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with a softer feel. The flash will reflect on shiny surfaces and shadows will tend to be cast against walls when indoors. I personally tend to avoid using the cameras flash unless I'm outside at night, or indoors with very little light such as nightclubs or parties. Flashes usually have more than one mode. Full Flash, Fill In and antired-eye. Use full flash when the surroundings are very dark, use fill-in when your subject is in front of alight source such as a window (preferably move elsewhere) or if you are taking a photo outside at dusk. Use antired-eye when photographing portraits in dark conditions.

Perspective
Look for natural formations, such as tree lines, paths, stones or water features that can lead from a corner of your frame toward your main subject. These make pleasing shots as they lead the eye into the picture. Move around and consider taking your shot from a higher or lower position.Get down on the ground, I mean right down on your side. Or high up if you can find something safe to stand on. Rotate the camera 45 degrees. When photographing the children for example getting low is usually a good technique.

Composition
The rule of thirds is the primary technique here. Imagine a naughts and crosses grid dividing the frame into 9 equal squares, try to position the main focus of your picture on or close to one of the intersections where the grid lines would cross each other. Avoid clutter, take a moment to consciously scout around the edge of the frame. Try to adjust your position (or zoom if you have it) to screen out partial objects, particularly brightly coloured ones. Get your subject to move if they have anything protruding behind them, particularly around the head area. Don't be afraid to get up close. Look for natural frames such as archways, doorways, foliage or any construction that gives a border on three sides (top, left and right.) These naturally crop a picture, providing emphasis on the subject or portrait that is the main focus of your shot. When taking action shots if the light is low make sure the flash is on for fast shutter speed. Try moving with the subject, pan the camera with your moving subject. The blurring of the background makes the subject stand out more. This is a tricky skill and needs practice to match the speed of your subject. Multi-shot mode is a good technique here if you have it, with 10 to 20 shots you have a good chance of getting a great frame. I have also found taking action shots with the camera rotated 45 degrees can bring very satisfactory results.

Some other techniques.
Most digital cameras can also shoot short video, stills can be cut from it on your computer later with most editing software. This allows you to just capture a whole slot of time, move the camera around, get close and pan out. Move slowly and deliberately keeping the camera as steady as possible take pauses between each change in position. You can then cut out the best moment later on the computer.

Now armed with these tips the next step is to get out there and take shots. There's no better way than learning by doing. Professional photographers take hundreds of shots to get just a few great pictures, thanks to the digital age this is now plausible for the armature without requiring reel upon reel of film. If you throw enough mud against the wall some of it will stick. Happy snapping.

Learn more about this author, Holly Styles.
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