This disclosure provides a method and apparatus for controlling a camera to take a photograph. More specifically, a remote that includes a processor and a proximity sensor connected to the micro-processor. The remote also includes a housing and is designed to communicably couple to a camera. The remote is configured to cause the camera to focus in response to sensing a first gesture and to cause the camera to take a photograph in response to sensing a second gesture. In some embodiments, the first and second gestures are touchless.