One of the most common is trying to include too many subjects in a frame. It’s tempting to go wide and capture everything when you’re in a new place, but that often creates cluttered, confusing photos. Kay explains that learning to simplify a composition by focusing on one main subject helps you establish a visual hierarchy so the viewer knows exactly what to pay attention to. Shooting wide open at f/1.4 or f/1.8 all the time isn’t always the best choice, even if that’s why you bought the lens. Kay explains that most lenses aren’t at their sharpest wide open, and stopping down to f/5.6 or f/8 can give you sharper results with less vignetting and fewer aberrations. He also makes an important distinction between a stylistic choice and a mistake. A blurry image from poor focus or a slow shutter isn’t a creative mood; it’s an error. The key is building enough technical control to shoot sharp when you want to and then being able to break that sharpness intentionally when it serves your vision. Beginners often swap advice with other beginners, but that can limit growth. Kay stresses the importance of finding mentors who are at least one step ahead: people with proven experience or recognition.