Abstract: A protective photographic system includng a low cost still camera mounted in a concealing enclosure and having a mechanism driven by an electric motor unit for automatically advancing a film winding lever of the camera and depressing an exposure button of the camera at a predetermined rate in response to a control unit electrically connected to the electric motor unit. The mechanism is mounted on an exposure button collar rigidly attached to a surface of the camera. The mechanism includes a reciprocating plate having a perpendicularly extending member for engaging the film winding lever. The reciprocating member rotates counterclockwise through an angle sufficient to advance the film winding lever to a predetermined position and then rotates counterclockwise to allow the film winding lever to return to an initial position.