It's all in the location and style.

Here's a quick thought to get the creativity flowing.  What separates a technically good image from a great image?  Content.  This consists of the location, the model, and clothing/make-up.  It really doesn't have anything to do with camera settings.

Camera settings do make a difference, but the content of the picture is key.  Taking pictures of ordinary things, no matter how great the camera settings and lighting, will still be ordinary pictures.  It's important to try and make the content as different as possible.  Location plays part of this in a HUGE way.

Shoot a skateboarder on a normal street performing a very simple trick and spend time making sure the angle, color, lighting, and composition are all great.  The picture looks technically sound and is a quality image.  Now take that same shot in an incredible and stunning location (i.e. mountaintop road, grungy alley, etc.) and you've created an extraordinary image.  What changed?  Not your camera settings.  The content!

I firmly believe that about 98% of the population (not formally trained in photography) will look at a picture based purely on it's content.  Of course it's important for the exposure to be right, but the amazing content brings the image to the next level.