photos for as long as I'm holding it down. Its' fast too. I can get 8-9 photos in 3 seconds.

@AZwolfman wrote:

Your "click sound" and "flash" should have been turned off as soon as you decided to start using your smartphone for mystery shopping. Use the volume button to take covert pics. In extreme situations, hit that volume button several times without trying to frame or focus the shot. You can do it with practice. It's not taking pictures that it obvious; it's holding the phone up in front of your face and pointing it at your target while taking 2-3 seconds to focus. Don't worry about focusing; just still the camera and hit the vol button a few times. You can hit that vol button about 3-6 times in a second. Remember, only one shot needs to be good for each target.

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COVERT ANDROID PICS: Is there an app for this please??

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