Neighbor kids - CC please

My neighbor asked me to take some shots. The kids were moderately cooperative. I thought I'd try for the sunwashed look (never tried before) on a couple. Please let me know what you think.

1.

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The first two look like old snapshots - not to my liking at all.

The next two are better but need some more contrast. You got good eye contact on all but the first, good expressions.

That big tree in the first seems very distracting to me. More DOF would help with that. You're kind of in a middle, hazy area with the exposure on all of them. Go more or less, more since you are looking for that sunwashed look. Try shooting a wider aperture, getting more DOF in the process, also getting more light into the lens. Nice subjects at any rate. You seem to be getting some good looks from them.

the last two are much better and as others stated would benefit from more contrast