I'll use [] to show changes and additions.
Pressing the shutter release is the simple part. Everything takes time and experience.
Most everything you read, videos you watch, meetings or workshops you attend suggest "do this .." to become a better photographer. But there are no, NO, absolutes only guides. To improve your photography you need to actually take photos and analyze your results.
I would say the only absolute is composition, focus and as MattK says "The Why ..." Why did you take the photo.
Yes there are "rules" for composition but which for this situation?
Aperture Priority for landscape but ...
[If there is anything that is moving or may move because of the wind or people you need to consider the shutter speed. Your camera is will create a "proper" exposure based on your other settings such as White Balance, WB, Metering and Picture Profile like Vivid, Portrait, etc. To accomplish, with a fixed ISO, will adjust the Shutter Speed, SS. to get the "proper" exposure. The general guideline for proper hand held SS is 1/(focal length) so if your are at 50mm that is 1/100 s.]
Shutter Priority for motion but ...
[Similarly your camera will give you a "proper" exposure.. To do this your camera will adjust the aperture to accomplish it. However your photo may be soft at the extremes of your scene Consider you are taking a landscape on a windy day and you want the foreground, middle ground and background free of blur. Say your SS is 1/600s The only thing your camera can adjust is the aperture. Your camera analyzes the scene and determine the proper Aperture is f/4.0. Is everything acceptably sharp? maybe, maybe not.]
Low ISO for a cleaner photo but ...
[Back in the day, actually not that long ago, many preached "always use ISO 100". Modern camera sensors and software have come a long way. Yes ISO 100 is cleaner, less noise, than 12800 however IMHO get the shot, well exposed, acceptably sharp and focus. Let your camera sensor or/and processing software take care of the noise.]
Never use AUTO but ...
[Consider using AUTO to guide to your settings, when you hand your camera to someone else to take a photo. Frequently the photo is acceptable.]
Use JPEG but ...
[JPEG when you don't do much postprocessing or immediate posting to others. Remember that JPG is like a wrapped deli ham sandwich. You can unwrap and add some condiments but it is still a ham sandwich. ]
Use RAW but ...
[On the other had a RAW file might look like a ham sandwich on your cameras LCD. And you can use postprocessing to make is a toasted turkey and ham sandwich. Your choice.]
Fast shutter speed to eliminate or reduce motion blur but ...
[Is that what you want? It is an artistic choice. Do your want to show motion by blur? Do you want to stop an arrow or bird in flight. These are artistic choices.]
Aperture controls DoF but ...
[Yes a large aperture, small f number, yields a shallow DoF. However there are other variables in play. Such as sensor size, distance between camea, subject and background and add focal length. Often those variables are more important than aperture. See dof simulator]
What is DoF?
["is the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a photo that appear acceptably sharp"]
Use evaluative metering but ...
[All consumer cameras are set to evaluate the light reaching the sensor so that the brightest and darkest to 18% gray or grey. What is 18%grey? Also remember that other metermoes, center weighted and spot us that are measure the 18% grey of that area.]
Use Scene mode but ...
[IMHO use them as a guide. Once you have traveled the photography path I seldom use them. Usually for talking points.]
Full Frame or Crop is best but ...
[Yes Full Frame, FF, has a lot of advantages over than other sensor sizes. When you view an image is it half full or half empty? You need to evaluate your needs and make your own decision.]
Lighting, back, front, side, shadow, harsh, soft, golden, blue, ... hour, ...
[Again you need to learn what they are and when to use them. Sometime you have to deal with the light you have. Basically use you feet and walk around the scene to see what light works best for your photo.]
[A new camera will improve my photography
No it will not! If you take bad photos with your current gear new equipment will still take bad photos. New gear may be easier to use for you, maye assist or improve the Auto focus, and provide other features you desire BUT it will not make bad photos better. Learn you current camera to the max.]
There is no one thing that makes you a better photographer. It is the combination of all the items above and more that make you a better photographer. But, in my opinion, you need to know your camera. What buttor, what menu item, what ... If you don't know your camera you will be unable to utilize it to your fullest. This applies to the simplest Point and Shoot, Cell Phone camera to the latest wize bang Mirrorless.
Let me paraphrase President Kennedy's quote "We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."
This way, We choose to become a better photographers not because they are easy, but because they are hard.
[You only get better by taking photos and analyzing your results.]
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