This trick is often used in sports photography, like our young baseball runner.
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As your eyes scan a photo for the first time, your mind will expect to see a bit on front of your subject.

Here's a shot of another photographer that will leave your eyes disappointed:

The easy way to remember this trick is to see which way your subject is either moving or looking, and give the subject some leading room to the front of that motion.

Take three shots

This is a trick that uses the old method of "bracketing" exposures. Bracketing is the practice of shooting one picture at the given light meter settings, and then quickly shooting two more shots, with higher and lower exposure values. It was simple insurance that in one of those three shots you nailed the correct exposure.

Exposure bracketing is not the purpose behind trick number five. It's purely a reminder that when you have the time, don't stop shooting after one click of the shutter. Take two more!

This last trick is by no means the least important, because if you look through your collection of photographs and find that one picture you wished could have been better, you will quickly see that what your thinking is "why didn't I shoot one more from this angle, or that position?" The answer is easy-- if you want "keepers" shoot at least three of everything.

Summary

Composition techniques are the subject of books and college level courses. If you want quick results, try our five tricks, but if you want lasting results, take the time to read your camera manual and make sure you visit our Constructive Critique - Artistic & Technical Advice forum.