Help, pic looks to blah, washed out

[rjb_FotoTaker]

I am new to all this, took this pic today of my kids and I really like it but it looks like it could use some adjustments. I'm not sure what exactly to do. Advice on perking it up. I have Aperture 1.5 and Photoshop Elements 4.0

[dkchac]

Just an idea...

The kids are adorable. Their pose looks to "forced." If you have them lean closer to each other, usually it is a good idea to have two subjects with their heads closer together. Have their faces right next to each other. This makes the photo more personal, more fun, and more interesting. I don't think that your photo is bad... I think the pose is what makes is look blah.... Just my thoughts. Kids are fun to photograph. I've two grandkids that I love to photograph. The idea is to get them to have fun!



This is a photo that needs to have some fixes (cracks in cement taken out of background), but this is the idea of how the pose can make the photo more interesting. Hope this helps.

P.S. I should have used a fill flash to eliminate harsh shadows, too, but I wanted to show you an idea about posing.

Debbie

[Gunsotsu]

Well, for starters, get your son out of that Auburn shirt. Poor kid.

I agree with dkc above. Seems a bit too forced. I find when shooting my daughter or my nieces and nephews, that candid and spur of the moment work best. Let your kids dictate what kid of shot you get to take. You'll find you'll like the results a lot better.

[rjb_FotoTaker]

Originally Posted by Gunsotsu

Well, for starters, get your son out of that Auburn shirt. Poor kid.

War Eagle for ya Gunsotsu.. Thanks for the input on posing... I grew up in Decatur, about 20 miles from you.

[Berengaria]

Such beautiful children. I couldn't help playing around with it in PSE 4. Hope you don't mind. I don't have kids of my own so can't resist working with others pics.

Berengaria

[jiminyClickit]

FotoTaker, Would you mind if we offered alternatives to the editing?

[rjb_FotoTaker]

Alternatives.. or anything with constructive criticism is welcome.. It seems that more attention should have been put on the pose for this shot. I took about 150 shots this day and I chose this one because the background looks so... (lack of color, almost faded). That is what I wanted input/advice on most.

I should have mentioned this earlier... It was late afternoon, it would be overcast one minute then sunny for a minute. I was using the 50mm 1.4 on my Sony Alpha sometimes with flash.

[jiminyClickit]

FotoTaker,
That background made it strong portraiture, forcing attention to the delight on the faces. No doubt the setting and adjustment can be addressed here. What I did was illustrate the point of placement in a shot, something to compare, and may not be helpful here.
In a situation where you can't take another pic of subject, or get that same expression or color or whatever, seeing the alternative might rescue a really good shot. So here's another view . . .even more faded bg.