Get closer. Often the key to giving a photo pizzazz is to move in and capture the details of your subject, leaving out extraneous things in the background.

When you’re photographing people, have patience. Let people get used to you before shooting pictures.

Before you shoot, frame the background first through the viewfinder. Make sure the corners and edges of the photo frame are interesting, not just the center. Find interesting and complementary shapes along the edges to keep the shot from looking either dull or too cluttered. Once you frame the background, then place the subject.

Avoid the “jungle effect.” This happens when surrounding shapes and colors compete for attention with the subjects of the photo. One trick is to leave the background out of focus by staying close to the subject and moving them forward, away from walls or other distracting backgrounds.

Don’t use flash if you can avoid it. The light looks unnatural and washes out colors and facial features. If you’re using film, try 800-speed films, which are widely available and allow you to take sharp indoor photos without a flash.

Avoid outdoor shots in broad daylight. Instead try capturing your subject in the rich tones and long shadows at sunrise and sunset. If you must shoot during the day, move your subject into a shaded area out of direct sunlight.

Try more night pictures. Nighttime offers interesting shadows and light for taking unique shots. At night you can use flash, a street lamp or even holiday lights if they’re bright enough. In low light you can use a tripod to allow longer exposure.

For more interesting shots, don’t insist on having people pose. Instead, capture them in the middle of an activity so the photo says something about their personalities or interests.

One main advantage of digital photography is you can see the results immediately. The disadvantage is, for the more inexpensive cameras, there’s a time delay between pressing the shutter and when the actual picture is taken. One solution is to see whether your digital camera can prefocus by pressing the shutter halfway before you take the shot. Prefocusing can cut the time it takes to shoot the picture because the lens is already in position. Source: www.sfsu.edu