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"   Whether you&amp;#039;re looking to capture memories of an end-of-summer vacation or snap a pic of your little one&amp;#039;s first day of school, you can&amp;#039;t afford not to get the best shot. Avoid these common mistakes \u2014 and follow our top insider tips to make sure you take the perfect picture every time!   Ignoring the manual. I know, it&amp;#039;s not the most interesting read, but your camera&amp;#039;s guide is chock-full of useful information on your model&amp;#039;s special modes and capabilities.  Not familiarizing yourself with your camera. Sure, they&amp;#039;re called point-and-shoots for a reason, but take some time to play with it before every shot counts. This way, you can figure out what mode works best in each setting, how to adjust it on the fly, and how to get the exact shot you want instead of fumbling with your camera when it really matters.  Zooming all the way in. Your camera may offer a powerful digital zoom, but that doesn&amp;#039;t mean you want to use it. It&amp;#039;ll make your pictures come out grainy looking; it&amp;#039;s much better to use the optical zoom and then crop pictures closer on your computer.  Not carrying enough memory. You don&amp;#039;t want to have to spend time scrolling through your photos and deleting ones you don&amp;#039;t want while the action is unfolding in front of you. Extra memory cards won&amp;#039;t cost you much and they&amp;#039;re compact enough to slide into your camera case, so why not pick up one for peace of mind if nothing else?  Relying on your not-so-steady hand for low-light shots. Sometimes flash photos are unavoidable, but images will generally look better without it. In dark situations, use a tripod if you have one, or lean your camera on something still like a shelf or windowsill.  Not paying attention to the composition. Take some time to compose your photo if you can. Get as close to your subject as possible before relying on your zoom, make sure your subject&amp;#039;s feet are in the picture if it&amp;#039;s a full-body shot, and follow the rule of thirds for more visual interest.  Looking to pick up a new model? Be sure to check our top picks for digital cameras and read our ultimate vacation photo guide for more great advice. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/institute/a24774/digital-camera-mistakes/>