8. ZOOM WITH DISCRETION

Using the zoom feature when you shoot can be pretty tantalizing, but remember: the more you zoom in, the shakier your picture gets, and the action of zooming in and out can make viewers motion sick (too much, in fact, is called "motorzooming"). One solution is to get physically closer to your subject and not use the zoom. Another is to use the feature sparingly and do it slowly. "You can get nice and close without being obtrusive when you zoom a bit," says Lembeck. "You can get in there without spoiling the moment."

9. APPLY THE FINISHING TOUCH

Many new home computers come with easy-to-use video editing software that lets you turn the roughest digital footage into Oscar-worthy material. It's especially good for cutting down long, drawn-out scenes and focusing on the most entertaining moments.

You can also:
Create title and credit frames
Add transitions
Overlay sound tracks
Change the order of scenes

For the most watchable results, though, resist the temptation to use every special-effect transition in the book; the best ones are usually subtle. You want your viewers to focus on the subject matter, not the software wizardry. (For other tips on editing home videos, check out videomaker.com.)

10. SHARE YOUR MOVIES

In addition to making copies of your movies on DVDs and sending them to friends and family, a great way to share videos is by posting compressed clips on the Web. A number of sites now offer video sharing. Some, like YouTube (youtube.com), are free, but have ads. Others, like Phanfare (phanfare.com), charge a fee ($7 per month/$55 per year) but have a more family-friendly interface and feel. Phanfare also lets you upload still pictures.

Technology buff and writer Gregory Lauzon lives in Deerfield, Massachusetts.