I thought taking digital pictures was just the process of simply holding the camera and pushing that shutter button after saying "cheese" to my subjects. Now I realize how wrong I was comparing previous images to my very recent ones. Remember that taking better quality pictures means taking fewer pictures overall since you're taking fewer bad shots; you don't only save on memory space but also save you energy and time.
Learning the proper way of photo taking shouldn't only be a standard but a responsibility. Do yourself a favor; do not spoil the camera and your pictures. Learn the Basics NOW.
Holding the Camera
Proper Camera handling may sound elementary but when disregarded can lead to countless retakes, lines of the infamous "hold on, one more time", and the possible spoiling of those precious moments. Holding the camera firmly in your hand means that you can prevent the camera from shaking or shifting too much when pressing the shutter button, also watch your spare fingers as they have tendencies to interfere with the lens. Wrap the camera strap around your fingers so that you will be more aware of where they are.
Focusing
Digital cameras take slightly longer to focus than film camera, so an important tip when capturing an image is to half-depress the shutter button until the camera has had time to lock the focus, and then completely press the button to take the actual shot - this can often make the difference between blurry, out-of-focus shots, and clear pictures.
Preview
On standard film cameras, there are no second takes, the image is final and when the photos are printed the mistakes are absolute; waste on film, paper, and fees but that was history. Today, one of the main advantages of a digital camera is being able to preview the pictures after you've taken them (and have an automatic basis for a retake or exclusion). I mean why keep a picture if it's blurry, or someone's eyes are closed, or a person is smiling when it's a funeral, and or some hands simply obstructing part of the view?
Storing
Imagine a scenario where you reach for your camera and clicking the button seeing the perfect kiss, smile, stunt, or sunset and imagining your friends' reactions when you show it to them, only to realize that your storage is full and you've missed that "precious" moment. Next time clear off your old pictures weekly or monthly and bring a second memory card or stick when you go on a trip, even if your primary card/stick is large, just in case you need the extra space.
This Author is a Big fan of Digital Cameras.
http://www.digital-camera-discounts.com