Some random snaps from the past couple of months.

1.

They all look very sharp. Mind if I ask what camera/lens you are using? The images seem to have their metadata stripped.

For #1, it makes a big difference if you get on your belly when shooting kids. Getting down to their level adds a lot of interest, as would getting eye contact. Beware of them grabbing your camera, however. I have learned this from taking pics of my 8 month old, a few pictures of whom are on this forum.

Thanks for the tip, I'll try it next time.

I'm using a Canon XS Rebel and the stock 18-55 lens. I tweaked the sharpness in PP.

the barbershop pic is the most interesting.

They look sharp cause they are pretty small. Barber shop one is the best IMO. They look like on camera flash was used. This tends to create shine spots/grease spots on peoples' faces.

Nice shots. Might I recommend purchasing an external flash with either a diffuser or a light modifier kit?

Yeah, I'm looking to get an external flash but funds are low.
Is there someway I can shoot that won't create those grease spots?

I'm fairly new so most shots I take aren't planned.

#3 has potential, the rest are, well, you already called it..