You don't take a photograph, you make it.

I usually start with:
* setting up your camera in advance
* shooting in RAW
* scoping out your shoot or studying your subjects face
* composing in the camera

Then I go to post production:
* making global adjustments
* making local adjustments in post processing software
* apply filters, sharpening and blur as needed
* using techniques such as HDR and Orton
* even combining photos using layers
* allow my imagination to create a more artistic compos ion.