Common Digital Photography Mistakes

Now that the Christmas presents are unwrapped, there are probably plenty of new digital camera owners out there. While the technology makes photography easier than ever, new digital camera owners fall prey to several common mistakes.

First, it's always a good idea to read the instructions. Take the extra time to get familiar with the equipment and its operation before hastily snapping pictures. It will save a lot of trouble down the road.

Digital cameras make photos easier to share. Unfortunately, many new users don't realize the files can sometimes be way too large to email. It's important to properly size your photos before sending them.

Storing digital photographs is incredibly easy and efficient. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't have backups. Saving one copy on your computer and another on a portable flash drive is fine solution, or a copy can always be stored on an independent server for further protection.

Digital zoom is little more than a marketing gimmick. There's really no need to use it since digital photos are simple to enlarge and resample with editing software. Zooming in too close will only cause problems with focus and picture stability.

Some digital users will employ JPEG compression to reduce images and increase storage space on the camera's memory card. That's not always a good idea. Using too much compression can damage them beyond repair, making it impossible to resample or edit the image. Another common space-saving device is to use low resolution. It's best to use the highest resolution possible without any compression. You're capturing memories to last a lifetime. There's no reason to cut corners.

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