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BY MARJOLEIN DARTNALL

So you want to take better photos with your digital camera? But you find it hard to get that perfect shot? Here are five basic tips to help you get that better photographs.

TIP ONE: Take that photo from a different angle. Get down low for example. Shooting a photo from a different angle adds interest and can produce good effects.

TIP TWO: Fill the frame! Create impact by getting up close. The difference will be stunning — try it, you’ll like it.

TIP THREE: Don’t shoot the subject smack bang in the middle of the holiday photo! Use the ‘Thirds Rule’. The horizon should be at the top or lower third of the photo. The subject should be either on the left or right third of the photo. Keep the ‘Thirds Rule’ as a basic guideline and the end result should create a rewording holiday photo album.

TIP FOUR: Be brave! Don’t use the AUTO setting to shoot photos. Take control. For portraits, use a low aperture — around 2.8. For landscapes, use a high aperture — around 16. Don’t be afraid to experiment. It is digital after all… you won’t be wasting any film! For action photos, use a fast shutter speed.

TIP FIVE: Use high resolution. Low resolution is good when you want to use your photos on your website, but low resolution is not good for printing. Set your camera to a high resolution. If you have to, buy a bigger memory card. It will be worth it when you capture that photo you just love — you’ll be able to do so much more with it. Go on, blow it up and turn it into a poster!

Marjolein Dartnall is a mother of two ad a photo enthusiast. Memories are precious and she uses funwithphotos.co.nz to store her memories online for easy sharing and creating fun products.