The most important thing anyone can do, not just in photography, but with any art or talent is to practice. You can't become a good photographer fro reading blogs, manuals or watching YouTube videos. It doesn't even matter how much money you spend on your gear. The only way to improve your craft is by taking pictures, and trying different things.
It is also important that you don't use the automatic settings. For a new photographer, I think it is important to understand what the automatic settings are doing, and the way to understand this is to turn it off, and go in to manual mode. Think of an airline pilot, just because the plane is outfitted with an autopilot, you would still expect the pilot to know how to fly without it.
Modern dSLR's have many different settings and built-in setups. I recommend not using these and go in to full manual mode. Then as you learn what works for you, choose a semi automatic mode that will work for the type of shots you are looking for.
I have stumbled across an awesome website called DIY Photography. It is packed full of interesting techniques to try, and neat set-ups that are all cheap to put together. Full instructions for setting up a fold-away studio at home (dual purpose rooms) and instructional videos and tutorials on how take take different kinds of pictures. Ever wondered how some of the product ads you see in magazines are photographed? Think its all post-production editing? Think again, using a little lighting trickery, and some regular household items you can recreate that professional look.
I recommend having a read through the site, and then try some of the techniques at home. It is amazing the kinds of things you can make happen on film (or digital).
So get out there and shoot! Don't let the camera control the shot, you are the boss!
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