Brighter?

Hi Everyone

I have a Panasonic FZ150. Friends of mine just bought the Nikon P510 and are trying to figure out how they can make their pictures brighter. On automatic they say they seem to be a little dull. Any advise out there. Sure would like to help them on this one.
By the way everyones photo's look wonderful.

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unwakened"

Kind Regards
Susan