People shots, and request for needed suggestions

[Didereaux]

Two of the MOST important things for you to concentrate on: The EYES (must be very sharp, and the composition must be excellent. Get those two aspects down and any photo of people or other animals is going to be good.

 

[KmH]

Yes. They say a person's eyes are the "window to the soul".

Light direction, light quality, and posing are also very important for people photography:
Lighting & Design for Portrait Photography: Direction & Quality of Light
Off-Camera Flash: Techniques for Digital Photographers
On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait Photography
Picture Perfect Posing: Practicing the Art of Posing for Photographers and Models (Voices That Matter)
The Headshot: The Secrets to Creating Amazing Headshot Portraits (Voices That Matter)

 

[kanuski]

My guess is that you were too close to your subject in the last shot and the lens couldn't focus.