A method performed at a camera device (106, 118, 204, 222-1, 222-n) having memory, one or more processors, a motion sensor, an image sensor, and a wireless communication component, the method comprising: while the image sensor is deactivated, monitoring a scene and detecting motion via the motion sensor; in response to detecting motion, determining whether the detected motion is trivial; in response to a determination that the detected motion is not trivial: activating the image sensor while the wireless communication component is deactivated; capturing, with the image sensor, a plurality of images containing a motion event; characterizing the motion event based on at least one of the plurality of images; and determining, based on the characterization of the motion event, whether to continue to capture additional images via the image sensor; in accordance with a determination to not continue to capture additional images, deactivating the image sensor to conserve power and continuing to monitor the scene via the motion sensor; determining, based on the characterization of the motion event, whether to send video data to a remote computing system; and in accordance with a determination to send video data to the remote computing system: activating the wireless communication component; establishing a wireless connection to the remote computing system via the wireless communication component; and sending video information to the remote computing system via the established wireless connection. while the image sensor is deactivated, monitoring a scene and detecting motion via the motion sensor; in response to detecting motion, determining whether the detected motion is trivial; in response to a determination that the detected motion is not trivial: activating the image sensor while the wireless communication component is deactivated; capturing, with the image sensor, a plurality of images containing a motion event; characterizing the motion event based on at least one of the plurality of images; and determining, based on the characterization of the motion event, whether to continue to capture additional images via the image sensor; activating the image sensor while the wireless communication component is deactivated; capturing, with the image sensor, a plurality of images containing a motion event; characterizing the motion event based on at least one of the plurality of images; and determining, based on the characterization of the motion event, whether to continue to capture additional images via the image sensor; in accordance with a determination to not continue to capture additional images, deactivating the image sensor to conserve power and continuing to monitor the scene via the motion sensor; determining, based on the characterization of the motion event, whether to send video data to a remote computing system; and in accordance with a determination to send video data to the remote computing system: activating the wireless communication component; establishing a wireless connection to the remote computing system via the wireless communication component; and sending video information to the remote computing system via the established wireless connection. activating the wireless communication component; establishing a wireless connection to the remote computing system via the wireless communication component; and sending video information to the remote computing system via the established wireless connection.