The concept of photography has appeared in many Pokémon games. Starting with its introduction in the game Pokémon Snap, photography has appeared in several other games since.

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Gold takes a picture with his party

In the games

Pokémon Snap

In Pokémon Snap, the entire game is based around the concept of photography. In Pokémon Snap, the player (as Todd Snap) must take the best possible photographs of the 63 Pokémon findable on Pokémon Island for Professor Oak's Pokémon Report.

The player controls the camera from a first-person perspective. To view through the camera lens, the player must hold the "Z" button. The shutter button is operated with the "A" button. In the game, the player can receive tools to aid their picture-taking such as Pokémon food, Pester Balls, and the Poké Flute.

For a period of time after the release of Pokémon Snap, Pokémon Snap Sticker Stations were available at Blockbuster Video stores, which allowed a player to print out their photos on stickers for $3. These Sticker Stations were available in the USA and Canada. In the Wii Virtual Console version, players can post them to the Wii's Address book.

Pokémon Stadium

In Pokémon Stadium, there is a "Gallery" mode where players can take photographs of their Pokémon. A player may photograph Pokémon from their Generation I Game Boy game (using the Transfer Pak) or they may photograph the game's rental Pokémon. The controls are identical to that of Pokémon Snap, but without the extra items such as the Pester Balls. Photos taken in Gallery Mode could be printed on stickers at the Pokémon Snap Sticker Stations.

My Pokémon Ranch

In My Pokémon Ranch, players are able to take photos of their Pokémon during any of the random ranch events (such as the Clock and the Totem Pole) or when they are playing with any of the toys that a player may buy for their Pokémon. The quality of the photo can be increased with the "Focus Lock" function.

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions, there are many areas in Johto and Kanto where the player may take photos of him/herself and their partner, although the player will often be able to photograph themselves with their entire party. These photos are recorded in a photo album (which stores up to 36 photos in the PC).

Location Days Available
New Bark Town Tuesday
Cherrygrove City Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Ruins of Alph (outside) Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Ruins of Alph (inside) Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
Route 32 Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Slowpoke Well Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Ilex Forest Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday
Route 34 Wednesday, Thursday
Underground Path Every day
Route 35 Monday, Tuesday, Friday
National Park (gate) Saturday, Sunday
National Park (inside) Monday, Saturday, Sunday
Pokéthlon Dome Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Ecruteak City Friday
Route 39 Thursday, Sunday
Olivine City Monday, Tuesday
Glitter Lighthouse (night) Wednesday, Saturday
Cianwood City Every day
Safari Zone gate Tuesday, Thursday
Ice Path Saturday
Blackthorn City Tuesday, Sunday
Dragon's Den Monday, Thursday
Route 45 Wednesday, Saturday
Route 48 Friday, Sunday
Frontier Front Tuesday, Saturday
Location Days Available
Pallet Town Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Route 1 Monday, Tuesday, Saturday
Viridian City Wednesday, Friday
Pewter City Tuesday, Saturday
Pewter Museum Monday, Saturday
Cerulean City Thursday, Sunday
Vermilion City Thursday, Sunday
Saffron City (Silph Co.) Friday, Saturday
Saffron City (Magnet Train) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Friday, Saturday
Celadon City (fountain) Tuesday, Friday
Celadon City (Dept. Store) Friday
Fuschia City Tuesday, Saturday
Route 12 Monday, Wednesday, Saturday
Route 14 Thursday, Sunday
Seafoam Islands Tuesday, Saturday
Route 21 Monday
Route 22 Thursday, Sunday
Route 26 Tuesday, Friday
Mt. Silver Wednesday, Friday
Pallet Town Every day

Super Smash Bros. Series

Super Smash Bros. Melee

Players of Super Smash Bros. Melee are able to take pictures of certain battle scenes in Camera Mode. Photos take up 4-12 blocks from the GameCube memory card. Camera Mode requires two controllers - player two takes a photo of player one's battle.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

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A snapshot of two Ivysaur in SSBB

Players of Super Smash Bros. Brawl may also to take pictures of certain battle scenes if the game is paused. Photographs typically take 1 block of memory from either the Wii's memory or from the SD Card memory. Photos taken in Super Smash Bros. Brawl can be transferred to a personal computer and converted to JPEGs using various programs or websites available online.

In the anime

Photography has also appeared in the anime. The first appearance of photography in the anime was in the episode Pokémon Paparazzi, which aired shortly after the release of Pokémon Snap. In the episode, Team Rocket hires Todd Snap, a photographer, to "capture" Pikachu, not realizing that Todd means to capture Pikachu on film. Photography appears again in the episode A Maze-ing Race!, where Team Rocket tries to take a group picture of Ash's, Dawn's, and Brock's Pokémon in exchange for a map. In Jumping Rocket Ship!, Team Rocket disguise themselves as photographers in an attempt to capture Ash and his friends' Pokémon.

In the manga

Pokémon Special

In the Pokémon Special manga, Todd Snap appeared in the Emerald arc as a reporter. At the end of the chapter, Professor Oak asked him if he could work with him and if he could go to an island where there are lots of Pokémon, and take pictures of them.

In the TCG