s t r a y   f i n g e r s 

It's amazing how often people end up taking pictures of their own fingers. No matter how familiar you are with your camera, occasionally look to see how you're holding it. Make sure your finger is not over the lens. This is especially important for point-and-shoot cameras, because the viewfinder does not show you exactly what's happening through the lens.

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d a r k   s h a d o w s

Do your pictures show strange, dark shadows on your subject? Do their eyes look like little black holes? Chances are there was a light source behind or above your subject, but not in front. Remember to use your flash, even if it it's sunny.

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f l a w e d  c o m p o s i t i o n s

Do you occasionally chop off the top of someone's head in a picture, or if background objects appear to be "growing out of" your subject at funny angles? It pays to take a moment to truly compose your images. Before you snap the shutter, look carefully through the viewfinder and see what really will end up in the picture. Examine the background as well as the subject.

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