I think that in order to get good shots that you and your friends like, you just need to experiment more and buy a good fix. I wanted to buy a DSLR, but for an amateur like me, it's a problem to carry around because of the weight. And here you can get shots no worse and even better than on an amateur DSLR with their whale zoom in the kit, so why should I carry a big camera on vacation when I have a compact one with good optics.
Black Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens - Model 1380C002
78 Review
π· Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G Lens with Auto Focus: Perfect for Nikon DSLR Cameras
76 Review
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G Auto Focus Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras - Black (Model 2183)
125 Review
Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Lens - Fixed Black (6310B002) for US Cameras
76 Review