Owners enjoy taking pictures of their homes for all sorts of reasons. To take the best pictures, photographer Stephen Young says: "Ask yourself why you're shooting your house.... You need to understand what you're trying to accomplish, before you start snapping." (His website: think still.com .)

Young works for many of Charlotte's top builders, designers and architects. You've probably seen his work in the Observer and other area publications.

So I asked him whether he'd share some tips. Here's a baker's dozen:

When selecting a camera, be more concerned about the quality and range of the lens than about megapixels. "Yes, in most cases, more megapixels create images of higher resolution - but not necessarily better-looking photos." Most of today's digital cameras have enough megapixels to let you print images up to 8-by-10 inches and larger.

Selecting a pocket camera with a wide-angle lens will allow you to capture images that more closely resemble what you see with your eyes. Look for a camera that has a 28mm or even a 25mm lens. The wider the better.

Outdoors, step back and then zoom in with the lens. That will minimize distortion. "It's always better to get as close to your subject as possible with the lens." (The emphasis is his.)

Use a tripod when possible. "It really does make a difference in the images."

"Go one step further and set the camera's self-timer to take the shot after a couple of seconds, so you're not seeing the effect of vibration caused by pressing the shutter button."

"Shooting uphill or downhill will result in distortion." If you're not going to correct the inevitable distortion with photo-editing software, it's best to be level with the subject.

Young didn't suggest this trick, but I learned it by watching the Observer's intrepid photographers: If your house is on a slight rise, park your car on the street - and then climb onto the car roof with your camera and tripod.

What's the best time of day to shoot an exterior? Young explained it this way: "My order of preference for shooting exteriors is: 1. Overcast. 2. Late afternoon. 3. Full shade. 4. Sun at back." Avoid a scene with a combination of very dark areas and very light areas.

Cloudy days make shooting interiors easier, too. "Turn on overhead lights (and don't shoot the ceiling), or point supplemental lights to the ceiling to give a soft lighting effect. Lower all table lamps to 15 watts or less. Use dimmers on chandeliers."

"Angles are always more interesting than straight-on shots - unless shooting flat art such as a painting or drawing." So, for instance, stand in a corner and shoot the room at a diagonal.

In a small space, shoot with the widest lens possible. Young's pro lens is 12 mm. " If no wide-angle lens is available, the best you can do is step back as far as possible."

In large spaces like great rooms, never shoot from above, as you would do high on a ladder. "If the camera angle is not how you would normally view the room, the photo will look unnatural."

Kitchens typically feature lots of glossy surfaces, along with uneven lighting. Here's how Young approaches those: "In room with blank counters or bare floors, I find it best to shoot after dark. As before, minimize the bright spots. Turn under-counter lights to their lowest setting. Replace high-wattage bulbs with lower wattage. Dim overhead lights, then shoot light up to the ceiling."

Special to the Observer: Homeinfo@embarqmail.com