I think a mistake I tend to make is not using the rule of thirds when I need to. Sometimes I let instinct take over too much and place my subjects in the middle, which doesn’t really look good. I’ve also rarely experimented with putting subjects in more remote places (like the corners of the composition, etc.) I did a pretty simple right-on-the-cross rule of thirds shot, but this photo is really proof that de-centering a subject can be really impactful. In this case, it adds a lot of mood to the photo (which is also helped by the cool lighting and shadows), and by “pushing” the subject to the right side, the photo makes you wonder if the subject is somehow “trapped” in their surroundings. I think the facial expression + the gaze facing to the empty space on the left adds a whimsical element too. And the pose with the fancy watch makes me think this could be an accessory commercial, too.
Special thanks to my friend Taissia for modeling, you make a really interesting subject for photographs :3