My 2 penneth worth.

There are a lot of opinions on composition and there are a few rules that are said to aid in it, like the rule of thirds and the use of space in the frame for moving subjects and countless other rules. Rules are there as a guide and in my opinion there to be broken if the picture suits it, and in many cases a rule breaker will be a lot more interesting image than a conventional one.

In my opinion there is only 1 rule you shouldn't break, and that is if you as the author thinks that the composition is right then it is!

A friend of mine puts it like this:

"If it looks right, it is right!"

So is there any rules that you always follow when taking a pic or not??

There are guidelines, such as the rule of thirds. I personally believe these should be followed untill the photographer has grasped the basic principles of photo taking, before trying to become more creative with their shots, as 9/10 the amature is likely to be disappointed with the results being produced. Once a photographer knows where to apply the tecniques and execute succesfully, then composition can be forfeit to create impact.

It's a bit of both I think - if you think it's right, and the shot is a personal one, than great

But if on the other hand, if it's something like a portrait - i.e. if you were doing it professionaly, then you have to consider what others would have wanted (unless they are hiring you to get 'something different' or want your personal stamp on their photos). Purely because you are taking the photo for them, not you.

Well that's my take on it anyway