If your images always turn out all blurry, it may mean your lens needs a clean. Most high end cameras come with threads to which you can attach an UltraViolet (UV) filter. This helps to protect the lens from not only dirt, but scratches. Cheaper cameras don’t have threads so remember to cover the lens when not in use and try not to touch it.

Don’t clean the lens too often - depending on how often you use your camera, every few weeks or few months is fine. To clean your lens, pick up a lens cleaning kit from your local photo store. Use the lens brush and air blower to remove any loose clinging particles. Place a drop of lens cleaning fluid onto some lens tissue (or a cloth) and wipe the lens clean with a circular motion. Use the blower to dry the lens, or let it dry naturally. Don’t use any abrasive solution (such as soap) or wipe too hard on the lens as you can wipe away the special coatings.

Watch out you don’t create a ‘worn spot’ by cleaning your lens the same way each time. Alternate the circular motion with up and down or sideways movements sometimes.

If you can change the lenses on your camera, ensure your camera is off when changing over lenses, and you are in a low dust environment. If dust gets on the ‘image sensor’ of your camera, it will show in all your images. While you can clean the image sensor yourself, I recommend you take your camera into a photo store to be professionally cleaned.

Ensure you protect the other parts of your camera as well. Particularly the Memory Card slot and Battery contacts. Never ever insert anything into the memory card slot that isn’t meant to be there, as you could break the small pins. To keep clean, it’s best to leave a memory card in the slot, or at least keep the cover closed.

Learn amazing photography secrets that the gurus won't tell you with my "Digital Photography Secrets" book.

Next Time : I'll show you how small changes in your technique can dramatically change your photos. And it's really simple to do!