I never really used to think about this very much. Till I noticed that I was cutting things off: heads, arms, hands, feet, the cat's tail, a crucial part of the house, whatever. Half the photos were horrid. *lol* now, unless I'm really rushed, I usually take more time to balance the shot within that viewer-thingee (and I really should learn the "proper" terms *g*). I still do the cut off thing on occasion but not as much as I used to. as for the lighting? *ack* that's another subject! I can never figure out why, when it seems the auto-flash would go off, it doesn't. how aggravating! then you end up with something way darker than you wanted. ok, ok....I'm still learning after *cough* numerous years of taking photos. *grin*