5 Easy Digital Photography Tips

More and more people are buying digital cameras these days. The reasonable cost and the convenience of digital photography is a great motivator for many people to 'go digital." You may be thinking about getting a digital camera, or you may have recently purchased one. If this is the case, you are probably looking for some common sense tips on how to get some great digital pictures.

Here are some of my favorite digital photography tips:

· Buy The Camera That Is Right For You

There are a lot of great features on cameras these days. Some of which you may need, some you may not. Don't get hooked on buying a camera that is really more than you need. For taking simple shots of family and friends a basic point and shoot camera may be all that is required. If you buy a camera with too many 'bells and whistles' you may find yourself very frustrated and decide digital photography just isn't right for you. So keeping yourself focused on what features you need and what price range is in your budget is very important when choosing the camera that will suit you best.

· Be Sure You Have The Accessories You Will Need

Having the proper tools at the right time sure saves a lot of headaches! I am by no means a professional photographer and just went digital a few years ago. My 'must have' list of accessories would include:

Rechargeable batteries and the charger - I usually have 3 sets of batteries. One in the camera, one in my camera case (charged and ready to go) and one set on the charger.

Extra Memory Cards - I keep at least one extra memory card in my case at all times.

There's nothing much worse than missing that 'perfect' shot because you have run out of memory.

Tripod - When the camera absolutely, positively MUST be still, tripods are a real lifesaver. I hate fuzzy, distorted pictures, don't you?

This isn't a lot of 'extras', but for what I do, it works great.

· Dare To Be Creative

Let your imagination free when you take your photos. Use of props and unusual backgrounds, choices in posing your subjects; these are just a few of the ways you can let your personality and creativity come through in your photos. Don't be afraid to try new things, if you don't like it, you can just delete it!

· Take Lots and Lots of Pictures

Take multiple shots of each picture you're trying to get. Try rearranging the elements to your 'masterpiece' for slightly different looks. You also might try the shot from different angles to see how it changes the effect. Just go crazy and shoot, shoot, shoot!

· Always Make a Backup Disk of Your Photos

OK, I know you're shaking your head and saying 'duh' right about now, but you might be surprised at how many people will lose their pictures when their computer crashes. Don't let it happen to you!

So there you have it, some very basic digital photography tips that you can put to use today. Getting to know your camera and what it will do can be a fun and interesting challenge. I think you will find that creating your own treasured memories will be a lot of fun.