*Building a scene

Location

Firstly ensure your location is relevant to the themes and story, be it a fictional or nonfictional piece the location of a shot can make or break the setup. For example an interview of a doctor is often taken in a medical office or library as this reflects the knowledge and intelligence of the doctor themself; the same shot of the subject in a comical setting (a circus for example) wouldn't give the same impression and create great contrast on screen; unless this is the feel you want as a director.

Background

Try to ensure there are as minimal distractions in the background, fast or unpredictable movements behind your subject or character will capture the attention of the audience and draw focus away from them.

Tips: 

Remove all "clutter" from the shot unless it is there for purpose.

When filming in open locations if possible remove all non participants from shot

Audio

Bad audio is the key tell to new filmmakers' work when filming try to minimise all noise not essential for the scene, even background noise can be added in post so footage with only dialogue present is most useful. 

Turn off radios, TVs, fans/machinery, 

If you are filming inside and the weather outside is bad (windy/stormy) close all doors and windows,

If there are people working nearby (mowing the grass, running a car engine, chopping wood etc.) see if they can give you some time to film without them working.

Framing 

Firstly unless you are filming a Dutch tilt ensure your shot is straight, line up any natural horizontal and vertical lines in shot with the screen guides and framing.

Rule of thirds

Divide your frame into nine equal boxes (picture a 0's & X's board) the important/key subject of interest should be framed along these lines NOT CENTRAL.

Setting the subject off centre will be a lot more interesting and aesthetically pleasing; this allows for a lot more headroom/ looking room/ leading room in shot, ensure this is on the correct side of the subject though.

Headroom= empty space in the frame between the top of the character'so head and the top of the frame.

Looking room= empty space end between the subject and the edge of the frame.

Leading room= empty space in front of the subject in related direction to the subject, stationary or moving.