Many people find shooting a digital photo to be harder than expected. You might find that you have been taking digital photos since first introduced but have never quite captured that perfect shot you set out for. Nothing is as disappointing as missing that important event, such as your daughter's dance recital or even your anniversary trip to Italy. When that once in a lifetime moment is remembered with a horrible photo, the frustration can be overwhelming.

That leads us to the question of how do you take that perfect photo? The first rule lies within the photographer themselves, for it is with the photographer that the photo begins, not the camera itself. It's just that simple. Think about how you can see a photograph that a child has taken playing around with a simple disposable camera and it is wonderful while a photo with the priciest SLR can turn out to be awful.

Take the opportunity to check out these simple tips on shooting digital photos and use them the next time you pick up your camera. With these in mind, you will be successful in all of the photos you take!

1. Know Your Camera Does this sound familiar? You buy the latest digital camera out there, come home, rip off the box, then proceed to fiddle with the device. You briefly flick through the hundred page camera manual and then never look at it again. Not a good idea! If you buy a digital camera, you owe it to yourself to understand its ins and outs. Learn how to control exposure, how to use different camera modes and how to use the flash. The knowledge you gain about the camera will be invaluable when you're out in the field taking those special photos.

2. Learn to Control the Flash One of the most important things you need to know about digital photography is to control the flash. Personally, I hate to rely on the automatic flash that comes with the digital camera. Depending on the situation, you need to switch off or switch on the flash.

An example of manually controlling the flash can be found when photographing outdoors. It is helpful to actually turn on the flash in order to illuminate the photo subject, especially if in the shade. The reverse idea would be to turn the camera flash off while indoors to eliminate potentially unnatural skin color and harsh glare that can occur in your photo.

3. Experiment with the Macro Mode Most digital cameras available these days come with a macro mode. This setting is perfect for capturing close ups of objects like flowers or insects. I have a Canon PowerShot S500 and its macro mode is represented with a flower symbol. To take photos in this style, choose your subject and making sure the macro mode is turned on, get as close to your subject as possible. Give your camera enough time to focus properly before pressing the shutter button all the way.

4. Hold the Camera Level One of the most basic photography rules is to hold the camera level. Most digital cameras come with an LCD that can be used to accurately frame your shots. Utilize the horizontal lines as guides next time you are behind the lens. One such case is making use of the horizon when taking a photo of the sunrise.

5. Use Your Tripod No matter what level of expertise your photography skill is at, tripods are essential in your photography. How will you know when to use your tripod? It is helpful when taking photos in low-light situations or when trying to capture fast moving objects. I personally use a tripod when photographing certain nature shots such as birds in flight. Try to find a tripod that is easy to carry with you. For your personal use all you will probably need is a simple compact tripod that is easily mobile and you can avoid the inconvenience of a larger, bulkier tripod.

6. Experiment with the ISO Setting I have found the ISO setting in digital cameras very helpful. The ISO setting of a camera essentially controls the camera's sensitivity to light. Use a low ISO setting if you're taking a photo of a still object, like a flower. This allows for a longer shutter speed and creates a cleaner image. A higher ISO setting of about 400 would be appropriate while taking a photo of a moving subject such as a baby in a swing. Keep in mind that a higher ISO setting results in a faster shutter speed and needs less light

7. Make Sure to Have Enough Memory Capacity Although with digital cameras you don't have to worry about extra rolls of film, the pictures you take still have to be stored somewhere. Make certain that you have enough memory capacity in your digital camera available to you. Nothing is worse than discovering you are out of memory space only halfway through an important event. Here are some basic guidelines for digital memory storage.

2 megapixel cameras - requires at least a 64MB card 3 megapixel camera - requires at least a 128MB card 4 megapixel camera - requires at least a 256MB card 5 megapixel camera and above - requires at least a 512MB or 1GB card

Conclusion Whew. A pretty long article. I hope I've managed to give you some good tips on shooting great digital photos. Always remember what I said - while the latest and greatest digital cameras have amazing features, you still need a skilled photographer to take nice pictures. Apply the above tips to your everyday shooting and learn to be a better photographer.

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