DPs and 'Pretty Pictures That Say Nothing' - How to Diagnose?

Hey everyone, as a Key Grip, I’m often seeing the finished product of a DP's vision, and usually, it’s great. Right now, I'm prepping for a short film with a newer DP, solid guy, really talented eye. He's got some beautiful mood boards, all shot on an AMIRA with Zeiss Supremes, and the lighting ideas with an M18 and a couple of LS 1200d Pros are stunning. He can definitely make things look 'good.'

But I was flipping through an old interview with a veteran DP yesterday, and he warned against 'pretty pictures that say nothing.' This really got me thinking, especially with newer DPs. What are some of the most common pitfalls or tendencies you've seen where DPs, especially early in their careers, create aesthetically pleasing but narratively empty shots? And, more importantly, what are some practical ways they can learn to diagnose this in their own work, before we're knee-deep in production?