Are you making a list and checking it twice? If you don't want to be disappointed by missing critical memories during this holiday picture-taking season, start with your own list of photography MUSTS.

- Batteries. Your goal is to take lots and lots and lots of pictures. Don’t run out of power just as a critical situation unfolds! Make sure your charger is working, and have three rechargeable batteries: one for the camera, one that can be recharging while another is in use, and a third in case you need it before a recharge has completed.

- Memory card(s). The more storage on a card, the more memories you can capture without having to change out the card. Have at least two cards with the most memory possible. When one fills up, replace it with the second so you don’t have to waste precious moments downloading the pictures to your computer. (Don’t forget to download them and clear the card when you get a chance!)

- Tripod. This doesn’t have to be fancy. You want to set up the camera so that it is perfectly still. If you don’t have a tripod, look for flat surfaces on which to sit the camera where it won’t move while you are taking a picture. A bean bag or pillow can also cradle a camera into a snug and stable position for taking pictures with long exposures. This will be important when you want to capture Christmas tree lights or Hanukkah or Kwanza candles.

- External flash that tilts up for bouncing light, or Professor Kobré’s Lightscoop  which allows the pop-up flash on 35mm SLRs to bounce its light off a ceiling or wall. You’ll want to use bounced flash to capture the fast-moving action while decorating the tree, cooking up a feast, or unwrapping gifts and playing with them. Bouncing the flash also lets you get very close to your subjects without blasting them with too much light.

Adorama has FREE SHIPPING on most of its products right now, by the way.