Determine the Subject
Who or what are you photographing: your four friends—or your four friends, the two neighboring tables, and the waiter. Too many elements in your picture make it confusing. To avoid this, eliminate unimportant elements by moving in closer, zooming in, or changing your shooting angle.

Move in Closer
Fill the camera's viewfinder with your subject for greater impact. Step in close or zoom in to emphasize what is important and exclude the rest.

Change Your Shooting Angle
Place your subject to one side of the photo for a more interesting composition. Create intimate pictures by getting down (or up) on your subject's eye level. Change your position to emphasize or exaggerate how big or small your subject is.

Use a Plain Background
A plain background allows the subject to stand out. Look through the viewfinder and study the area surrounding your subject-make sure no poles (or other objects) grow from the head or body.

Use Flash
Bright sun creates unattractive facial shadows. To eliminate these shadows use your flash to lighten the face.

In dim light, stay within your flash's range-about five steps away. Anything outside your flash's range will be very dark.

Prevent red eye by turning on the "red-eye reduction" feature. If you don't have this feature have your subject look at your shoulder rather than directly at the camera. Turning on all the room's lights also helps.