Seems like you're right in your self-critique about framing -- and composing, or, like in this case, capturing the right moment. And you seem to have a problem with lighting, too, both photos here would have benefitted from fill flash, I say. Did you use the zoom lens? Then you could have pulled out some in order to take the top photo. The bottom one lacks in so many respects, it may be nice for the family album, but doesn't qualify as a good photo.