There are several challenges and research tasks in Pokémon Go that require you to take a snapshot of a Pokémon from your collection. You don’t have to share the snapshot or post it anywhere, you merely have to take it, and then you can delete it later. It’s an unorthodox way to do something unique with your Pokémon outside of capturing it. Sometimes, when you take a snapshot, a random Pokémon may appear and photobomb your image. This enables you to capture it in the overworld after you’ve taken the snapshot. You can take a snapshot with any of your Pokémon, and it only takes a few seconds.
Go to your Pokémon collection by clicking the red Poké Ball at the bottom center of your screen. You need to choose the ‘Pokémon’ option to access your collection. This brings up the entire list of Pokémon in your collection. You can type in the name of the Pokémon at the top of the screen, or narrow down your search to find the one you want to take the snapshot with. Once you’ve chosen, click on that Pokémon.
This brings up the Pokémon stat screen where you can interact with your Pokémon or view any detailed information about them. For the snapshot, there should be a small camera icon at the top right of your screen. Click on it, and you’ll have to use augmented reality mode to take a snapshot of your Pokémon. This is where it becomes a little bit tricky.
You need to find a flat area to take a snapshot of your Pokémon. This can be the ground, a table, your desk, or an outdoor area. You’ll know you have a useable flat surface to take a snapshot when you see small, golden Pokémon feet scattered across the area. When you see those feet on your screen, tap the screen and your Pokémon will appear.
Your Pokémon will appear and start animating in front of you, as if they were in the real world. From there, you can take any number of snapshots of your Pokémon. If you’re trying to see to get a Pokémon to photobomb the image, there is a quick preview after you take the picture, and you should see the photobomb happening. After you’re done, you can leave the snapshot mode, and preview all of the photos you took of your Pokémon, and see what, or if, anything photobombed you.
If a Pokémon photobombed, they will appear in the overworld once you leave the snapshot menu. For those attempting to complete any research tasks of taking a snapshot of a particular Pokémon, or a type of Pokémon, the quest objective will appear on your screen as completed.
You can take snapshots of your Pokémon outside of events at any time.
