Photographing my son in low light

[UmmI]

Hello everyone!
I'm really stuck. We live in a house that doesn't get much natural light and everytime I try to take a picture of my son (ie of something/someone that is not stationary), it is ALWAYS blurred. I can't increase the shutter speed because then the camera gets even less light. I always see these nice, crisp pictures of people and I just don't know how to take such pictures!
I'm a beginner as well so if there is a way, please present it in simple words .

Thanks!

[RoyL]

Without knowing what sort of camera you have I will guess it as a Point&Shoot. Don't feel insulted if not, it's just P&S's have a slight issue.

If it is then the first thing that you need to be aware of is that there is a lag time between when you press the shutter button and when the shutter opens. Your manual will tell you what it is in the specs. So you sort of have to anticipate the shot if you are shooting moving people, children, other things, allow for the lag time and take your shot. I think that this is what makes P&S users that are good even better when they go to a more advanced camera or DSLR, because they have learnt the art of anticipating/previsualizing the shot.

Next, and this applies to ALL camera's. The camera has to expose, focus, and shoot. All in that order and all with the push of the same button. The shutter button when pressed halfway down and held is used to expose and focus the camera, then you should check that you have the view you want and then press the button to open the shutter. If you don't take the time to do this and just press down, you will end up with incorrect exposure, blurring or out of focus shots.

If you have a DSLR then make sure that your flash is up, mine has a button on the side which I have to press. If it doesn't come up don't worry, it should in the next step.

If your camera has Program (P) mode try setting the camera to this, it is a semi auto mode but you don't need to worry about that. Try taking some test shots in that mode. Then go to Auto mode and do some test shots. Compare the two.

If you start to get better shots then you can start playing around with other options, the best place is to start with the manual to find out what each feature does.

See how you go.

[UmmI]

I have SONY DSC H2. As for the shutter lag, I looked into the manual and didn't find it but I found this in an online review:

I was able to take a single shot in 0.16 seconds and five shots in 5.24 seconds.

.
I know about anticipating the shot so I do try to focus when, for example, my son is walking towards me and I know that I want to take the picture when his bit closer. But still, even though I hold the button half way down, it is always blurred.

I'll have a look at the P mode now, I'll see if it makes any difference.

I'm kind of dissapointed in myself, I think the camera is good enough so it must be me!