Are there any reliable ways to control a phone camera remotely? I know some tools help do that. Do they actually work? What do you guys recommend?
Honestly, I don’t get the appeal of capturing images remotely when there are many more options that you can access remotely to monitor someone. I use Xnspy surround record to record surround voices, and it literally made my life easier.
Plus, even if the camera can be accessed remotely, there’s a high chance the phone will be in their hand or pocket, so do you want blurry black pictures of someone’s surroundings? Or would you rather hear their conversation remotely, know the context, and record it from start to end? Any sane person would go for the second option.
So save yourself the trouble and install Xnspy, which works like a charm when it comes to remote commands.
I second you, @Silicrypte. I have been using Xnspy for a year or so and haven’t found the need for a live camera access option because all the other remote commands and features are enough to monitor someone remotely.
Not only the surround record option, but the Live screenshot taking option is also present, which you can use anytime, and it does the job.
Plus, when you can access the whole photo and video gallery of the target device, there’s no point in accessing their camera remotely just to get blurry pictures.
Every picture or video they take, you will have access to it through the phone’s gallery tab present on the Xnspy web dashboard, which removes the need to control the camera remotely and is more convenient. 
Y’all are insaneeeee. Just call the other person using WhatsApp, FaceTime, or any free video call app, and ask the other person to point the camera where you want it to be. Problem solved. 
On iOS, there’s no native feature, and nothing Apple would ever approve on the App Store, that lets you covertly activate someone else’s camera. Apple treats camera access as a hard privacy boundary. Any app that uses the camera must show indicators and require the user’s direct permission.
The only ways to see an iPhone’s camera feed are opt-in and user-initiated, for example:
• FaceTime or Group FaceTime: the person has to accept the call and turn their camera on.
• Video conferencing apps (Zoom, Skype, Meet, etc.): again, they must join the session and explicitly allow camera access.
Apps like IP Webcam or SayCheese are designed specifically for turning a phone into a network camera or for remote shutter functionality, but you need access to the other device to perform this action.
IP Webcam: Turns the camera phone into a live video stream that you can view from any browser or another device on the same network using a provided URL. It offers features like video recording and motion detection.
SayCheese (Android): Uses Bluetooth to pair two phones for taking pictures from a distance, with controls for zoom and flash.
Xnspy: Specially designed to work on both iOS and Android. Offer remote commands like surround record, photo gallery access, etc.
There’s no app that will let you control a phone camera from another phone remotely. Cut the crap. 
Apple devices do include a few native options, but they are limited to basic remote shutter use rather than true camera control between two phones. For example, with an Apple Watch, you can use the built-in Camera Remote app to preview the iPhone’s camera, adjust framing, set a timer, and take photos, as long as the watch is within Bluetooth range of the iPhone.