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.

So how do you begin to take good photos? Well, the first thing to remember is this: It's the photographer that takes great photos, not the camera. Think about that for a minute. It's true isn't it? I've seen some people take great photos with a simple point-and-shoot camera, while some take lousy shots with the most expensive SLR.

Take the time to read over these tips on taking digital photos and incorporate them the next time you have the opportunity. In no time at all, you can be an expert.

1. Know Your Camera Does this sound familiar? You buy the latest digital camera out there, come home, rip off the box, then proceed to fiddle with the device. You briefly flick through the hundred page camera manual and then never look at it again. Not a good idea! If you buy a digital camera, you owe it to yourself to understand its ins and outs. Learn how to control exposure, how to use different camera modes and how to use the flash. The knowledge you gain about the camera will be invaluable when you're out in the field taking those special photos.

2. Controlling the Flash One of the most imperative things you need to be familiar with in digital photography is how to control the flash. Don't fall in to the habit of always relying on the built in automatic flash on your digital camera. In many instances, you might need to turn the flash off or on.

An example of manually controlling the flash can be found when photographing outdoors. It is helpful to actually turn on the flash in order to illuminate the photo subject, especially if in the shade. The reverse idea would be to turn the camera flash off while indoors to eliminate potentially unnatural skin color and harsh glare that can occur in your photo.

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 Holding the camera level is a basic rule in photography. As most digital cameras come with a LCD, you can make use of this to correctly frame your shots. Next time you're taking a photo, try to find the horizontal lines and use them as guides. One example would be to make use of the horizon while taking a photo of a sunset.

5. Using a Tripod I would recommend this to all photographers of any level. You will find camera tripods an invaluable tool in your photography cache. When do you need a tripod you might ask? It becomes useful when taking a shot in low-light conditions or when your subject includes fast moving objects. I use a tripod while taking pictures of city streets at night to capture all of the elements. You don't have to invest in the largest or heaviest tripod for personal use. Choose a tripod that is compact and easy to carry with you.

6. Experiment with the ISO Setting I have found the ISO setting in digital cameras very helpful. The ISO setting of a camera essentially controls the camera's sensitivity to light. Use a low ISO setting if you're taking a photo of a still object, like a flower. This allows for a longer shutter speed and creates a cleaner image. A higher ISO setting of about 400 would be appropriate while taking a photo of a moving subject such as a baby in a swing. Keep in mind that a higher ISO setting results in a faster shutter speed and needs less light

7. Memory Capacity Needed While traditional cameras need film, your digital camera needs memory to store the photos you take. Just imagine being on that perfect vacation only to discover that your memory card in your camera is full. Some guidelines for digital camera memory are helpful:

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

Final Note I know that's quite a bit of information to throw out at you, but I hope I've been able to provide some good tips on shooting great digital photos. A great photo begins with a skilled and knowledgeable photographer no matter what features your camera might offer. Using the above tips in your photography will help you to be picture perfect every time.