Not checking the Edges of the frame
When you’re focused on getting a shot and making sure the subject looks its best, it’s easy to miss distracting elements at the edges of your frame. You can, of course, spend time in post-production cropping a shot or cloning out unwanted features that were missed when you framed the shot in the viewfinder, but to make the best use of your time and the full potential of the camera’s sensor (and get into the habit of taking the photograph you want and not relying on editing), it pays to get it right when you take the picture.
That’s easier said than done, especially when you factor in the fact that not all Nikon’s viewfinders provide 100% coverage. This explains why you may be surprised to see branches, leaves or street lamps creeping into your carefully composed shots when you play them back on the rear screen (above). So, before you press the shutter release button, run your eye quickly around the edge of the screen to check for possible distractions – zooming the lens out slightly before recomposing your picture can help to pick out those things that may be hidden at the time of shooting. Alternatively, switch to Live View mode, as this always shows the complete picture, with 100% coverage on all cameras.