There it is, the digital camera that you received for Christmas, sitting quietly inside it’s box waiting for you to open it. The only problem is you don’t know how to operate it, don’t have a clue what to do with all that extra photography equipment. What is a USB cord, a camera dock and the list goes on and on with no end in sight. Well, don’t lose hope; grab the owner’s manuals, sit down with camera in hand and jump right in. Asking Santa for a digital camera was the best decision you have made in a long time.

Move over 35 mm, There is a New Camera in Town

The digital camera has taken the consumer photography market by storm over the last sixteen years. The largest reason for their instant success is how easy the cameras are to use, how quickly the photographs can be viewed, printed and enjoyed and how quickly most digital camera convert from still image camera to movie camera with sound and motion. The convenience of a digital camera is most obvious when taking a special photo and you discover that someone had his or her eyes closed. A push of the button, the photo is deleted and you grab another shot before the moment is lost. Another important fact about digital cameras is that nearly all photography needs can be done at home with a few extra pieces of photography equipment to supplement your home computer.

You’ve Got the Camera and the Photography Equipment, Now What?

Photos can be saved to the camera card, downloaded to a computer, emailed to friends and family or printed at home. Gone are the days of multiple lens, extra rolls of films and huge photography equipment bags dragging around your shoulder. These days, all that photography equipment plus a whole lot more are tucked inside a tiny machine that fits into the palm of your hand.

Since Santa already brought you the camera, make sure that the extra photography equipment made it into your stocking as well. You will need a memory/camera card that will hold all the wonderful family portraits you will be taking; some home over 600 pictures on one card. It is also necessary to have printing materials so that you can print pictures right at home on your own computer. In addition you will need batteries, lots of batteries or purchase recharchable ones, as digital camera use a lot of power and you don’t want to lose a special moment due to dead batteries. Don’t forget to purchase a quality camera case; remember to keep it small enough to keep it convenient yet sturdy enough to protect your investment. Now, go out and capture those magic moments.