Some simple steps can dramatically improve your photographs.
This is especially so with compact automatic cameras and cheaper non-automatic cameras.

These are the TOP TEN problems we see with customers photos :-

Fogged film -
Rewind the film before opening the camera back, as light fogging will ruin part or all of the film. Ensure film is rewound completely inside the canister, to avoid the possibility of re-using the film, causing double exposures.

Too close to subject -
Lenses on ALL cameras have a minimum shooting distance. This is regardless of whether it is an automatic focus lens or a fixed focus lens. If you are too close to the subject, the photos will be out of focus, and blurred. (check your manual for specific distances)

Finger over lens or flash -
Check the position of your fingers when holding the camera. If it is near the lens, the dreaded finger will appear in your photos. If it covers the flash, the subject will be left in a shadow.

Look after your camera -
A dirty lens will produce indistinct images, or show spots on the prints. Clean the lens periodically, preferably with an accessory lens cleaning kit. When changing films, inspect inside the camera. Clean the back of the lens, and check for dust or fluff around the film area.
Avoid leaving your camera and film in the sun, and in other hot areas, especially in cars. Heat will affect film severely.

Too far away for flash -
A built-in flash unit only has a limited range, usually only 3 to 5 metres. Doubling the distance will diminish the power of the flash by a factor of four times. Check your manual carefully for the maximum useful distance. Switch the flash off when photographing distant scenes as it only wastes your batteries.

Shooting into sun or bright light -
Automatic exposure cameras will be fooled by bright light in the background, either the sun, bright sky, a light, or window light. This causes the subject in your photo to be underexposed, and appear too dark. If you can't avoid the background, use flash to brighten the subject. Another problem with bright backgrounds is lens flare, where streaks of light will affect the image. This is more likely on lower quality cameras.

Care with composition -
We have all seen photos where trees and power poles appear to be growing from peoples heads, or a rubbish bin appears conspicuously in the photo. Spend a few seconds scanning the scene for any undesirable objects. Some simple re-positioning will dramatically improve your picture.
Remember that reflective surfaces, such as windows and mirrors in the background will reflect light. If using a flash, the reflections can overwhelm the picture. Position yourself at an angle to the glass. It will make a huge difference.

Sunlight on faces -
Avoid bright sun on faces, as it will cause people to squint, which doesn't look too good in photos. Overhead sunlight will cause dark shadows under eye sockets, noses and chins. If possible, turn your subjects face away from the sun for a more pleasing effect. Also avoid situations where faces are in half sunlight, and half shade, as the contrast difference will be severe.

Keep film in plastic canisters & avoid dust -
Look after your film carefully, even after it has been exposed. Dust particles in the felt light traps on the film canisters will scratch the film surface. Always store film in their plastic containers.

Camera movement -
Camera movement during exposure will result in blurred photos. For best results, take a breath, relax, and hold the camera steady. Squeezing the shutter button gently, rather than pressing it hard, will reduce movement. In low light, which necessitates a slower shutter speed, a tripod is recommended. Cameras with zoom lenses are very susceptible to camera shake. As the power of the lens increases, any camera movement is multiplied in proportion. Choose a suitably fast shutter speed for best results. Or if using an automatic camera, use a film with a faster film speed, such as Kodak Max 400, instead of normal 100 or 200 speed film.