Can 18-55 lens take good photos?

[easypress]

I use Nikon D5000 and 18-55, 55-200, 35mm/F1.8G lens. I take portraits most. But seldom can I take good photos. I want to take portrait photos with scenery. So which one suits me most and can my 18-55 take good photos? http://www.flickr.com/photos/43038359@N04/

Thank you

[Franglais]

I have lots of lenses, including the 18-55 (not the VR version you probably have but that doesn't matter). The 18-55 takes excellent photos. However it is not necessarily the best for portraits.

First ask yourself - why am I not satisfied with the photos I've done?

I looked at your photos on Flickr. It seems that you like to do photos of pretty girls (me too). when I do a photo like this I try to do several things, which overlap really:

- make sure that the girl is the principal point of interest
- make sure that the focus is on the girl's eyes and if there is a background, ensure it's out of focus
- crop tightly sometimes so your just have her face and a part of her body
- never get closer than 6 feet (risk of distortion)

This usually means that I'm shooting at a focal length of 55mm minimum, and usually a lot more. I would try using the 55-200 rather than the 18-55 between 85mm and 135mm - and stand further away from the model

Note: It would be easier if you posted your pictures in your User Gallery here rather than going over to Flickr (no account). Here are a few comments:

Xiao: pity about the lighting it looks good otherwise
Xiao Shi: interesting lighting but get rid of the shiny thing in the background
Fly: Too much detail in the background, use a longer lens and just take the girl
Ping: You are too close (her knees look enormous). Stand further back with a longer lens, frame it the same way except leave out the person in the background
Little Monkey: Nice I think you're too close
Leaf: I would have held the camera vertically and just did the girl with a suggestion of the background, from further away with a more tele lens
Vicky2: I can't see her face on my monitor (which is rather contrasty)
Vicky1: Nice picture of a girl and her dog but it's not very glamour. I would have stood much further away with a tele lens
Vicky3: This is OK. Slightly too much sky
Vicky4: I think you're too close. The dog looks too big compared with the girl and the barrier in the background is distracting. Stand further away with a longer tele and both these problems disappear
Vicky5: Too close (look at the size of her hand) and the backround is distracting. Stand further away, tele lens so that the blackground is less obvious and goes out-of-focus
Vicky6: This is OK - except for the guy in the white shirt in the background

[easypress]

Thank you Charles and that really helps me.