Taking Photos and Videos

Capture your memories! Taking and sharing photos and videos has never been easier than with today’s mobile devices. In the Camera app, you can choose between capturing a picture or recording a video. Your device may also have options for High Dynamic Resolution (HDR), widescreen, flash, panorama, and more. Typically, your device will open in a regular photograph mode by default.

Opening your camera

If your device is unlocked, tap Camera  on the Home screen. Your device may have additional shortcut options to quickly open the camera. On the Pixel smartphone, you can quickly double-press the power button to open the camera from any screen, and you can “flip” it (a quick double-twisting action) to switch from the back camera to the front camera for selfie mode. If you have Okay Google enabled, you can use your voice and say, “open the camera” or “take a picture” or “take a video.”

Hold your camera in the landscape (sideways) position to take photos and videos to eliminate the black bars on each side of the picture when viewing on a computer monitor, TV, or any wide-screen device. You can always zoom in to view tall objects.

Taking a basic picture

Your camera will do its best to set the exposure and focus. When the picture isn’t lit properly, like when there is a bright light behind your subject, or the focus is on the wrong object, try tapping the screen on or near the object you want to photograph. This will tell your camera where you want it to take its light reading from and where to focus. Tap the shutter icon or use the volume button to take the photo.

More camera tricks

Other camera options you might have include

• Top shot. The Pixel defaults to Top shot mode to take pictures. This means it takes a short video and will suggest frames from the video to save, or you can choose the one you like.
• Panorama. Panoramic photos are up to 180 degrees wide. Select Panorama, turn to where you want the photo to begin, tap to begin, then rotate your camera in the direction you want to take the photo. Try to keep the camera in one place, i.e., hold it close to your body and rotate your body. Follow the directional arrows on the screen.
• High Dynamic Resolution (HDR). HDR takes several pictures with different exposures and combines them to produce a picture with deep blacks and great highlights. Experiment with your camera to see how well it does with HDR.
• Timed photos. Want to get in the photo? Set the timer and jump into the shot with your friends and family.
• Photo Sphere. Photo Sphere is a 360-degree view of the world from where you are standing. It is a series of photos taken by lining up dots in circles, and the camera creates a picture of complete immersion.
• Selfies. Who doesn’t want to get in the picture and have some fun memories? Tap  to change from the back camera to the front camera and get in the photo!
• Google Lens. Lens is a separate app that can recognize objects, bar codes, and QR codes. You can access the app from within the Camera app under ‘Modes.’ Tap the Lens icon  to scan your surroundings.

Google Photos app

The Pixel comes with the Google Photos  app preinstalled, and all other Android devices can download and use the app. Once the app is installed, all photos saved to your device’s camera folder are backed-up to your Google account. Photos can be accessed from any internet-connected device at https://photos.google.com/, and from within the app.