1) Theme: The underlying reason for making the exposure.  The theme is the purpose behind the subject matter in a given photograph.

2) Center of Interest: The subject that best describes the theme.  This can be single subject or a number of the same subjects.

3) Rule of thirds: The dividing of a viewfinder into horizontal and vertical thirds.  The resulting grid will have four key intersections that the main subject should be placed or situated near.
 
4) Depth of field: The area before and after the center of interest that remains in focus.  This is controlled through the chosen use of an aperture - f(stop).  This technique helps to isolate the center of interest.

5) Background:  The images directly behind the subject that do not effect the clarity of the center of interest are considered to be acceptable backgrounds.  These backgrounds should be kept simple and in most cases mono tonal.

6) Foreground: Imagery that helps to frame the subject or helps to lead the viewer’s attention to the center of interest.

7) Motion Control:  The photographer’s ability to create the feeling or motion in a photograph.  The precise control or shutter speeds to stop action or the less controlled use of slow shutters speeds to give the illusion of speed.

8) Lines: Leading lines are usually pathways or roadways but can sometimes be shadows or waves that lead the viewer to the center of interest, or can be bold lines that can capture and viewers attention.  Can be used to simplify.

9) Tones/Contrast:  The quality of a photographic print.  Visualizing the number of shades of gray that are displayed from the purest blacks to the whitest whites.  Photographers have often chosen to leave a discernible shade of gray even in the whites.  Blacks should be clean but there should be detail even in the dark areas.  Much of this is left to the eye of the viewer.
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10) Texture:  The implied surface of the subject created by the lighting angle as well as the closer distance to the center of interest.  Viewers should get feeling that just touching the print can give them the texture of the subject.  Examples include bark on a tree, surface of certain fruits and vegetables, concrete, water etc.

11) Simplicity
The photographers choice to leave the center of interest simple and leave no guesswork for the viewer.  The idea is to not include too many objects of interest in a photograph.
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12) Viewpoint The photographer’s choice of angle of view, which best describes the subject.  The choice to make the image have a single point perspective (sometimes static) or a 2 point perspective.