Try to ensure that the pictures you are taking are really sharp. Everything may look sharp and in focus when you first look at the display on your camera, but this display is small and often difficult to judge.

Use the display to zoom in on a picture to check for sharpness. On the back of your camera there will be a zoom button that will enable you to zoom in close and see if the picture you have just taken really is in focus. There is nothing worse than putting your pictures on the computer monitor to find they are completely out of focus and usually no amount of image manipulation will cure it. Remember - do not shoot photographs and assume that any faults can be corrected in photoshop/elements or whatever image manipulation programme you use.

GET IT RIGHT FIRST TIME. Then you will be tweaking the image to bring out its best potential (if it is necessary) not to try to restore blown highlights or dark areas.