When shooting with a compact digital camera you will encounter "digital delay".  Unlike their more professional and larger cousins the SLRs (cameras with interchangeable lenses) the compact cameras have a frustrating delay between when you push the shutter and when the picture is taken. Basically the camera has to decide what to do when you push the shutter.  It needs to set the focus, exposure, white balance, and charge the flash when needed.  Knowing this you should plan ahead.  Lightly push the shutter release.  This tells the camera to get the flash ready.  Before you are ready to actually take the picture point the camera at your subject and again lightly push & hold the shutter release.  This time the camera sets the exposure, white balance, focus, etc.  When the moment is right push the shutter release the rest of the way.  It should take the picture now instead of waiting to do all the above items.