Professional photography. Heavy bags filled with lenses, tripods and spent film canisters. Light meters, measuring tape and time wasted whilst the film reveals its secrets in the developing lab.

Digital photography has rewritten the rulebook. You'll need a quality lens, variable aperture and good pixel rate, and the ability to tell great stories with a single image. With an Nseries device you get all these features in one stylish package. Now learn how to develop your instinct for the perfect shot, just like a pro.

Composition means more than getting your subject somewhere in the frame

You want to shoot a skater performing a killer trick outside the Modern Art Museum in Barcelona. As he kicks into the air you want the viewer to really feel the height of the move. Think about where you place yourself - lower will exaggerate height - and subject against the background, the urban environment the skater is performing against. Each tells an important part of the story. And don't be afraid of 'empty' space. Use your camera’s features to help you here. For example; the wide-angle optics feature in your Nseries gives a wider frame and more space to play with. Remember, your audience will feel closer to your story if you place the subject in contextual proportion to its surroundings.

Find the moment

Think about your viewer. Tell them the story you see in the scene you want to capture. Is it the skill of the skater or the harshness of the concrete landscape? Each deserves a very different shot. With a lightweight digital device you can move quickly around a scene and shoot every moment as it happens.

Light changes everything

Light is a powerful emotive tool and probably the biggest difference between pro and amateur photography. Light offers flair and shadow, silhouettes and focal points, all of which create strong moods and emotions within an image. Subjects can be sinister or playful, depending on how we use the clear and restricted daylight in the scene. Here, a flash can either be a great tool for controlling light or a simply wash everything in the same white glare. The Nseries gives you adjustable exposure and white balance, which will give more accurate colour reproduction in different types of light. Also a built-in flash gives you options, whether you are shooting indoors or outside in bright sunshine.

Shoot for purpose

How do you want to use this image? A poster or a postage stamp? Your answer should tell you a lot about how you should shoot it. Wide frames with multiple subjects lose their meaning at smaller sizes. Want to shoot an image for a small format in your blog? Pick one key element or part of the subject and reduce the space around this focal point.

Making colour jump

Without colour or tone, images look flat and boring. Do you want to simply record a scene or truly capture the emotion in an unrepeatable moment? Find a strong colour or tone in your subject – an object or piece of clothing - and make that your focus. Draw the viewer’s eye in to the image with movement or blur around this central focal point. Use the variable colour mode features in your Nseries device to give you an extra advantage.

Tell the truth

The biggest missed opportunity in any photograph is the truth. The honest story behind the image. Many photographers forget that they are telling a story about someone or something else, not themselves. You are the storyteller, not the star. With an Nseries device in your pocket you can tell your unique stories in your own style and share them with the world - or just your friends - instantly via Ovi.

So, the next time you want to take a shot keep these simple insights in mind. But don't think too much! The most important thing is to just enjoy yourself. Digital photography gives you the freedom to experiment so keep shooting until you find that perfect shot.

See the Nokia N86 8MP