handytipsforgoodphotos digital photovideo Virgin Media

If you are new to digital photography, there are several key factors worth bearing in mind to get the best results. We cover a few of the basics here.

Double check the focus

Auto-focus digital cameras usually lock the focus on the centre of the picture, so if you do not wish your subject to be in the centre, hold the shutter button halfway down and the screen on the camera will offer you alternative focuses. It's a very useful feature, especially for 'point and shoot' users, but experimenting with the manual focus can produce some interesting results. Try blurring subjects in the foreground or background to emphasise different elements within your photos.

Hold the camera level and steady

There's nothing worse than wonky angles, particularly when photographing landscapes, so remember to use the LCD screen or viewfinder on your digital camera to carefully frame your shots. Holding the camera closer to your body with both hands can help prevent camera shake that causes blurring and simply leaning against a wall or balancing the camera on a surface can make a significant difference.

Take spare memory / Batteries

It may seem obvious, but if you're off on holiday for a few weeks and feeling snap happy, it's worth investing in both extra memory and spare batteries. The latest digital cameras with big LCD displays and zooms tend to be quite power hungry and may only get you through one day's shooting. Cameras that use standard AA batteries have the advantage that they can be bought everywhere in the world, though the rechargeable lithium-polymer ones offer the best energy to weight ratio. Cameras that take both are ideal.

Experiment with the flash

For the best results, always use your flash within its specified range, and if inside move your subjects closer to any available light. Try experimenting using the flash manually. Whilst the automatic setting is useful, it can produce some unnatural colours when used indoors. The fill flash function can work well in bright sunlight, removing facial shadows and providing sharper detail.