When digital cameras first hit the market, we thought suddenly everyone would be a professional photographer. But it turns out there is a lot more to high quality photography than lots of megapixels and a giant memory card (although those help). Even with the best digital cameras in the world, a little human know-how will go a long way in taking those digital camera photos from good to great. These tips cover everything from composition to photo editing—so you can finally get the most out of that camera.

1. One of the hidden secrets of professional digital photography is a subtle warm tone that makes everything in the photo look vibrant and bright. The warmth of your photos is determined by the white balance, which for most digital cameras is set on the “auto” function. This auto function creates the “coolness” in your photos, but you can change it easily by adjusting the white balance, if your camera has that function. If not, adjust the setting from “auto” to “cloudy”, even when shooting on a sunny day. The cloudy setting puts a mild warming filter, enhancing red and yellow tones, which creates richer, warmer photos.

2. For stunning, award-worthy photos, get to know your macro mode. When you get close to your subject, whether it is a butterfly or a diamond ring, macro mode helps you capture the details of a delicate subject, and give an everyday object new fascination. Nature shots look different, and more compelling, in macro setting. On digital cameras, macro mode is usually labeled as “close up”, “macro” or has a flower icon. Once you turn it on, get as close to your subject as you can, then hold down the shutter halfway to let the camera focus. Once the confirmation light flashes, press the shutter down the rest of the way to take the photo. The macro setting, when used without the flash, takes great photos of diamonds and other hard-to-capture small subjects.

3. No matter how steady you think your hands are, using a tripod will enhance the stability and clarity of your photos. But of course, tripods are big and bulky and you probably don’t want to carry one around while waiting for the perfect shot. Fortunately, there are some small, flexible tripods that allow you mount and set a camera anywhere, and take crystal clear photos. The UltraPod is one compact tripod you can stash in your camera bag and use to steady your camera by setting in on any flat surface, wherever you are. If you don’t have a tripod, try setting your camera on a stool or an elevated flat surface, or at least brace your hands on a table.

4. Shutter lag, the time it takes from when you click the shutter until the photo is captured, can make you miss many great shots while your camera slowly focuses and snaps the photo. Especially in cheaper or older digital cameras, shutter lag can be the number one factor standing between you and professional-looking photos. By half-pressing the shutter button before you take the photo, allow the camera to prefocus and eliminate shutter lag. Aim the camera, press the shutter halfway down, and wait for the beep or flash that tells you the pre-focus is ready. When the subject is ready, press the shutter all the way down for a perfect, instant photo.

5. Use the flash outdoors, but not indoors. It sounds counter-intuitive, but using the flash when taking outdoor portraits can enhance the quality of your photos. When you take photos outside, your camera reads the scene and decides that you don’t need the flash, but if the face you’re photographing is in shadow, which means your photo will have a dark, silhouetted face. Forcing the flash on floods the photo with light, illuminating the subject with flattering front light and brightening the photo without affecting the exposure. Turning the flash off when taking photos indoors can eliminate glare and help bring out the natural warm tones in your subject.

6. Spend a little more time on composition, and you’ll be rewarded with a photo that has that professional vibe. Try to create balance and visual interest in your photos, by leading the eye along strong lines and moving the subject slightly off-center in the photo. If you are taking a series of photos, vary the setup and composition for a more visually appealing look. Imagine your photo as having a grid with a center square—the primary subjects should appear at the corners of the center square. Keep the horizon level, but play with perspective so that the photo has lines leading towards your primary subject.

7. Be bold. A good photograph comes from a photographer who isn’t afraid to go the extra mile to find the unique moment, the perfect arrangement, or the unexpected situation. Don’t be afraid to go up to someone and introduce yourself as a photographer and ask to take their picture; most people will be flattered! Offer to email them the photo or even send them a print if they are concerned about being portrayed in a negative light. When taking photos of animals, especially in the wild, use a big enough zoom that you can stay back while still capturing the animals in their natural habitat.

8. Don’t ask people to “say cheese”. Forced, unnatural smiles don’t look good on anyone, and most people look their best when smiling naturally. To get your audience’s attention, call out only at the last minute and say something funny to put everyone at ease and get them smiling. Try a few jokes, and if you are photographing at a celebration like a wedding, remind everyone about the happiness of the occasion to get genuine, happy smiles that will look good on camera.

9. You know you can use your camera in the landscape and portrait positions, but most of us get used to holding it in the landscape, or horizontal position. That makes our photos look boring and repetitive, and forces us to miss out on the unique perspective that the portrait mode can capture. Try taking the same photo from both angles and learn when it is appropriate or preferable to use the portrait mode. Portrait mode is good for portraits, of course, but also for action shots, nature shots, and all kinds of close-ups.

10. The automatic camera, with its auto-focus, auto-exposure and auto-flash, allows amateurs to take great photos without knowing anything about how a camera works. But for even better, professional-looking photos, it’s worth learning about things like exposure and flash and switching the camera to manual settings once you know how to use them. Digital cameras often overuse the flash, resulting in flat, over-illuminated scenes. Try turning the flash off and using a longer exposure time for interior shots full of rich, saturated colors. Play with the shutter speed for artistic nature photography or lightning-quick action photos. The more you know, the more control you have over your photographs.

Article written by Whiteflash.com.