Allowing the camera to auto-focus should be fine most of the time. However, in rare circumstances the camera focuses on the background instead of the object you're trying to capture. You can zoom in on the object or move the object away from the background.

Many cameras have a close-up or macro mode (often termed the 'flower' setting). Use this mode if your subject is less than 2 feet from the camera.

Shoot at the highest resolution possible so you have more flexibility when cropping the shot. We require you upload an image that is at least 800 x 600 pixels.

Set your ISO to the lowest possible number (ideally 50-200 ISO). The ISO setting adjusts the camera's sensitivity to light. The higher this setting, the grainier the photo will be.