A method for operating a camera includes connecting the camera to a computer; the camera is programmed by storing operative steps in memory within the camera. The programming is performed using an application running on the computer. On completing the programming, the camera is disconnected from the computer and further programming is disabled and the program is executed. Preferably, the program includes correlating a photographic image with a previously stored photographic image and overwriting in memory a photographic image substantially identical to the previously stored photographic image. Preferably, the camera further includes manual controls functional solely during manual photography and disabled during surveillance photography.