Home > Taking Photos > Basic Techniques > Holding a digitial camera
Holding a digitial camera
It's important how you hold a digital camera when taking photos. Holding it correctly can minimize or prevent camera shake and help ensure images are sharp and blur-free. Many consumer digital cameras are quite small. A small camera can be more challenging to hold steady than a larger one. And if you're not careful, your fingers can accidentally cover part of the lens or flash. Some digital cameras with large LCDs don't even have a viewfinder. A user of a LCD-only digital camera has no choice but to hold the camera at a distance when taking a hand-held shot. This increases the likelihood of camera shake particularly when lighting is poor, when using a long zoom lens or if your camera does not have image stabilization.
Ways to hold a camera steady
Practice holding your camera securely in your hands with fingers grasping both sides. This provides stability and helps prevent accidental dropping of the camera. When using the viewfinder, brace the camera firmly against your face. But prior to taking the first shot, make sure your fingers are not covering the lens. Whether using the viewfinder or the LCD, hold your elbows firmly against your body. The more you steady your arms, the less chance the camera will move. 
Lean against a wall or something similar to help keep a camera steady. When taking photos while standing, spread your legs slightly apart to improve the stability of your stance. Also take a deep breath and hold it in while pressing the shutter-release button. Another useful method to steady a digital camera is to hold it on a level, flat area as you frame and take the shot.
