I found on my camera there are a bunch of different settings, but I prefer to use the "closeup" setting with no flash. The flash always washes out the colors, and it ruins the realistic effect I'm trying to get. If all your shots look like "dawn" or "dusk" that's okay as you learn the ropes with the picture taking thingy ma bob!
(your camera)
Don't just go to the "automatic" setting, get right up to your subject, just make sure you have the ambient lighting to keep the shot from being too dark. If you can't seem to get enough light onto the subject, try the manual settings to keep the "shutter" open longer to let in more light. If you're holding the camera, then set it against something while you do it so your pictures don't come out blurred.
On the pic I got on the front page of this site last month, I turned off the fluorescent lighting in the room and used a 300 watt halogen work light and bounced it off the ceiling so I could get a warmer color and have it look like it came from above.
These are just a few little things I've picked up over time that seem to work for me. If you keep trying, the quality of your pictures will begin to catch up with your RR modeling skills. Then you'll be kicking all of our butts on the monthly photo shoot!!
