I originally provided the advice below to the Rhee Tae Kwon-Do Perth Region Photography Group in 2008, and perhaps it might be of some help to publish it here (slightly edited).
Tips
For those of you wanting a short list of my main tips, I provide it here. I strongly recommend that you go through the advice about technique at some point, as most new photographers will benefit much more by improving their photographic skills rather than by buying a new camera.
Skills
Practise. To be a successful RTKD photographer, you have to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right skills, and the right equipment. You will see that the first three aspects depend on the photographer, while only the fourth aspect depends on the equipment. Good photography involves more skill and effort than most non-photographers or new photographers realise. If you want to become a better photographer, you have to practise.
Go low. In general, unless you are short, you will want to crouch or kneel when shooting. This both lowers your perspective (and thus, the perspective of your picture) and, if done properly, can enhance your physical stability whilst shooting. Regarding perspective, this makes your subject seem bigger (or if shooting a small subject, ensures that you do not make him/her/it look too small). Regarding stability, this minimises the effect of camera shake (the normal shake that we all have—no one can hold a camera perfectly still).
Get closer. Most new photographers include too much in their photographs from fear of leaving something out (like the top of somebody’s head). This is a valid concern, but most seem to overcompensate, ending up with a lot of wasted space in their picture. To be able to get good framing reliably, you need to practise, but a general suggestion is to get closer.
Know your tools. It is better to be shooting with tools you know than tools you don’t know. A certain basic level of equipment (DSLR camera body and an appropriate prime lens) will be more than enough for most people for a long time. Once you have this equipment, get to know it like the back of your hand and you will be able to function more quickly and smoothly as a photographer … and this should maximise your chances of shooting good pictures.
Equipment
DSLR. A digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera will be far preferable to a point-and-shoot (P&S) camera. DSLRs are more expensive than P&Ss; the cheapest DSLRs are about the same prices as the most expensive P&Ss. If you are serious about RTKD photography but you don’t already have a DSLR, I encourage you to start saving up for one.
Prime lens. For the type of photography we do and the environments we shoot in, prime lenses are the clear choice. Only people who are professional photographers or who have a lot of money to spare will be using professional zoom lenses (f/2.8), and even these expensive pieces of equipment cannot do some things that a cheaper prime lens can do (e.g., allow you to shoot successfully in very poor light).