Avoiding 'Pretty Pictures That Say Nothing' - DP Advice Needed

Hey everyone,

I'm Miguel, a drone operator, and I've been expanding into more ground-based camera work. I'm currently prepping for a narrative short film with a director I've worked with before. We'll be shooting primarily on a V-RAPTOR XL with some older Zeiss primes, and an Aputure LS 1200d Pro for key lighting. My director keeps bringing up this idea of avoiding 'pretty pictures that say nothing,' and it’s really stuck with me.

I'm trying to be more intentional with my shot choices, not just going for what looks cool on a monitor. I've been storyboarding meticulously and thinking about eyelines and character blocking, but I still worry I might be falling into this trap.

From your experience, what are some of the most common ways newer DPs create visually striking shots that ultimately lack narrative purpose? And more importantly, what are some practical self-diagnosis techniques you use to ensure your beautiful shots are also serving the story?