9. Buy a digital camera that allows you to save photos in a raw image file, rather than just a TIFF or JPG file. Raw files have a higher image quality and have no loss of data from file compression. You'll also be able to make more adjustments to a raw image file. The downside is the files are rather large.
10. Buy a good photo editing program. Software programs like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photo Elements or Corel Paint Shop Pro can help turn mediocre photos into beautiful works of art. These programs can help eliminate common photos flaws that will make you a better photographer and save you lots of time. Adobe Photoshop is a very complex and expensive program that is probably overkill for most amateur photographers to use. I'd recommend using Adobe Photoshop Elements.
11. Don't try following the fish with your camera as they swim. Instead, focus on a specific spot in the aquarium and wait for the fish to enter into your focus zone. Moving the camera back and forth might cause your photos to blur because of the movement.
12. Use a tripod to steady your camera. It might take awhile before you get your fish to pose for the camera. After awhile, fatigue might cause you to move while you snap photos. Movement can cause blurry picture results, especially if you are shooting with an ISO setting of 800 or higher.
13. Take photos of your fish in the late afternoon or evening right before their mealtime. The fish should be active and very vibrant at this time. In addition, they should be eager to come to the front of the tank knowing it's time for food.
14. Drop some food in the front of the tank to entice your fish to get closer to your camera. Your fish might get scared when they see you and the camera. So they'll probably try to hide in the back of the tank, making it hard to get a nice camera shot. Feed some live foods, like white worms or adult brine shrimp, and put a small amount in the front of the tank. Then start snapping photos as the fish move towards the front of the glass and start eating.
15. Use a special "photo tank" for taking pictures of your fish. Tall aquariums might not allow enough light to reach your fish which will result in a poor quality photo. Wide aquariums allow the fish to hide in the back, making it difficult for your digital camera to focus on them. You might have to use a separate tank that is shallow and narrow to get a nice photo of your fish.
16. Try to get as close to the aquarium glass as possible with your camera. It will be much easier for you to focus on the fish. If you're using a flash, don't shoot straight at the tank because you'll get a reflection of the flash in your photos. Try taking photos at an angle to reduce any flash bounce in your photos. You might want to use a rubber lens hood on your camera. This will allow you to press the camera right up to the glass to take photos and will help reduce glares from the flash on the glass.