The blazing red eyes, the blurs of kids moving at just the wrong second, the grainy look of photos taken when it’s still light out, but nearing dusk. Don’t those things drive you crazy? Taking better photographs can be easy with a few simple tips and tricks. Here’s what the experts have to say.

—Sarah W. Caron

1. Think ahead.

Before you start snapping photos, decide how you’ll be using them. For instance, if you’re publishing them on your blog or a social networking site, snap photos that are closely zoomed in on the subject. Also, consider how well they’ll display on a computer screen. If you’ll be printing the photos, it’s best to take your photos at the highest possible resolution, and you can include more context in the background.

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