A method for detecting and responding to snap motions. The method includes detecting a triggering event that switches a mobile device into a snap motion gesture detection state to commence a finger-snap gesture motion detection process. The method includes activating, based on detecting the triggering event, an image capturing device to capture a series of image frames of a scene and capturing, using the image capturing device, the series of image frames of the scene that includes a hand. The method includes determining, by analyzing at least two frames among the series of image frames, that a finger-snap gesture is detected in the series of image frames. The method includes executing an action corresponding to a determination that a finger-snap gesture is detected in the series of image frames.