u/SummerMoon001

I've been doing family shoots for friends and family since I got my camera last year, and I'm finally starting to market myself / charge people that I don't know. I had a shoot today and am feeling disappointed in the outcome. The first image tells you all of my specs. Shooting RAW on a Canon R6 Mark ii with the kit lense (24-105mm F4). This image (and most at this shoot) were ISO 100, F 5.6, 1/160 shutter. AI Servo AF.

My images are ALWAYS pixelated and NEVER crisp. See images 2-3 where, yes, I am zoomed in in Lightroom but it's also very obvious in the broader zoomed out image that the crispness just isn't there. These don't feel like professional photos - I feel like an iPhone can do better..?

I'm to the point where I am asking strangers on the internet. Please help! What am I missing?

My husband and I have been solidly on the fence since we met (now I’m 34 and he’s 43) but started to lean more toward a child so we’ve been trying naturally for over a year. Just felt like “if it happens, great! But if not, also OK.” We have family around us and both sides have 6 nieces/nephews all under 8 so we’re at no loss for hanging out with kids if we feel like it. There’s still that pull in both of us to be parents though, which is why we’ve been trying. I’d say we’re both at 60/40 yes/no right now.

Anyway, we decided to do some basic testing to see if everything was functioning correctly and it turns out his semen wouldn’t be able to make it to my egg successfully naturally (count is low, but also poor mobility/motility). Second test for him showed same or worsened results. Bloodwork suggests he may be going through andropause (male version of menopause) although we aren’t sure how rapidly.

So now we’re at a point where our ONLY option is IVF. And it feels like we need to decide right away since his situation may continue to worsen (and let’s be honest at 34 I need to make a decision soon anyway). I’m torn because it feels like IVF is for people who 100% want a child. It’s a lot to put my body and mind through when I’m not totally sure. Yeah we could always go through with egg retrieval etc. and not do the implantation but what a waste that would be! If we start the process it would be because we want to go through with the full thing.

I guess… I don’t know what I’m really hoping for from this group… but has anyone gone through something similar where you’re on the fence (leaning more toward a child) and dealing with time sensitive fertility issues where you’d need to peruse IVF rather quickly?

Why aren't my images sharp?

Time sensitive decision