If you are finding that you are getting out of focus photos, it may be due to camera shake. There are a couple of remedies you can try – the obvious one is to use a tripod, but this isn’t always easy as you don’t always carry a tripod where ever you go. A trick I use is to lean on an object, for instance a wall, lay on the floor and lean on my elbows, or even lean your arm on a person to steady the camera.
If you have a higher-end digital camera, you will find that they have auto focus, which automatically focuses the camera at your subject's distance. This is very handy as the camera will allow for various light conditions, and even compensate for camera shake.
If you are really into photography you may have a digital camera, which not only has auto focus but manual focus too, which will override the auto focus so that you can focus on the subject yourself. This will also allow you to set the exposure a few stops brighter or darker.
Using a Flash
Most digital cameras come with a built-in flash. Basic flash modes should include automatic (senses when to use the flash according to lighting conditions), on (for all photos), and off. Some cameras include additional features, such as red-eye reduction. Red-eye reduction is ideal for photographing animals - it fires a series of short flashes before the final flash and exposure, making your subjects' pupils contract and preventing them from having glowing red eyes in the final photo.
I have a few examples below of focused and unfocused horses with dark fur and how to remedy the problems.
