Do you have trouble shooting good digital photos? Perhaps you've been taking digital photos for some time, but never really got the beautiful shots you wanted. Maybe you somehow messed up the photos you took of important events, like your daughter's birthday or your trip to Paris. You can imagine the frustration one feels when photos of memorable events turn out ugly.

That bring us to the question of how do you exactly take a great photo? While there is a bit of trial and error involved, there is a simple answer. A great photo begins with you and then extends through the camera. Think about it, every shot begins in your mine, not the camera lens. A super photo can be captured by the most basic point-and-click camera just as easy as the most expensive SLR.

Take the opportunity to check out these simple tips on shooting digital photos and use them the next time you pick up your camera. With these in mind, you will be successful in all of the photos you take!

1. Get to Know Your Camera You know how this story goes. You rush out and buy the latest and greatest gadget on the market only to take it home and rip it out of the packaging only to throw aside the instruction manual. Not a good idea with your digital camera. You owe it to yourself to take the time learning about your camera's features. Knowing how to control even what you may consider the basics, such as controlling the exposure or even the flash are always important. What you learn will prove to be priceless when actually taking your photos.

2. Learn to Control the Flash One of the most important things you need to know about digital photography is to control the flash. Personally, I hate to rely on the automatic flash that comes with the digital camera. Depending on the situation, you need to switch off or switch on the flash.

For example, when taking outdoor photos, it is sometimes good to turn on the flash to illuminate the subject, especially if he or she is in the shade. On the other hand, you can also choose to turn off the flash when taking indoor shots. Sometimes, using the flash indoors will result in unnatural skin color and harsh glare in your photos.

3. Using Macro Mode Most digital cameras now come equipped with a macro mode. This is an ideal setting for shooting close up photos of objects like insects or flowers. Depending on your model camera, it can have different symbols. My Canon PowerShot symbol is a flower. Turn your camera to macro mode and get as close as possible to your chosen subject. Make sure you allow the camera to focus correctly before depressing the shutter button completely.

4. Hold the Camera Level One of the most basic photography rules is to hold the camera level. Most digital cameras come with an LCD that can be used to accurately frame your shots. Utilize the horizontal lines as guides next time you are behind the lens. One such case is making use of the horizon when taking a photo of the sunrise.

5. Use The Tripod I recommend this tip to all budding photographers - camera tripods are an essential tool in your photography arsenal. When will you need a tripod? Well, it's useful if you're taking shots under low-light conditions or trying to capture fast moving objects. I like to use a tripod when taking night shots city streets, for example. Always try to look for a tripod that's convenient to carry around. For personal use, you don't need a huge one - just a simple compact one that's easy to pack.

6. Know the ISO Settings I have found the ISO setting in my digital camera to be very useful. The ISO setting on a camera basically controls light sensitivity. When taking a photo of an object that is still such as a flower vase, always use a low ISO setting to allow for a longer shutter speed and sharper image results. On the other hand, use a higher ISO setting for moving objects. A picture of children playing would need an ISO setting of about 400 for optimal results. Keep in mind though that a higher ISO setting allows for a faster shutter speed and needs less light.

7. Make Sure to Have Enough Memory Capacity Although with digital cameras you don't have to worry about extra rolls of film, the pictures you take still have to be stored somewhere. Make certain that you have enough memory capacity in your digital camera available to you. Nothing is worse than discovering you are out of memory space only halfway through an important event. Here are some basic guidelines for digital memory storage.

2 megapixel cameras - requires at least a 64MB card 3 megapixel camera - requires at least a 128MB card 4 megapixel camera - requires at least a 256MB card 5 megapixel camera and above - requires at least a 512MB or 1GB card

Wrapping Things Up While it seems like a lot of information to learn, they are all pretty simple with just a little practice. I hope these tips help you to produce the best digital photos possible. Even though the camera plays an important role in your photography, remember that your role as the photographer is the most important of all. Utilize the features that your digital camera offers to make the most of every picture and with incorporating the above tips, you will be shooting photos like a pro in no time!