How do I get my subjects sharper?

I took this quick shot of my wife on a walk earlier. SOOC besides some cropping and saving to jpeg. This photo is similar to the quality I've been getting from shots I take of people. Just seems to be lacking sharpness that some of the portraits I've seen here exhibit. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. I focused on the eyes, use a fast shutter speed to minimize shake, etc. Any advice would be appreciated!

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what lens, no exif data so we need more information...

Assuming you aren't being limited by your lens, (which I don't think is the case since even a 18-55kit lens should be sharper than this), pay attention to your shutter speed. Should be at least 1/focal length, or 1/focal length x 1.6 if using a crop sensor. If your subject is not stationary, then it needs to be an even faster shutter speed.

Other than that, the only other likely issue is that your AF isn't working properly. It may be front or back focusing. In this pic it looks like it may have front focused on her wrist bracelet, which seems to be sharper than her face. The end of her sleeve, which is also in about the same plane as her wrist, looks to be sharp as well.

stanclark wrote in post #14974996
what lens, no exif data so we need more information...

Camera Canon EOS 60D
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture f/5.0
Focal Length 190 mm
ISO Speed 100
Lens Model EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

The Dark Knight wrote in post #14975013
Camera Canon EOS 60D
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture f/5.0
Focal Length 190 mm
ISO Speed 100
Lens Model EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

What type of focus? Spot, zone, auto, etc?

Is this the "L" or non-"L" version of the 70-300?

mannetti21 wrote in post #14975034
What type of focus? Spot, zone, auto, etc?

Manually selected the center point and focused on her eyes.

manual or auto focus....multi point or center point focus in the canon software you can check where your camera focused.... in digital professional....then quick tools....

Here is another one. Same sharpness issue, but this is with a different camera (XSi) and different lens (50mm 1.8). Tried to do the same, manually selected center point and focused on eyes. So seems like a technique issue on my part...

Exposure 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture f/2.8
Focal Length 50 mm
ISO Speed 200

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bracelet is sharper....you may have flinched.....

stanclark wrote in post #14975048
manual or auto focus....multi point or center point focus in the canon software you can check where your camera focused.... in digital professional....then quick tools....

Auto focus, center point focus. Sorry I wasn't clear.

Canon software as in the CD that came with my camera? I haven't even bothered loading that on to my computer, I guess I should...

did you sharpen either one

stanclark wrote in post #14975063
did you sharpen either one

No, both are SOOC outside of some cropping.

Use a tripod and you'll quickly know if it's technique. While you've got it on the tripod, try MF via Live View at 10x magnification. Get it sharp and snap the pic. Then turn off live view, turn on AF, and let the camera AF on the same subject. Repeat a few times and compare the results. They should be essentially identical.

mannetti21 wrote in post #14975072
Use a tripod and you'll quickly know if it's technique. While you've got it on the tripod, try MF via Live View at 10x magnification. Get it sharp and snap the pic. Then turn off live view, turn on AF, and let the camera AF on the same subject. Repeat a few times and compare the results. They should be essentially identical.

Haha, I'm a noob without even a tripod. I guess I should get one.

I table or counter-top will work just fine for that simple test. You just need to take the possibility of hand shake or body sway out of the equation. Also a good idea to set the camera to the 2 or 10sec delay timer so you don't accidentally move the camera when you're pressing the shutter.