My2cents...the background is distracting. If you want water as a background, then a flash would help as it would bring out some extreme highlights and shadows. Maybe a plain white or plain black background with directed light from one angle would also help...google high key or low key photography. And extreme zoom lenses like the 18-300 is not a good portrait lens, a prime like 50mm or 85mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 will be perfect to create some bokeh. The 50 f/1.8 is not expensive and will more than help bring out your creativity.