I have a folder that already has subfolders with photos + a kit + a template so that's where I usually start if I'm not CT scrapping. I usually place papers first (I use Cindy's the most and she always has lots of fun paper layers), then photos, then elements. If there are a lot of paper layers, I tend not to use many elements. I shadow as I go. If I can use a piece of wordart as a title, I will. Journaling is usually last. If I'm scrapping without a template, I have one or two photos with a bunch of elements clustered around and one paper for the background but in the same order as above.
If I'm CT scrapping, I go into my "To Be Scrapped" folder to find some photos that will match/coordinate the CT kit or template. I rarely just dig in and see what strikes me from my photos or kits but I'm getting pretty caught up on my backlog so I might need to do that sooner rather than later. I guess that's the price you pay for being overly organized.