You won't always be able to get the shots you want under perfect conditions. You could find your kids being particularly sweet to each other in the darkest corner of the house. Or some of the bulbs might be burned out in the kitchen while your mother is preparing her signature apple pie. Perhaps you want to document your cat's habit of hiding under the bed during thunderstorms. All of these situations present lighting challenges that you can address with your camera's flash feature.
First, remember that the flash has a range. It won't do you any good to take pictures of your son running across the soccer field, 50 yards away. You'll have to check your camera's own flash feature for the particulars, but I know that my own camera (a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S40) has a flash range of about 8 inches to about 12 1/2 feet. For anything further than that, you'll need to use other photography tricks (like reflecting light) that are beyond the scope of a beginner's scrapbooking class.
Flash is most effective when a subject is in shadow, or is backlit. Backlighting causes the face of a subject (or that part nearest the camera) to be cast in shadow, making it hard to see. If you have time, take lots of pictures, varying the flash settings, to see which shots are best when you view the pictures on your computer later.
Most of the newer digital camera's are equipped with a slower shutter option. This lets you clearly shoot the background when it is out of flash light. I have never had good results with this option, though - I find it always results in blurry, streaked pictures. If you want to do an "artsy" page with intenionally-blurred photos (documenting your dog's fidgety nature, for example, or your niece's cartwheels), go ahead and try experimenting with it. I do recommend you use a tripod for this option, however.
The most forgiving natural light is that just before dusk, when the sun is casting long, warm rays over everything. Try taking lots of outdoor pictures on a cloud-free day, just before the sun goes down and see if you don't like the pictures better.
It is very difficult to get good pictures in low light while holding your camera in your hand. Use a tripod or, if you don't have one handy, set it on something stable like a windowsill or a shelf. This can avoid blurry, shaky pictures.
Finally, read your camera's manual. If you threw it out, try finding it online - lots of manufacturers have their manuals available for download. Read it thoroughly, to find out what special features your camera offers. My own camera offers pre-set options for (among other things) candlelit scenes and photographing snow scenes. Let your camera do the grunt work!
Read your camera manual! Have a practice photo shoot - or several! - using different flash and lighting options. Keep notes of what you've tried, to see which produces the best results for your specific camera.
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