As you take more and more pictures, you'll realize that there's a lot more to photography than just the basic camera. The right gear at the right time is invaluable to every photographer, regardless of his or her innate talents or abilities. With that in mind, we've compiled a great list of things that you'll want to have just in case - you never know when something may come in handy and help save a shot.

Digital Camera

This one is a no-brainer. You're going to find it hard to take digital photographs if you don't own a digital camera. It is advisable to pick up, at the very least, a digital SLR that allows you to manually control the aperture, exposure length, and focus. Point and shoot digitals are handy at a party but lack flexibility, and flexibility is key in the dynamic world of photography.

Tripod

When you need your camera stabilized, there is no better solution than a tripod. Tripods come in a wide range of prices, are usually very easy to carry and give you the opportunity to take pictures that you couldn't have otherwise taken with a hand held camera. If you're going to take low light photos or use long exposures and want sharp pictures, you'll definitely need the help of a tripod.

Memory Cards

Although today's memory cards hold a lot of data and images, there's always the possibility you'll run out of space or it will fail. So remember to bring at least two large memory cards with you all the time so you'll never miss a shot. There is nothing more catastrophic to a day of shooting than having your memory card fail and being without a replacement.

Your Power Source - Batteries

Much like memory cards, no matter how long you think your battery is going to last, it's always best to keep an extra one in the bag. A digital camera is really just a paper weight without the batteries. Most new digital SLRs are decent about managing their battery use, but if you have a long day planned or are not going to be able to guarantee a recharge, bring a backup battery.

The Easy Way to Protect Your Gear - A Camera Bag

There's not much to the camera bag, but be sure that it has room for all of the stuff you'll need to bring. If you don't already have a bag, simply look at all of the equipment you use regularly and make sure you choose a bag that will hold everything. A good bag will not only help you tote your equipment around but will also give you a safe place to keep (and protect) your equipment.

A Basic Zoom and Macro Lens

You don't have to go crazy at the photo store and buy every lens you see, but you will certainly benefit from bringing basic zoom and macro lenses. In fact, many camera manufacturers market lenses that are a combination of both.

Basic Photo Editing Software

If digital is going to be your game, you're going to want to have a way to edit those photos once you bring them into the computer. Just like with film photography, there is more to digital photography than just taking the picture- eventually you'll want to print your picture. So, it's best to buy a good quality photo editing software so you can begin editing your digital images. You'll find the editing software will come in handy for making minor changes like removing read eye and getting rid of busy backgrounds to help get your images looking even better.

Digital photography is just like any other activity-if you come prepared with the right set of tools, there is no limit to the things you can accomplish. Of course, you should always be honest with yourself about your needs and about what you want to do with your camera - all this gear is certainly useful, but you may not want to lug it around on a vacation with the family. Start with a good stock of equipment and train yourself to bring what you'll need and you can't lose.