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Camera-shake is responsible for spoiling countless photos, but there are a number of steps you can take to prevent it - or at least greatly reduce it.

Technically speaking, camera shake occurs when an exposure isn't quick enough to freeze the natural shake of your hands. The way to avoid it, therefore, is either to use a quicker exposure or reduce the amount of natural shake in the first place.

A basic rule that works for most people is to use a shutter speed that's one over the effective focal length. So if you're using an effective focal length of 30mm, for example, try and use a shutter speed of 1⁄30 or quicker. If you're zoomed in to an effective focal length of 100mm, go for a shutter speed of at least 1⁄100. Clearly the more powerful the lens, the quicker the shutter speed you'll need.

Digital SLR users should remember that most models effectively multiply their actual lens focal lengths by one and a half times, so a kit lens zoomed to 55mm is effectively working at 83mm, thereby requiring a shutter speed of at least 1⁄80.

Although a sufficiently fast shutter speed should eliminate any amount of camera shake, it's not always practical or possible to alter the shutter speed with the available light. By taking a little care with your camera technique, however, you can greatly reduce the amount of shake to start with.

It may sound obvious, but the first step is to hold your camera as steady as possible. Always use both hands, and if you're using a digital SLR, support the barrel of the lens with your left hand. Keeping your arms closer to your body will also reduce shake, and if there's a wall or post nearby, consider leaning on it. Pressing the shutter release button gently and breathing out as you do so can also make a big difference.

If the exposure is simply too long to hold in your hand without shaking, then consider balancing your camera on a ledge and using the self timer to take the shot.

Many cameras and lenses now feature image stabilisation to combat camera shake. The best models will feature special optics in the lens or a moving sensor to counteract any wobbles, and most should offer up to three 'stops' of compensation. Since one stop is equivalent to halving the exposure, three stops would halve it three times in a row. So if you could previously hand-hold at a shutter speed of 1⁄30 at a given focal length, you would now be able to get the same result at just one quarter of a second.

	1 To reduce camera shake, always use both hands to hold the camera.

	2 Some cameras offer built-in image stabilisation to reduce camera shake.