[FrankenPengie]

I rather like the direction you went with this but it's a tad heavy on the levels or curves adjustment. The distinct difference between the exposure between her and him needs to be lowered.

I think for starts I think you should level the background horizon, or shoreline. This should get the post vertical. I know there's a rule about chopping off arms but the rail chops it off anyway - and the stuff to the right is fairly extraneous so I feel a crop off the right, eliminating the rail post would help. The boy's right arm is a little awkward so cropping just above the armhole in the shirt would not lose anything.

After all that, spunky-gal has some hair competition behind her but I don't see that that can be helped. Then there's the other guy's camera. If you can clone that out that would be a win.

All-in-all I think the lad's left cheek should be center-stage. Get the blue line at top level. Focus on the subject(s) and their better parts and/or eliminate the needless. Balance lighting discrepancies and show contrast without compromising natural color.