The memory-making started the instant you met your mate. Since then, you've been responsible for the trail of snapshots that's chronicled your family's life. Whether you're a scrapbook junkie or a photos-in-a-shoebox kind of girl, being the curator of your family memories is much easier now, thanks to the digital age. But if you feel like you're just not fully up to tech speed, read on. Our tips from professional photographers will help you see the big picture.Stage One: ShootingIf only they'd used a digital camera for your work ID. You could've viewed that less-than-glamorous grimace, deleted it instantly and posed for another picture. Immediate image control is one of the reasons digital photography is so popular. Even better, virtually any photo you take is usable. "About eighty percent of the pictures that would have been lost with regular film can be recovered with digital photography," says Ron White, author of How Digital Photography Works. Underexposed, overexposed, out of focus? Not to worry. Many digital cameras will auto-correct, and software will help you remedy blunders that never could have been salvaged in a darkroom. You can edit and crop your way to memorable photography—an advantage that's especially useful for moms. "Getting fidgety kids to pose is next to impossible," says White. "But now you can fire off four shots and splice them together to get a great photo." Editing software can also help you restore old family photos that have become torn or scratched: Just scan them—at 300 dpi (dots per inch)—and retouch scuffs and scratches. Many digital cameras come with editing software, or it can be downloaded off the Internet for free. For user-friendly options, check out www.kodak.com. For a more advanced editing program, try Adobe Photoshop Elements ($80, www.adobe.com). New to the digital world? Don't let the technical mumbo jumbo intimidate you. Here's what you need to know:

Stage Two: SharingWe all love pictures—especially our own. But nobody (except maybe your mother) wants to walk through the week you spent in Amish country. For sharing with (and sparing) family and friends, there are slews of websites where you can upload your pictures into a personal album—try www.kodakgallery.com or HP's www.snapfish.com. Then email your pals the link and they can peruse the pics at their leisure and even order prints. These sites are loaded with keepsake options: Create a family calendar, put your tot's mug shot on a mug or design some cards.Technology also makes hard-copy albums easy. Just upload your pictures to a site like www.photoworks.com and use provided templates to create an impressive showcase for everything from baby showers to bar mitzvahs. At PhotoWorks you can choose from seven different books, 35 layouts and thousands of design options. A compact, soft-cover scrapbook starts at just $13, with pricier linen and leather covers also available. Add captions, drop in dramatic backgrounds and, in as little as 20 minutes, you'll have a professional-looking archive of your vacation adventure.Stage Three: StoringThe biggest digital photography mistake? Not storing pictures properly, says Jill Caren, a digital photo artist and mom. "People will come to me sobbing, 'I just lost two hundred photos on my computer. What do I do?'" Each time you download your digital pictures to the computer, choose the shots you want to save and burn two CDs. Store one in your home and the other somewhere else—your sister's house or your out-of-state mother-in-law's. "Hurricane Katrina destroyed keepsakes that can never be replaced," says Caren. By taking this extra step, you can better ensure the safety of precious memories. Be sure to print photos, too. As technology evolves, there will always be a way to scan your prints, but CDs may soon go the way of eight-track tapes, Caren says. Consider investing in a compact photo printer, so you can make quality prints at home—and at Grandma's, you can print right there from a memory card or a camera dock, no computer required. When printing, use paper that's made by your printer's manufacturer. The inks are specially formulated for the paper and will look better and last longer when the two are used together. Then store prints to last in archival photo boxes and albums that are PVC- and acid-free. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a chemical that can make photos stick together and deteriorate, and acid speeds color loss. If your pictures do start to stick, set your blow dryer on the lowest setting and pass it over the pictures to loosen them. If that trick doesn't work, try putting the album in the freezer for an hour.