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Keep a 3" x 4" (75mm x 100mm) notepad with you at all times and take notes. Take lots of notes. Record shutter/aperture/ISO/ meter, histogram readings, etc. Yes, I know the camera does it for you, but writing it down immediately helps to cement the information into your 18% +/- 6 gray matter.
Don't forget to switch off Lens's VR/IS (Vibration reduction / Image Stabilisation) feature off, whilst taking a long exposure shot.
Can I make a wee plea, before the issue becomes a problem and people take offence at me writing.
I think we have to exercise some discretion here and only put up those things that we feel are really, really important tips that people are unlikely to be able to find easily elsewhere.
Otherwise we will defeat the object of the exercise by this thread becoming far too long which will make unwieldly for people to find relevant information. We want it short and snappy. Is it 40 posts in a thread that we get to a page before a 'Page 2' starts up (or you can set it for 40 posts). I would have said one page (40 posts) was ideal, two at the very most.
Of course, other people might disagree, particularly the guy who started the thread.t
ONE TIP PER POST PLEASE - it says so in the first post
I think you mean one tip per post, Rob,which I see now. Apologies to you and others.
Shoot children at their level. This means getting down on your knees or lower.
Take an hour or two to learn some of the main key short-cuts that you could use regularly. It will save you a great deal of time.
Never...repeat...never clean your expensive lenses with the front of your shirt or your handkerchief. Even though you might think they will be clean, they will almost certainly contain dirt, grease, grit that will smear or worse, scratch your lens. Simply carry a lens cleaning cloth, reasonably cheaply available from an optometry (eye-glasses) shop. Keep the cloth in a wee bag, tuck it into your camera bag and remember to wash it regularly.
Post Production Tip: SAVE OFTEN, SAVE A LOT.
When you get back from holidays or a shoot take time to smell the roses. When you get back and look at your shots you can be disappointed, as they do not seem to reflect your day out or holiday. This is because you other senses are still too active – sounds, smells, etc.
Do not delete anything at this stage.
Take another look at your images in 3 months and see how much more they reflect your holidays.
Proprietary camera support bags are rarely the right shape or size to fit your camera bag. Why not ask you wife/partner to make you a custom fit bag from a soft, hard wearing, material filled with rice. You'll never be without support again!!
(Wendy and you other girlies can make your own :D)
Never lieve your camera inside the car, not even in the boot, mainly if you are in a warm country and the weather is sunny.
Temperatures inside cars can go up to 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
Make a theme / project and take pictures under a previously written guide line.
Only publish your best shots unless you want to show something to the others.
Keep calm when shooting.
Compose carefully before you push the button.
Take pleasure when shooting.
Not: Oh I have to shoot this. How boring...
No. Do it with commitment.
If you don't feel involved in the frame, don't shoot.
Explore a situation over and over shooting under various angles and perspectives.
Later at home, you will be able to choose the best angle and the best image.
Try to transmit feelings and emotions in your pictures.
Shoot raw, not jpg.
If you can afford, get a fast computer to process your photos.