I’m making this list in regards to this article at Problogger. This is just a general list of guidelines that I like to follow to get a good photo. I am by no means a “professional”, although I will become one someday, at this point the best I could call myself would be an seasoned “amateur”.
1. Pay attention to available light. Photos where a simple on-camera flash are used look just that, simple, boring and not thought out. Take advantage of natural sunlight, it comes across best in photos and is the most flattering. Incandescent light bulbs from a lamp (preferrably with a lamp shade) can provide a soft, more controllable light source. Move it around, avoid harsh shadows if photographing people (unless you want their unusually large nose to appear larger).
2. Find your sweet spots. There are certain areas of a photograph that subjects appear most pleasing and tend to be the first places people look when looking at a photo. These are called “sweet spots”, or at least that’s what I call them. Take advantage of them, use them. Here’s where they are: (See the figure below, there are four yellow X’s, one on each sweet spot.) You can find them using the rule of thirds. Wherever the lines intersect, within your frame, is where you want your subject to be. Or at least make sure there is something there, even if it isn’t your main subject. It will keep the viewers eye moving around the photo and give the picture that “finished” feeling.
3. Play with different textures! Make note of different textures that are in your frame. By textures I mean things such as, smooth skin, the bark of a tree, the surface of a body of water on a windy day, the clouds in the sky (are they large and puffy or smooth and stretched out across the sky?), metallic surfaces creating reflections, fabrics (striped patterns, polka dots, corduroy, heavy wool, etc.) And what effects do these textures have on your subject. Do they enhance it? Distract your eye? Are they too bland and boring? Spice it up, add something that doesn’t belong.
4. Black and white or color? Make the conscience decision of whether your image would look better in black and white or color. How to make this decision? Well that’s a hard question so I’ll give you an example. Let’s say you’re taking a picture of an orange. What type of picture is it going to be in the end? Is your image focused on the color of an orange laying in a field of fresh green grass? Or is your image more focused on the shape of the orange? In the first, it would be the best idea to use color. In the second in order to bring the viewers attention to the shape, texture, and light of the orange, black and white would be most effective. Experiment, and ask others, which one works. If you’re working with digital, see if your camera has a “monotone” or “greyscale” option and take the same picture in color and black and white. Get opinions from others.
5. But, why? Ask yourself, “Why am I taking this picture?” Is it solely with an intent to aesthetically please the viewer? Or is it an image of something fascinating that will be gone the next second you look? Is it for the memory? An event? What are you feeling when you take the picture? Love? Remorse? Disgust? Do you find the scene amusing? Strange? Scary? Take pictures that mean something. Whatever it is.
I also just want to say that I read an awesome “Top 5″ list by Gala over at GalaDarling. You can read her Top 5 list here. I’m starting on her’s today. 
