First off if you do side/lateral raises with dumbbells do you start with the weight at your side or in front of your stomach. I have seen people do it both ways but think that you can get into bad form if you start in front of the stomach instead of at your side.

The range of motion is obviously greater, but when pressing at the end of sets you might get into bad habits and try to use momentum instead of lifting the weight properly. By starting at your sides it is almost impossible to do that.

Another thing, when doing shoulder presses do you finish at the top with your palms facing together or keep the dumbbells the same way all the way up? I use 45lbers and don't feel like I am getting enough out of it if I keep them the same all the way up, and turn them facing together at the top.