Panorama photos can be really cool, but you still have to know how to make them. Many photographers, amateurs typically, resort to software and programs that do it all for you. Unfortunately, most of the times these programs fail and the end result is far from satisfactory.
In order to create a good looking panorama, you must first have the right "raw material" .I'm talking of course about the photos that will be stitched together later. The first thing to remember when taking these photos is to use a sturdy tripod. You want the camera to be at the same level when you tilt it horizontally.
(Success Tip #1: This simple deck of cards can help improve your photography.)
You should also shoot a lot. The "film" is cheap these days so there's no real reason for not having enough files to choose from. It's also recommended that you shoot a little wider than you're used to because you want to have as much information as possible in those photos.
However, when it comes to lens choice, you should go for something no shorter than 50mm. A wide angle lens will distort the image and make it look unnatural. By using 50mm or more in your focal length, you will maintain a natural looking ratio.
Detail is something of obvious importance. To get the most amount of detail in the photos that will go into your panorama, use a f-stop range between f/8-f/11.
Shift the focus to manual because you want the focusing distance to be the same for all the shots you plan on taking.
(Success Tip #2: Get listed here for clients to find you to photograph them.)
A longer shutter speed might also be useful. Because you never know when you're going to have people crossing your frame. A ND filter will most likely be very helpful in this case.
For the Photoshop side of creating a panorama, I'm going to leave to Aaron Nace from Phlearn. Enjoy!