[DonSchap]

Basic camera technique is important, of that there is no doubt, but using the "Kit (18-70) Lens" is a tremendous disservice to your effort. It should be the very first change you make to your equipment ... and it probably should simply left on some forgotten shelf, never to be used again.

So ... if you go to the:

1. SONY DT 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5
2. TAMRON SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF)
3. TAMRON SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO
4. TAMRON AF 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF)
5. SONY 24-70mm f/2.8 CZ
6. SONY 16-35mm f/2.8 CZ

or something else reasonable, you have made a move for the better, rest assured.

Yes ... and I echo the call to work on:

1. steady hands,
2. understanding and achieving good focus
3. understanding Depth of Field
4. using adequate light and appreciating exposure levels

but lose the kit ... and start taking better stuff.