I can never seem to get sharp/crisp portraits...Advice?

Maybe it has to do with the lens I own (the only one)? It is a Tamron 18-250mm f/ 3.5-6.3. Incorrect aperture setting? I bought this camera used (a 40D), and I just noticed last week that the image quality was set to M instead of L, so all of these were shot on M (I have since set it to L, and I might change that and set it to RAW).

Im open for any advice you can offer on how to get sharper images.

This is by far the sharpest picture I have of a person:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/54805847@N06/5​187242152/

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IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/54805847@N06/5​223898386/

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IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/54805847@N06/5​112809528/

I would suggest digging up the exif information for at least one or two of the images. I am sure the pros that can help will ask for it as it's the vital signs of a portrait.

cbknight wrote in post #11559705
I would suggest digging up the exif information for at least one or two of the images. I am sure the pros that can help will ask for it as it's the vital signs of a portrait.

Do you know where I get this info?

cbknight wrote in post #11559705
I would suggest digging up the exif information for at least one or two of the images. I am sure the pros that can help will ask for it as it's the vital signs of a portrait.

The exif data is there if you click on the pic and go to Flickr. I checked a couple and saw shutter speeds of 1/30 on one and 1/125 on a couple. That's as far as I got - maybe try a faster shutter speed and some post processing to adjust levels. I think that'll help sharpen things up and enhance the colours.

MindlessConsumer wrote in post #11559713
Do you know where I get this info?

open up a picture on your flickr site and look on the right, where it says this picture was taken by a Canon .... and click on that, it will show you all the exif info unless you hve this disabled.

what lens were you using on them for example the couples shot? i see 18mm @ f4

MindlessConsumer wrote in post #11559574
It is a Tamron 18-250mm f/ 3.5-6.3.

This one

do you use a single focus point or are more than one selected?

L will make a big difference. RAW is what I use but know that it won't appear sharp straight out of the camera, you have to post-process RAW pics. Also, that 18-250 is a superzoom, which shines in versatility but may not be the sharpest lens out there. There is always a trade off and the trade for zoom range is always sharpness.

I suggest a prime lens for potraits...

Skrim17 wrote in post #11560265
do you use a single focus point or are more than one selected?

The camera is set to single. I actually have been trying to figure out how to change this.....

what mode are you shooting?

Try to use more light, in some of them you ISO is high so you wont have as much detail in your photos. Also try using a tripod for slow shutter speeds, and keep the focus point near the face

With a used camera I would reset it to factory default settings and move on from there.

MindlessConsumer wrote in post #11560256
This one

sorry i should have read your initial post