Anyone else common pitfalls vs the alternatives [v5]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, mods please remove if it is not. I want to write something more comprehensive about this later but starting with a quick post to gather thoughts. For context, I am working with a pretty modest budget so high-end suggestions probably will not land.

Quick context: I am relatively new to this and trying to find my footing. For context, I am working with a pretty modest budget so high-end suggestions probably will not land. Maybe an unpopular opinion but here we go.

I tried three different approaches and none of them felt quite right.