10 Essential Tips for Better Photos

1. Make sure the film you are using is fresh and stays fresh. Old film and leaving your camera in the heat of the sun or in the glove box of your car will affect the colours.

2. When photographing people get in close. Standing too far back ruins many shots.

3. Don't forget that almost certainly batteries are somewhere in your camera. These should be checked every year. If you are storing your camera away for a while, remove the batteries so that they don't leak and damage the camera's internal workings.

4. The most common cause of bad photos is camera shake. Hold that camera steady at the moment of exposure.

5. The position of the sun is important. Don't take pictures of people directly into the light unless you are after a silhouette. If you do take pictures of people with the sun in front of you, get in close and turn your flash on.

6. Look into the viewfinder carefully before you press the shutter. Checking the framing and positioning only takes a few seconds and your efforts will be more than justified by the finished results.

7. Watch the backgrounds. Plain and simple are the best for taking pictures of people.

8. Like bread, film can go stale. Process your film soon after you have finished the roll.

9. When you finish a film, buy another so that you are ready for the next photo opportunity.

10. Carry your camera. They are so small and light these days that there is almost no excuse for leaving it home. Then you might never have to say: "If only I had a camera!"

The material in this brochure is the copyright of Paul Curtis and the Photographic Imaging Council but can be freely used with accreditation in all media.