The main issue that I see with both images is the quality of light that your subjects are captured in. It's bright, and harsh. I would try to place your subjects with their back to the sun, and use a reflector to direct a softer and defused light back in their faces. A remote-triggered flash placed off axis can also help (a lot actually). The sun can be a great light source, but at the right time of a day. In your pictures, the light's transition from the brightest part (cheeks, nose, etc) to the darker areas (shadows under the nose, eyes) is too abrupt. If you choose to shoot during the brightest time of the day, find a shade and put your subjects there. Go out 1 hour before the sunset and start shooting till you run out of light. You'll see how the softer the sunlight gets; the better your subjects will look.

Dallasphotog’s example shows excellent use of light (and a good lens). Here’s an example of what a direct sun combined with a reflector can do for you:


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Canon EOS 40D with an EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS at 78mm. Av mode, ISO 100, 1/500th sec, f/2.8