diff --git a/homeassistant/components/camera/uvc.py b/homeassistant/components/camera/uvc.py
index cb01fb4371d..7bc5f9fa9dd 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/camera/uvc.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/camera/uvc.py
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ class UnifiVideoCamera(Camera):
         self._uuid = uuid
         self._name = name
         self.is_streaming = False
+        self._connect_addr = None
+        self._camera = None
 
     @property
     def name(self):
@@ -68,31 +70,55 @@ class UnifiVideoCamera(Camera):
         caminfo = self._nvr.get_camera(self._uuid)
         return caminfo['recordingSettings']['fullTimeRecordEnabled']
 
-    def camera_image(self):
+    def _login(self):
         from uvcclient import camera as uvc_camera
-
         caminfo = self._nvr.get_camera(self._uuid)
+        if self._connect_addr:
+            addrs = [self._connect_addr]
+        else:
+            addrs = [caminfo['host'], caminfo['internalHost']]
+
         camera = None
-        for addr in [caminfo['host'], caminfo['internalHost']]:
+        for addr in addrs:
             try:
                 camera = uvc_camera.UVCCameraClient(addr,
                                                     caminfo['username'],
                                                     'ubnt')
+                camera.login()
                 _LOGGER.debug('Logged into UVC camera %(name)s via %(addr)s',
                               dict(name=self._name, addr=addr))
+                self._connect_addr = addr
             except socket.error:
                 pass
             except uvc_camera.CameraConnectError:
                 pass
             except uvc_camera.CameraAuthError:
                 pass
-
         if not camera:
             _LOGGER.error('Unable to login to camera')
             return None
 
-        try:
-            camera.login()
-            return camera.get_snapshot()
-        except uvc_camera.CameraConnectError:
-            _LOGGER.error('Failed to connect to camera %s', self._name)
+        self._camera = camera
+        return True
+
+    def camera_image(self):
+        from uvcclient import camera as uvc_camera
+        if not self._camera:
+            if not self._login():
+                return
+
+        def _get_image(retry=True):
+            try:
+                return self._camera.get_snapshot()
+            except uvc_camera.CameraConnectError:
+                _LOGGER.error('Unable to contact camera')
+            except uvc_camera.CameraAuthError:
+                if retry:
+                    self._login()
+                    return _get_image(retry=False)
+                else:
+                    _LOGGER.error('Unable to log into camera, unable '
+                                  'to get snapshot')
+                    raise
+
+        return _get_image()