portaits

Make sure you've got a clean / non confused background or at least that her head is in clear space and doesnt have trees, lamp posts growing out of it

If you are going to try to use wide appertures to blur the background put your subject twice as far from the background as she is from the camera (if possible)

Remember that at f1.8 the DoF is very thin so focus on her eyes - as they are the key thing that must be sharp

Also try to ensure the camera is on the same plane as the subject as pointing it up or down will vastly reduce the in focus area (though you can of course use this effect creatively)
 
You don't need to drag her out as the nifty fifty has a wide aperture - put her close by a window standing sideways, ie one side to the window, the other to the room then meter from the lighter side of her face (set the camera to manual, get in close and take a reading) this will give you one side of her face in shadow to some extent which you can lighten by placing something white like a sheet or piece of card on the dark side - try moving it forward and back to alter the effect. Draw the curtain across to limit the amount of light coming into the room but leaving her face lit will give you a moody effect that may look good.
Have fun !
 
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