
Brad,
Attention to detail is absolute key. I once showed an image on here that I thought was a beauty and it got ripped to shreds and looking back, rightly so.
This image is far to cluttered, there are three objects very close to the model that just should not be there, it draws your attention right away. Your choice to blur the background is probably the right choice but it has been done very crudely.
I am in no way a good photographer, far from it, but composing the shot correctly is a message that has been conveyed to me by others and a lesson well worth taking on board.
Regards Lee.