Digital Cameras

Don't be afraid of taking pictures. If you use the wrong settings, it's okay. Go ahead and take the picture anyway. If you want to photograph a person or pet, go up and ask if it's okay; create a release form to sign if it makes you more comfortable. Just go do it!

Use a diffuser to minimize the negative effects of flash photography.  The built-in flash on most cameras produce photos that have a high light-dark contrast, which makes them look harsh and unrealistic.  A diffuser diffuses the light from the flash, distributing it more evenly and making your flash photos look more natural.

Understand and get to know your camera. Although this sounds simple, many people have never even read the instructions on how to operate their camera. Get to know and understand the various menus and functions of every button on it so that when you need to use a certain function, you know where to find it and that the camera can accomplish it.

Make sure you're holding your camera properly to get the best photograph. You want to make sure you have your arms tucked against your sides and one hand should be under the lens to support it. This will help reduce any movement and insure that you're able to get good photos.

When aiming for the perfect shot, remember to keep sunlight in mind.  Too little and you can't see the subject.  Too much and one of two things happen.  The first is that too much sunlight is directed into the camera's lens or on the subject and washes out the picture.  The second is the person being photographed has to blink or close his eyes because of the massive amounts of sunlight coming into his eyes.

Move in closer to your subject to take a better picture. Moving in closer allows you to frame your subject and avoids disruptive backgrounds. It also allows you to focus on facial expressions, which can be important elements to any portrait photographer. Little details are often missed when your subject is too far away.

If you are taking pictures in the sun during the spring or summer, make sure to turn the flash on.  Failing to put the flash on your camera can result in a bad glare, which can taint your photos.  Once you turn the flash on, you can take pictures as you usually would.

Don't rely too heavily on image-editing software.  It's a great tool to have, but if you rely on it too much, your photographs will start to look highly artificial.  Try to achieve what you want before bringing it into image-editing software.

When preparing for a trip, pack your equipment carefully. Take as many lenses as you think you will need, and do not forget to take extra batteries and cleaning accessories. Do not take more than what you need and think about what will be convenient to transport with you on your trip.

Select a subject and focus on it. Point your camera towards this subject or object and use the auto focus feature if necessary. If you do not do this, your picture will look blurry. Play with conventions and select an unusual point of focus if you want original pictures.