There has been a lot said about the decisive moment; the instant you press the shutter. But, when it comes to you, what exactly is that instance, what makes you press the shutter at the time you do?
Obviously, it's different for each of us. Some have that instinct, some plan for it and some just machine gun their camera, in the hope they capture the right moment (If you are shooting sports or other action photography--even wildlife--getting some well timed images overcomes the direct planning--but more on that later...).
Imagine yourself, looking through the viewfinder (or the LCD), with your finger poised on the shutter. Your eyes quickly scan the information superimposed in the viewfinder, maybe changing shutter speed or the aperture on the fly and waiting for that one moment, when it all comes together and you squeeze the shutter. That one moment is what we are after here. That one moment in time will stand still forever, if you capture it or, if you don't, disappear into history.
This is an area of photography you can't fake. The only way to be successful at getting the decisive moment is with lots of experience. Shooting thousands of images teaches you the art of anticipation. This art is the ability to know what to expect from your subject over time. Waiting for the light to change when shooting landscapes; waiting for the elusive Mona Lisa almost smile for a portrait; waiting for the quarterback to fall back into the pocket and get the image immediately before he releases the ball, with large defensive men charging him. The skill in this requires training your brain to recognize situations which happen just prior to the moment you press the shutter.
You have constructed an image in your mind of what you want. Years of practice leading up to this have taught you when the pre-moment arrives to get ready and then, when reality matches the image in your mind, you press the shutter.
Unless you are a novice, this sequence of events is not haphazard. You have probably spent years and taken thousands of images, which are subconsciously cataloged and, although you may think pressing the shutter is a spontaneous action, it really isn't. It comes about internally when there is confidence and all the variables are satisfied--exposure, framing and focus--and you can concentrate on the subject.
Once your planning and setup are complete, your thoughts are free to examine the only real variables left, your subject and what it is doing. If you are a novice or out of your element i.e., editorial instead of headshots, you can not put your full concentration on the subject as there are too many other items swirling in your head--the right shutter speed, exposure setting and or compensation--and, as long as you don't have your full concentration, you will miss the decisive moment.
Other times, in a new situation, your body memory takes over. If you've done your homework, then technically you are prepared and so, you trust your subconscious to move your shutter finger. You'll know, without chimping, without looking, without any physical evidence, that you got the shot. This is the cue to relax (as much as you can before backing up your images), knowing you have the image you wanted. Now you can be creative and try something new and trust you will know the decisive moment.
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