1. Take a class. Yes, we just said you don't want to go to school to learn. But, we aren't talking about a lot of classes, just one or two. This will help you learn about exposures, lighting, horizontal lines, flashes…. You get idea. Most community colleges offer these types of classes to public.

2. Get right kind of camera for what you plan to use it for. Even simplest pictures of your kids can look great if you know what you're doing with your camera. Don't buy something that is too high tech for you or something that is too simple either.

3. Know about white balance. Balancing amount of white in a picture can create warmth in your pictures. How does your camera do this? Did you read manual yet?

1. Know your budget. Yes, you have to do number crunching this time. No sense in getting your hopes up for a high powered digital camera you can't afford. Do not be afraid to tell salesman straight away what your budget is either. Don't waste your time looking for cameras that don't fit this budget.

2. Know what you want to use camera for. Is this for a professional or to take pictures of your kids? Will it be used mostly indoors, outdoors, or both? Knowing this information can help narrow down your search as well.

3. Needs versus desires. Okay so just about everyone wants digital camera that is loaded with features and added bonuses. But, is it really what you need? Cutting down all these extras will help you cut extra costs as well. But, don't skimp either. Take some time to check out several of available digital cameras in your price range. Know what to expect for your money.

4. Do your research. Trust me, once you walk into that saleroom, chances are you are going to want to lay your hands on a camera and leave with it. But, this is not a smart choice. You need to either decide not to do this until you have checked out several places or you can do smarter thing. That is doing your research online from home, far away from store itself. Just keep going from site to site to determine what are basic cameras available in your price range. Who is offering most bang for your buck?