An electronic device, method, at least one machine readable medium, and apparatus for indicating the operational status of a camera are provided herein. The electronic device includes a camera function, a lens, and an element associated with the lens. The element includes a second state wherein the element substantially optically occludes the lens from being visible to an observer of the electronic device when the camera function is not activated. The element also includes a first state wherein the element is substantially optically transparent and does not occlude the lens from being visible to an observer of the electronic device when the camera function is activated.