Capturing snapshots in an instant on your iPhone or Android is easy using your voice
How to take voice control selfies
Kurt ‘The CyberGuy’ Knutsson shows the best way to take voice control selfies.
How cool would it be if you could just say "Cheese!" and voilà, your phone would capture the perfect selfie without you ever lifting a finger? Oh yes, you heard that right. It's not some sci-fi fantasy but a reality.
Aside from selfies, there are several other benefits of setting up a voice-controlled camera. It can capture speech much faster than you can type.
It also helps those who have problems with speech or sight. On top of being an irresistible shortcut for taking a snapshot for everyone, "voice control" is a vital accessibility feature for anyone having trouble pressing the on-screen buttons.
Setting up a voice-controlled camera on iPhone
You can follow these quick and easy steps to set up your very own voice-controlled camera on your iPhone.
Steps to take hands-free photos on your phone (Cyberguy.com)
How to set up a voice-controlled camera on iPhone
- Go to the Settings app
- Scroll down and click on Accessibility
- Locate Voice Control under the "PHYSICAL AND MOTOR" section
If it is your first time using Voice Control, you may be asked to go through a few extra steps. On the first page, you are directed to just scroll down and read everything and then tap Continue
Then it will take you to another page with the Title "What can I say? Read through it and then tap Done
Then tap Set up Voice Control
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These are steps to take hands-free photos on a phone (Cyberguy.com)
Then next to Voice Control, toggle it On so its green
You'll want to make sure your "Hey Siri" is set up to use the Voice Control feature. If it is not, go to Settings, Then tap Siri & Search and turn on Listen for "Hey Siri"
Now, simply say, "Hey Siri, open camera"
Pose for your photo
To take a photo, say, "Turn down volume" Or "Turn up volume" and your camera will take a picture for you
Note: If you want to switch between the front and rear cameras, you will have to do this manually by tapping the camera switch button on the bottom right of the screen
Bonus: Mirror the front camera on iPhone
Do you know how sometimes your selfies turn out different from what you saw in the camera preview? Well, that's because your iPhone flips the image after you take the shot. But don't worry; there's a quick and easy way to fix this. Just turn on the Mirror Front Camera feature, and your selfies will look exactly how you want them to be.
How to mirror the front camera on iPhone
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Instructions for how to take hands-free photos on your phone (Cyberguy.com)
Open up the Settings app
Go to Camera and tap on it
Scroll down to Mirror Front Camera, toggle it to the on position
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Setting up a voice-controlled camera on Android
You can follow these quick and easy steps to set up your very own voice-controlled camera on your Android.
How to set up a voice-controlled camera on Android
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
Open the Camera App
Tap on Settings (gear icon)
Tap on Shooting methods
Enable Voice Commands
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Steps to take hands-free photos on your phone (Cyberguy.com)
Once the function is activated, you can use the following commands to take a photo: "Smile," "Cheese," "Capture" or "Shoot"
Pro tip: steady your phone
When using the Voice Control feature, it is a good idea to use something to stabilize your phone, especially if you are taking selfies at night. If you can find a stable object like a tree limb, a rock or a flat surface to set your phone against for added stability. The next best option is a mini tripod/extendable tripod stand. Head over to CyberGuy.com/Tripod for my top picks. This small effort to take any wobble out of your shot can make a huge difference in the quality of your photos.
Kurt's key takeaways
In a world where technology continues to amaze us, a voice-controlled camera might seem like a sci-fi dream come true. But guess what? It's not just a fantasy; it's a reality.
Following some quick and easy steps, you can set up your voice-controlled camera on your iPhone, Samsung or Android device. This innovative feature will enable you to take a terrific hands-free selfie.
The next time you want to capture a perfect shot, just say "Cheese!" and let your voice do the rest. It's that simple.
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A smartphone in photo mode (Cyberguy.com)
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Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.
